THE FUTURE AT SOUTHDOWN

1.         WHY ARE WE PUBLISHING THIS PAPER?

1.1     In September 2003 we began looking at the needs of all our primary schools. Each school will be reviewed alongside its partner schools in a particular area.

1.2      South & Central Bath was the focus of our review between Easter and June this year. Various documents were circulated to Headteachers, school Governors, local Councillors, and senior officers in the Education Service. A panel of Councillors known as the Overview & Scrutiny Panel held a public meeting at Culverhay on 19th May 2004 where they heard Headteachers, Governors and local Councillors talk about the way they thought primary schools in the area needed to change.

1.3      The members of the Panel also visited all of the schools so they could see for themselves the facilities that are available to staff and children in this area. The Panel made some recommendations and these were included in a final report written by Council officers which put forward some options for change. These documents are available on the Council website. Paper copies are also available.

1.4      The final report was discussed by the Council Executive at a public session at the Guildhall on June 30th. The Executive decided to go ahead with a consultation on whether to amalgamate Southdown Infant and Junior schools. This paper is the first stage in the process.

1.5      The Council is not looking for a short-term solution. All those involved in the debate, and particularly the Council, need to be sure that decisions are not simply what suits us now but gives a good basis for a successful future for the coming generations of children in Southdown.

1.6     The aims of the review are:

a)     improving educational standards;

b)     ensuring that resources (land, buildings, money and people) are used in the most effective way.

c)      attempting to provide improved facilities for children, school staff and the wider community.

d)     making the choice of the local school the natural and easy choice for parents / carers

1.7   The Government also asks that we think about the effect of any proposal for change on the togetherness or cohesion of a community.

1.8    Before looking at the possible change, readers should note that, including part-time pupils in the nursery class at the Infant school, 332 children attend these two schools. The debate and decision on the proposal for change will have a major impact on these children, the staff and the local community and this must kept in the forefront of everyone’s thinking.

1.9   It is a fact that the number of children in South & Central Bath has fallen over recent years. In 1999 there were 1470 children at the eight schools in the area. Today there are 1415 children at these schools. At the two Southdown schools there were 367 children in September 1999. Today there are 290 children plus 42 children using the Nursery on a part-time basis. This is a problem we need to deal with.

1.10   The number of births in the area is falling each year so there are unlikely to be a greater number of local children entering schools in the area over the next few years.

3.   WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

3.1       The Council Executive will receive a report at their meeting in March 2005 telling them the results of the consultation and asking them to decide on the next steps.

3.2       The Council Executive may decide to go no further and make no proposed changes at either school. Alternatively, they could decide to go ahead with publishing the legal notice for the closure of the two schools and the opening of a new school.

3.3       If a legal notice is published it will be open for six weeks . During that time anyone can write in with letters of support or objection. If there are objections then the final decision is taken by the School Organisation Committee (SOC)  which is independent of the Council.  If the SOC do not agree unanimously then the issue is referred to a Government appointed adjudicator.

5.    HOW TO RESPOND

There will be public meetings to discuss both schools. These meetings will be arranged in January 2005. We will arrange for information to come out to you from the schools. Anyone who is interested can attend these meetings.

These meetings will be led by Council officers and there will be someone there to take notes of what is said.

You can write to us. Please send letters to Bruce Austen, School Organisation Manager, Bath & North East Somerset Council, PO BOX 25 Riverside, Temple Street, Keynsham, BS31 1DN. You can also use the form at the back of this document or you can send us an e-mail. The address for e-mails is bruce_austen@bathnes.gov.uk

All responses, including notes of the public meeting will be available to Councillors before any further decisions are taken. All responses must be received at our offices by no later than January 28th 2004.