Agenda item

(Report by Director (Operations))

(1)     This report sought the views of the School Organisation Board on the proposal to undertake a public consultation on changing Ethelbert Road Infant School to an all-through Primary school.

(2)     Mrs Osborne introduced this item, providing a short presentation to the Advisory Board.  She said that currently, Ethelbert Road Infant School had no junior school associated with it and over the last few years that had become a major problem resulting in parents having to make applications to a range of primary schools that are already full.  It had been the case that children have been removed from the final year of schooling at Ethelbert Road in the middle of the year in order to take advantage of any places opening up elsewhere.  This had resulted in the children remaining behind being disadvantaged, as were those who were faced with a to move school aged just six or seven years old.

(3)     Mrs Osborne said that the proposal was to turn the three class infant school into a four class all-through primary school, with two year groups in each class and 15 children to a class.  The alternative would be to close the school, a move both KCC and the School were eager to avoid.

(4)     Mr Vye had some concerns with the proposal as it did not fit with KCC policies, but agreed that in some circumstances small schools are necessary, but that in other circumstances they can negatively impact upon children.  He did however understand the need for a small school in Faversham, in order to maintain enough places in the town centre.

(5)     Dr Craig agreed that this was an abnormal case, and did sit outside the policies set out within the primary strategy.  However, for this school and this locality, this was the best option available, and supported the continuity either during or after their final year at Ethelbert Infants School are scattered to eight different primary schools.  Dr Craig felt that this proposal would increase the popularity of the school as a junior school capacity would encourage more parents to send their children to the school.

(6)     Mr Hayton was in agreement to consult on this proposal.  He added that he felt strongly that something needed to be done in order to resolve the situation parents currently face in trying to secure their children places at other primary schools in the area.  Mr Hayton stated the consultation could gather some of the views of parents, which he would be very interested in hearing.

7)       Miss Carey said she felt that the right thing to do would be to close the school, due to the fact that currently children at the school are being so adversely affected, and transition to Junior Schools in the area was difficult and it was unreasonable to expect children to cope with such upheaval.  Miss Carey said therefore she felt it was right to undertake the proposed consultation..

(8)     Mrs Osborne said that were Ethelbert Road School to close there would not be enough places in the centre of Faversham, as 105 places were needed in the town, and were mostly occupied by those who do not have transport to reach schools in the area.  Mrs Osborne highlighted this point by stating that of the 320 school places in the area, 317 were expected to be filled as current forecasts so Ethelbert Road School was a necessary provider of school places in Faversham.

(9)     Mr Burgess said that he had no definitive view on the proposal, but felt that the consultation was vital in order to fully ascertain the right way to move forward regarding the future of the school.  Mr Burgess asked when the proposal would come into effect, to which Mrs Osborne said that it would come into effect in September 2008,  if the proposal was accepted.

(10)   Mr Truelove felt that the report presented a convincing case, and he supported the proposal to go out to consultation.  He asked why no children from the school currently opt to go to Bysingwood School, to which Mrs Osborne said whilst the school provided a great standard of teaching and a good learning atmosphere, public perceptions of the school were not good. However that situation was improving year on year, as word got out about the good standard of educational provision available.

(11)   Mr Bristow said that he felt it was right to go out to consultation and felt that over time, the proposal would reinforce the status of Ethelbert Road School., Also if the school was expanded to four classes that  may help to release the existing pressure to provide Ethelbert Road students with places going into year two.

(12)   Mrs Angell voiced concerns over the timing of the proposal and felt that the overall picture of schooling in Faversham needed detailed consideration.  Mrs Angell asked about travel plans for the school, which were answered by Mrs Osborne.

(13)   Mr Hayton said he supported the proposal to go out to consultation.  Furthermore, the change over from an infants to an all-through primary school would maintain the ethos and closeness that the school had worked hard to create, and he  supported such a move.

(14)   The School Organisation Advisory Board  unanimously agreed on the proposal to undertake a public consultation on the change to an all-through primary school of Ethelbert Road Infant School with effect from September 2008.