Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director Children and Young People providing feedback  received from the stakeholders who participated in the school estates pre-consultation and review.   (Copy attached.)

EDUCATION BUSINESS

Present:-         Ms A. Ferahi, Mr G. Jarvie, Mr D. Moore, Miss E. Page, Mr. J. Walsh.

CHAIRMAN

Councillor Aitchison chaired the meeting for that part which considered Education business.

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS

    1.     Councillor Aitchison gave a special welcome to the Chief Executive who had returned

            to  work after a period of illness. 

    2.     SCHOOL ESTATE PRE-CONSULTATION AND REVIEW

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Children and Young People providing feedback received from the stakeholders who participated in the school estates pre-consultation and review.  The report highlighted key messages from the feedback from the 400 people who attended a school cluster engagement event, the 452 people who completed questionnaires, and the 139 pupil questionnaires received.  Further, the report outlined the next steps in the school estate consultation and review process and sought approval to implement the recommendations made.  By means of a powerpoint presentation Mrs Manson, Service Director Children and Young People, gave detailed information on the School Estate Pre-Consultation, prioritisation, links with capital plan and funding, engagement, mothballed schools, RC schools review; and rural schools – sustainability plans, town reviews.  She concluded her presentation by advising that on 7 and 8 September 2016 letters would be issued regarding the implementation of Phase 1 of the School Estate Review and week beginning 12 September 2016 letters would be issued outlining the next steps in relation to implementation of Phase 2 of the Review.  Mrs Manson answered questions relating to the review of catchment areas, the communication process which linked to parental buy-in and community engagement; rural schools and the presumption against closure; the need to evidence any proposed changes; the recruitment and retention of teachers; the capacity of schools and future housing development; and responses which gave a variety of views from communities.   The Chairman thanked Mrs Manson for her presentation and advised that a statistical analysis of exam results would be presented at the next meeting.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)        to note the positive engagement by stakeholders in the school estate pre-consultation;

(b)       that all stakeholders were informed of the outcome of the consultation;

(c)        the proposals to Implement Phase 1 of the School Estate Review during school session 2016/2017:

           (i)          Future of Mothballed Schools:

                        Commence statutory consultations on proposals to permanently close Eccles/Leitholm Primary School, Ettrick Primary School and Hobkirk Primary School in accordance with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010;

           (ii)        carry out a focused pre-consultation on Roman Catholic Schools provision;

           (iii)       commence focused pre-consultations on the future of Education provision in the towns of Jedburgh, Eyemouth, Hawick and Galashiels;

           (iv)       engage with rural schools with roll populations of less than 50 pupils regarding roll sustainability measures;

           (v)        implement a Selkirk schools catchment review involving Yarrow, Kirkhope, Philiphaugh and Knowepark Primary Schools;

(d)       to note that Phase 2 of the School Estate Review would  commence in school session 2017/2018 and include focused pre-consultations in the following school clusters: Berwickshire, Earlston, Kelso and Peebles; and

(e )      to note that a commitment was  given to carry out a review and consultation on the School Transport Policy within a two year period, ie before the end of school session 2017/2018.

MEMBERS

Councillor Parker left the meeting during consideration of the above item, and returned during the discussion at paragraph 8.  Councillor Edgar left the meeting at the end of the consideration of the above item, and returned during the discussion at para 9.