Agenda and minutes

Report by Director – Operations)

(1) The School Organisation Advisory Board at its meeting on 12 June 2008 supported a recommendation to consult on a proposal to relocate Grange Park School, Leybourne to a site within the grounds of Wrotham School.  Mr Jones reported on the consultation process which had since been undertaken which included a public meeting being held as well as a consultation process with approximately 2,400 copies of the consultation document being circulated.  In all 75 responses were received of which 72 were in favour.  One was undecided and two were opposed to the proposal.  The proposal was also supported by the Governing Bodies of both schools, The Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, the Wrotham Parish Council, Borough Green Parish Council, the two local members Mrs Hohler and Mrs Dagger and the Local Member of Parliament. 

(2) Mrs V J Dagger attended the meeting as the local Member for Wrotham School.  Mrs Dagger said that at the public meeting there was warm support for this proposal and it gave an excellent opportunity for the two schools to share good practice.  Mrs Dagger also spoke about the importance of the siting and design of the new buildings which would need to be of high quality and design because of their location within the Green Belt.  Mrs Dagger said that the current buildings at Wrotham are poor and therefore she hoped KCC would make every effort to get the new buildings constructed as soon as possible.

(3) Mrs Angell asked a question related to the gender mix at Grange Park School on which the Head Teacher who was present gave a reply. Mrs Angell spoke about the issue of building within the Green Belt and also about the timing of the proposals so both schools could plan ahead with some certainty.  Mr Jones said that the planning application did not have to be accompanied by an environmental appraisal but that because the new buildings would be in the Green Belt the County Council had employed consultants to give expert advice on their design and construction.  With regard to the timetabling of these proposals Mr Jones said that there was not sufficient funding within the current financial settlement to proceed immediately but he would hope that the next settlement would see sufficient resources allocated in order to proceed with the proposal in 2011.  Mr Jones also said that the land at Grange Park was leasehold and so it would depend on negotiations at the time how much the County Council would get for the remaining value of the lease.

(4) Mr Rowe said that in his view the proposals should be taken forward as soon as possible but at the same time steps needed to be taken to ensure the minimum of disruption to the current cohort of students both at Grange Park and Wrotham and  that would need careful management.  Mr Rowe also said that the Leybourne Grange site was designated for housing development and therefore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.