Determination of the statutory proposal of the Governing Body of Ashton CofE Voluntary Aided Middle School to change the school's age range from 9 to 13 years Middle School to an 11 to 16 years Secondary School with effect from September 2015.   

1.         That the procedures established by The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposal to change the age range of Ashton Church of England Voluntary Aided Middle School as outlined in the report and in the school’s consultation document as attached at Appendix A to the report.

2.      That receipt of the representation on the 8 April 2014 at Appendix C to the report in respect of the proposal to make a prescribed alteration to change the age range of Ashton C of E VA Middle School and the statutory notice as set out in Appendix B to the report, issued on the 17 March 2014 under section 19(3), of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be confirmed.

3.      That receipt of the business case dated 4 April 2014 attached at Appendix D to the report submitted by the Governing Body of Ashton Church of England Voluntary Aided Middle School outlining its support and rationale for the proposal to change the age range of Ashton Church of England Voluntary Aided Middle School as outlined in the report be confirmed.

4.      That the statutory proposal (Appendix B) published by the Governing Body of Ashton C of E VA Middle School on 17 March 2014, to change the age range of Ashton C of E VA Middle School, the linked Prescribed Alterations (Appendix A) and the current business case (Appendix D) and the statutory proposal for the reasons set out in paragraph 76 of the report be rejected.

In accordance with the Scheme of Public Participation set out in Annex 2 of Part 4 of the Constitution, the Executive received the following petition:-

Save Brewers Hill Community Middle School

Mrs Varney and Mrs Boulton presented a paper petition, containing a total of 792 signatures opposing the closure of Brewers Hill Community Middle School.

Prior to consideration of the report and the subsequent item, and in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Public Participation, the Chairman invited 7 speakers to address the Executive.  Members of the public raised comments and concerns, which in summary included the following:-

·         governors and teachers at Ashton Middle School were confident that they would be able to deliver the appropriate curriculum for a secondary school;

·         small secondary schools were not unique as there were 377 such secondary schools in England;

·         Ashton Middle School had appointed a Business Manager to ensure that their 5-year plan was robust;

·         the reason why parents had not listed Ashton Middle School in the admissions process was due to the threat of the school being closed;

·         that parents in Dunstable should have the option of choosing a faith-based middle school for their child;

·         that pupils attending Ashton Middle School were happy and being supported to learn to their best ability;

·         that parents were concerned that the closure of the Middle Schools would affect their children’s education;

·         that pupils at other upper schools such as Harlington and Redbourn were still achieving high grades without the need for the schools to become secondary; and

·         Streetfield Middle School had circulated a business case for them to become a primary school to deliver education for 0-19 years on one campus.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services and additional paperwork provided by Ashton Middle School which outlined a significant change proposed by the Governing Body of Ashton Middle School, a Church of England Voluntary Aided School in Dunstable.  The prescribed alteration being proposed by the School was to its existing upper and lower age limit with a view to becoming a Secondary School with effect from September 2015, eventually accommodating children aged 11 to 16 years.

An evaluation of the proposal had been carried out against the factors set out in the Department for Education’s guidance for decision makers and this indicated weaknesses within the proposal and the information provided by Ashton Middle School.  The Executive took into consideration:

·         the demand for the school;

·         the size of the school, including the playing fields;

·         the national curriculum;

·         community cohesion; and

·         travel and accessibility.

Reason for decision:  To ensure the Council meets its statutory obligations as set out in the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools)(England) Regulations 2013, to determine the proposal made by the Governing Body of Ashton CofE VA Middle School of a prescribed alteration to change the school’s age range.  The Executive was required to make a decision within two months of the end of the representation period which concluded on the 14 April 2014.

RESOLVED

1.         that the procedures established by The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposal to change the age range of Ashton C of E VA Middle School as outlined in the report and in the school’s consultation document as attached at Appendix A to the report;

2.      that receipt of the representation on the 8 April 2014 at Appendix C to the report in respect of the proposal to make a prescribed alteration to change the age range of Ashton C of E VA Middle School and the statutory notice as set out in Appendix B to the report, issued on the 17 March 2014 under section 19(3), of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be confirmed;

3.      that receipt of the business case dated 4 April 2014 attached at Appendix D to the report submitted by the Governing Body of Ashton C of E VA Middle School outlining its support and rationale for the proposal to change the age range of Ashton C of E VA Middle School as outlined in the report be confirmed; and

4.      that the statutory proposal, (Appendix B) published by the Governing Body of Ashton C of E VA Middle School on 17 March 2014, to change the age range of Ashton C of E VA Middle School, the linked Prescribed Alterations (Appendix A) and the current business case (Appendix D) and the statutory proposal for the reasons set out in paragraph 76 of the report be rejected.