Agenda item

Proposed Closure of Park Farm (Foundation) Primary School and its Replacement as a Primary School within the Folkestone Academy

(1)     This report sought the views of the Advisory Board on a proposal to undertake a public consultation in conjunction with the Governing Body, on the closure of Park Farm (Foundation) Primary School.  The school would be replaced by a new primary school within the Folkestone Academy.

(2)     During the course of discussion, Members of the Advisory Board raised a number of concerns.  These included the arrangements for the Headship of the Primary School; the potential loss of playing fields; the admission arrangements; special needs provision; the need for Members to receive legal advice on the establishment of schools under this process; the need to see evidence that the Academy was prepared to engage with other primary schools in the area and the adequacy of the map provided with the report.

(3)     In response, officers advised Members that it was likely that the new all through school would have an Executive Head with the Primary School having a “Head of School”.  The current Head teacher of Park Farm was aware of the situation and, it would be the responsibility of the Governing Body to decide whether to have a Head teacher to oversee the primary element of the school.  As to the playing fields these were considered to be adequate to serve all needs and only land which was surplus would be disposed of.  However, Sport England would be asked for its views as part of the consultation exercise.

(4)     As to the admission arrangements the Folkestone Academy would become an “all age” school admitting some 60 pupils per year group in its primary phase and 240 pupils in the secondary phase.  The Academy would also have some 250 post 16 places.  In 2010 entering the Academy would be subject to the statutory admissions arrangements and officers said it was clear that no-one would want to have a situation where children were being disadvantaged.  If the proposal to go out to consultation was approved, then officers said they would provide more detailed information about the admission arrangements and also provide advice on the legal position regarding the establishment of schools under this process.  With regard to special needs, the current special needs provisions provided at Foxwood and High Hill would be relocated to the Brockhill site in new buildings with integrated provision.  Officers also said that they would ensure that any future reports included a more detailed site map. 

(5)     Following further discussion, officers said they acknowledged the concerns which Members had raised and if approval was given for the proposal to go out to consultation then they would ensure that in their next report they would deal in more detail with the points which had been raised during the course of the debate.

(6)     The Advisory Board then agreed unanimously that a public consultation exercise should be undertaken in conjunction with the Governing Body on the proposal for the closure of Park Farm Primary School, Folkestone and its replacement as part of the Folkestone Academy.