Agenda item

To receive the report by the Corporate Director for Education and Young People’s Services setting out the results of the public consultation on the proposal to close Pent Valley Technology College and asking the Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee to consider and endorse or make recommendations on a decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform report.

1) The Chairman explained he would not be allowing a member of the public to speak at the meeting. This was because their opportunity to respond has already been explored through the consultation. However, the Chairman agreed to the distribution of a written statement from a member of the public against the closure of Pent Valley.

2) Patrick Leeson, Corporate Director of Education and Young People’s Services, introduced the report on the closure of Pent Valley School. He explained that it was always a difficult decision to move to close a school. Mr Leeson also gave the following information;

a)    The Local Authority’s priority is to improve and increase the opportunities and quality of education of Kent’s children and young people. Pent Valley School was judged to be good by Ofsted in 2012. In 2013-14 the Local Authority monitoring was giving cause for concern and following the poor 2014 GCSE results it was not believed that Pent Valley School management was taking sufficient action.

b)    Further to this Mr Leeson confirmed School results had plummeted in recent years in 2014 and 2015. A major review of the School was carried out in response to this and an improvement plan was agreed. As the conditions of this improvement plan had not been met the school had been issued with a formal warning notice, requiring the governors to bring in new executive leadership.

c)    Mr Leeson informed Members the number of students going to Pent Valley School had been falling each year since 2010. The school is designed for an intake of 180 students each academic year. Contrary to this in 2010 there were 145 students joining year 7 and by 2015 this had reduced further to only 43 students. The numbers that might start in 2016 are now as low as 34. He further confirmed that as 90% of the schools budget is determined by pupil number this is a serious issue for the funding available to the school.

d)    He confirmed that following the current trend Pent Valley School would be £2 million in deficit by the end of this year. The School has been unable to bring its finances into order.

e)    Mr Leeson stated that it is with great reluctance that in spite of new management the School cannot be turned around in time.

f)     In regards to the future of the site he informed Members he anticipated in 2 or 3 years’ time a free school could be opened there.

g)    Mr Leeson stated that their consultation process had been very open.

3) Mr Vye expressed a view that Kent County Council should assist with the cost of travel for those who were within a short distance of Pent Valley School and are having to move their children further afield. Members of the Committee and the Chairman expressed support for this. Mr Leeson also stated that he was supportive of the points raised in regards to travel arrangements.

4) In response to concerns raised by Members of the Committee Mr Leeson gave the following further information;

a) Confirmation was given that there is now no flexibility given to Local Authorities for grant funding being given to schools.

b) He also explained the closest two other schools were both good and had achieved well compared to the average for High Schools.  Both schools have growing 6^th forms.

c) In response to a concern raised into what assurance can be given that a free school opening in Pent Valley’s site in future will specialise in technical and vocational and skills Mr Leeson stated the Kent County Council would seek to be involved in running the competition process and specifying what provision is required.

5) A view was expressed by Mr Northey that Folkestone schools should be given further encouragement to welcome students leaving Pent Valley School. Mr Northey stated that with the closure of Chaucer School in Canterbury in 2015 other Canterbury schools had been exceptionally welcoming to the students moving on. He particularly gave praise to the efforts of Spires Academy in making this transition easier. Mr Northey advised the Committee that it would be ideal for Folkestone schools to show the same support to students of Pent Valley School.

6) A view was expressed by Ms Harrison that the decision to close the school was a fait accompli prior to coming before the Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee. Ms Harrison elaborated on this further by explaining that the time given to the consultation starting was too short and that the low amount of students that would join in 2016 was caused by public concern that the school would shut.

7) Mr Leeson responded to the view expressed by Ms Harrison by explaining that before any proposal had been made or the consultation started the number of students joining the school had already decreased rapidly and it was becoming unviable to keep the school open. As an example Mr Leeson explained that the previous year only 43 students joined the school and the year prior to that only 58. This was too far from the schools capacity of 180 students each academic year, and was happening far before any proposal to close the School was brought forward.

8) Point a of the recommendation was put to vote;

                                                                                                Carried, 9 votes to 2.

9) The Chairman advised Members that he would suggest point b be amended to read “b) exceptions should be made to the County Transport Policy where individual circumstances should be considered.” The amended point b was put to vote;

                                                            Carried, 9 votes in favour. 2 abstained.

10) Point c of the recommendation was put to vote;

                                                            Carried, 9 votes in favour. 2 abstained.

11) RESOLVED that the Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee agree to endorse the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform on:

a)    the decision to close Pent Valley Technology College to all year groups except Years 10 and 12 in August 2016, and to all year groups on 31 August 2017;

b)    exceptions should be made to the County Transport Policy where individual circumstances should be considered;

c)    retaining the Pent Valley Technology College site, on its return to KCC, for future educational need.