Clough Hall Cabinet Report - Staffordshire County Council

Agenda Item 7
Cabinet Meeting on Wednesday 17 December
2014
Clough Hall Technology School:
determination of statutory proposals to
become a Church of England voluntary aided
school
Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills said,
“Every child deserves a good education and we want all our schools to be rated as
‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED. The right foundation of learning and skills is
vital for our young people to access good jobs and live healthier, happier and
independent lives.
“Increasingly our schools are becoming self-supporting, controlling their own destiny
and forming strong partnerships and networks. Clough Hall Technology School is
rated by OFSTED as ‘Good’ and the governing body want to enhance further the
educational experience of students by becoming a Church of England voluntary
aided (VA) school.
“Schools benefit tremendously from working together and forming links with their
peers. I share the school’s wish to benefit from strong partnerships within the
Diocese that will enhance choice and diversity by becoming Staffordshire’s first
Church of England secondary school. This move will only enhance the diverse
school landscape in Staffordshire, give parents greater choice and, ultimately,
ensure children in Staffordshire get a great education.”
Report Summary:
1. The county council’s vision is for a connected Staffordshire where people are able
to access more good jobs and feel the benefits of economic growth. The proposals
are intended to help to ensure children get a good education and develop wider skills
so they are ready for life with the drive to want to attain a good job and the skills to
do so, to support themselves, their families and their communities.
2. Staffordshire County Council published a statutory proposal to close Clough Hall,
together with a related proposal from the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education to
open a new Church of England voluntary aided (VA) school, to be called The King’s
CE (VA) School. As the formal decision maker, Cabinet must consider any written
Page 57
responses received during the four-week ‘representation period’ before determining
both proposals.
Recommendation
I recommend that:
a. Cabinet approve the related statutory proposals to close Clough Hall on 31
December 2014 and to open a new Church of England voluntary aided (VA)
school on 1 January 2015 in the premises of Clough Hall.
Page 58
Local Members Interest
Margaret Astle
Newcastle – Kidsgrove
John Taylor
Newcastle - Talke and
Red Street
Newcastle – Audley
Ann Beech
Cabinet – 17 December 2014
Clough Hall Technology School: determination of statutory proposals to
become a Church of England voluntary aided school
Recommendations of the Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills
a. To approve the related statutory proposals to close Clough Hall on 31 December
2014 and to open a new Church of England voluntary aided (VA) school on 1
January 2015 in the premises of Clough Hall.
Report of the Director of Deputy Chief Executive and Director for People
Reasons for Recommendations:
1. The right foundation of learning and skills is vital for our young people to access
good jobs and live healthier, happier and independent lives. Our strategy for
achieving excellence in learning and skills is for all children to be in schools
judged as good or outstanding by OFSTED.
2. Clough Hall Technology School, in Kidsgrove, already operates with a Christian
ethos, reflected in the school’s values, its strong sense of community, and its
commitment to charitable works and helping others. The Governors believe that
the educational experience of students would be further enhanced if the School
became a Church of England voluntary aided (VA) school.
3. The county council agrees that it is vital that schools build strong and formal
networks and partnerships that promote the sharing of expertise, experience,
capacity and resources to drive forward school improvement. The county council
welcomes the increased choice and diversity in school provision that would be
provided by the first Church of England secondary school in Staffordshire.
Page 59
Background
4. Staffordshire County Council is the statutory decision maker for the proposals
and must have regard to the Guidance for Decision-makers published by the
Department for Education (DfE).
5. Cabinet has approved the publication of the statutory proposal following a period
of formal consultation, which demonstrated overwhelming support for Clough Hall
to become a Church of England voluntary aided school.
6. A statutory notice was published on 23 October 2014 and the statutory four-week
"representation period" for comments and objections ended on 19 November. By
the close of the period, no comments or objections had been received.
7. All applicable statutory requirements regarding consultation and representation
period in relation to these proposals were complied with.
8. If approved, officers will work with the school and Diocese to implement the
proposals, including HR, finance, property, legal and ICT matters. It is proposed
that Clough Hall closes on 31 December 2014 at 12 midnight and the new school
would open straight after on 1 January 2015.
9. The requirements of the DfE School Organisation guidance will be followed
throughout the statutory process. Approval would result in a change of employer
for all school staff and provide for all rights, powers, duties and liabilities to
transfer from the LA to the Governing Body. The effect of these provisions is to
protect an individual’s employment rights on transfer. A full TUPE consultation
will be completed in parallel with the statutory process. The Cabinet decision will
be confirmed to staff/unions in writing as soon as possible after the call in period.
List of Background Documents:
Public consultation document (April 2014)
Cabinet report (July 2014)
“Complete Proposal” document (October 2014).
All the above are available at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/newcastleschoolplaces
Department for Education Guidance for Decision-makers (January 2014) is available
at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/27842
2/School_Organisation_Guidance_2014_-_Annex_B.pdf
Page 60
Report Commissioner: Anu Singh
Job Title: Head of Business Improvement
Telephone No: 01785 854993
Email: [email protected]
Page 61
Summary of Community Impact Assessment (including a Health Impact
Assessment if applicable) for Clough Hall Technology School: determination of
statutory proposals to become a Church of England voluntary aided school
SCC’s Priority Outcomes
& Impact Areas
Prosperity, knowledge,
skills, aspirations
Living safely
Supporting vulnerable
people
Supporting healthier living
Highways and transport
networks
Learning, education and
culture
Children and young people
Impact
Positive
Strengthened support, partnerships and
networks will help raise standards to
ensure young people are ‘ready for life’
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Positive
Positive
Citizens and decision
making, improved
community involvement
Physical environment
including climate change
Maximisation of use of
community property
portfolio
Equalities Impact
Age
Disability
Ethnicity
Gender
Religion / Belief
Impact
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Positive
Sexuality
Neutral
Resource and value for
money (in consultation
with finance
representatives)
Impact Assessment
Provide brief detail of impact
Positive
Will provide additional support to the
school to benefit teaching and learning
The educational experience of students
would be further enhanced
Formal consultation has shown
overwhelming support to the proposals
Neutral
Neutral
(NB The school is due to be rebuilt as part
of the government’s Priority Schools
Building Programme.)
Provide brief detail of impact
The school would continue to serve its
local community. The change would add
to parental choice, as well as meeting
demand from parents whose children
attend Church of England primary school
to continue their education in a Church of
England secondary school.
Impact / Implications
As a voluntary aided school. Governors would be
responsible for raising 10% of ongoing maintenance
costs. However, the school is due to benefit from a
rebuild as part of the Priority Schools Building
Programme, which is fully funded by the Education
Funding Agency.
Page 62
A legal agreement will be reached so that the
successor school makes suitable provision for any
revenue budget deficit, loans and contractual
obligations from the predecessor school.
Risks identified and
mitigation offered (see
corporate risk register
categorisation)
Legal imperative to
change if applicable (in
consultation with legal
representative)
If Cabinet do not approve the recommendation, it would
undermine the governing body’s wish to determine the
school’s own status and denomination.
The county council has a statutory duty to promote
diversity in school provision. The county council’s is the
statutory proposer for the closure of the school and the
decision maker both proposals.
Report Commissioner: Anu Singh
Page 63
Page 64

Download Report