Agenda item

(Report by Director (Operations))

(1) This report set out the results of the public consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Boughton-under-Blean Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School and Dunkirk Village School.  It sought the views of the School Organisation Advisory Board on the issuing of a Public Notice for the Closure of Dunkirk Village School.

(2)     Mrs Osborne introduced the item, outlining this background to the report, explaining that these two schools had previously been federated in 2006, which had provided significant support to Dunkirk Village School, to improve standards.  However, since the Federation numbers at Dunkirk Village School have not increased, it was proposed that the children from the Dunkirk School are assimilated into the Boughton-under-Blean School.  She added that the entire education community supported the proposal, and that written responses to the consultation had been disappointingly low, but did suggest that few people were opposed to the proposed amalgamation.

(3)     Mr Hayton stated that the low number of written responses received were not surprising as had been seen with other consultations, people rarely write in to show support, and so the three responses received in opposition to the proposal was negligible.

(4)     Mr Bristow felt that the proposal made very good sense.  He asked for clarification that the amalgamated school would be a Methodist Voluntary Controlled School, which Mrs Osborne gave stating that the children currently at Dunkirk Village Primary would merely be assimilated into the Boughton-under-Blean Primary, so the Methodist and Voluntary Controlled status would remain.  Mrs Osborne also added that the name of the school was likely to be changed to reflect the amalgamation of the two schools, but that this was entirely up to the school itself.

(5)     Miss Carey, who had chaired the public meeting, said she was impressed at the good turnout.  A few parents at the meeting had stated that the transitional period was a concern, but all were agreed that as long as this amalgamation continued to be managed as it currently was, this should not prove too disruptive to the children, and they could see the overall benefit this would have.  Miss Carey stated that the Methodist visitor had given their unconditional support to the proposed amalgamation, and therefore she urged the School Organisation Advisory Board to do the same.

(6)     Mr Burgess stated that he felt it was very positive that the Governing Body at the Boughton-under-Blean Primary School would remain in place as it would ensure stability during the period of change that an amalgamation brings about.  He asked how long the mobile classrooms planned for the Boughton site would likely to remain to which Mrs Osborne responded that the mobiles would provide temporary accommodation only, and would only two or three in number.  The exact details would not be known until the confirmation of pupil numbers became available.  Mr Burgess supported the proposed amalgamation.

(7)     Mrs Angell posed several questions which Mrs Osborne and Dr Craig answered.  She asked how the transitional arrangements would be managed, to which Mrs Osborne responded that already there was regular movement of children from the Dunkirk site to the Boughton site, as this is aimed at redressing the lack of parity of provision and facilities between the two sites.  The transitional arrangements were therefore well under way and a model of good practice.  In response to a question regarding travel plans, Dr Craig stated that many parents currently took their children to school at Dunkirk Village Primary and at the Boughton-under-Blean Primary School by car, and were likely to continue to do so.  He added that, if anything, this school should decrease slightly should the amalgamation go ahead.

(8)     The School Organisation Advisory Board unanimously agreed to:-

(a)       the amalgamation of Boughton-under-Blean Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School and Dunkirk Village School;

(b)       if agreed, the issuing of a public notice for the closure of Dunkirk Village School; and

(c)       subject to approval of the proposal following the end of the objection period, the resources necessary to implement the scheme being provided on the basis identified in the report.