Background – Goldwyn School is a maintained special school designated to support pupils aged 11-16 years with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH). It is judged as Outstanding by OFSTED. Presently the school is designated to take 115 pupils aged 11-16 years of age. However, due to the increased need for specialist SEMH places the School has been commissioned to provide up to 150 places for the last few years. This proposal would formalise the current situation, while at the same time increasing the age range to 18 years in order to add a sixth form, adding a further 45 post-16 places, taking the final designated number to 195 places.
Options - No other option were considered as this is the only SEMH specialist School in the District
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Ashford Rural West; Ashford South; Folkestone East;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 06/01/2020
Decision due: Not before 20th Mar 2020 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Lead director: Keith Abbott
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: David Adams, Assistant Director Education (South Kent) Phone number: 03000414989 Email: david.adams@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01233 898559.
Consultees
A non-statutory consultation was held from 6 January 2020 to 14 February 2020, the outcome of which was reported to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills in the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee of 11 March 2020.
Goldwyn School serves a wide area of the County. It separates services out of four sites in Ashford and Folkestone therefore the local members for all four locations have been identified. The views of the local members were sought as part of the informal consultation.
Financial implications: No capital investment is required.
Legal implications: Any legal implications will be explained in the report to the Cabinet Member prior to him taking his decision.
Equalities implications: An Equalities Impact Assessment has been complete prior to the consultation period. This has identified that as statistically fewer girls are identified as having SEMH needs, this proposal will benefit fewer girls than boys.