Issue - meetings

To receive a report regarding the consideration of a request to exercise call-in powers in relation to a decision of the Executive Member for Education.

The Committee received a report (Item 6 in the Minute Book) from the Directors of Transformation and Governance and Children’s Services following a request by a quorum of members of the Select Committee to exercise call-in powers in respect of a decision by the Executive Member for Education to amalgamate Fort Hill Community School and Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College in Basingstoke.

The Chairman outlined that the role of the Select Committee would be to determine whether it wished to recommend to the Executive Member that he reconsider his decision taken on the school amalgamation at his meeting on 19 June, as outlined in Appendix 1.

The Head of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer introduced the report and the purpose of the meeting. The process of call in as laid out in the Constitution, at Appendix 4 within the papers, was explained and Members were referred to the reasons for the call-in provided in Appendix 3.

The Monitoring Officer’s view was that the 19 June decision of the Executive Member for Education was in line with the budget and policy framework and that, therefore, the option open to the Select Committee was to consider whether or not to ask the Executive Member to reconsider his decision. The Monitoring Officer further outlined  an aspect of the role of the Select Committee, which was to hold the Executive to account. However, this did not mean the Select Committee had the power to direct the Executive. Statutory guidance advised that the Executive should take into account the views of the Select Committee, but that it was free to take into account other factors in its decision making process and make other determinations.

The Chairman gave the Members the opportunity to ask questions of the Officers and then moved to debate. During the discussion, the following information was heard:

• That the basis of the decision to amalgamate the two schools was threefold and incorporated declining pupil numbers (with only 35 applications for the September 2017 Year 7 intake out of a possible 220 within the catchment area), declining pupil funding (which was based upon the low pupil numbers) and relatively weak educational standards (significantly reduced funding in the future resulting in a further reduction in the curriculum offer and inadequate educational provision).
• That significant and thorough consultation had taken place in the lead in to the decision to amalgamate and that this had been in line with County Council procedures and statutory guidance from the Department for Education.
• The Governing Body had supported the decision to amalgamate the schools.
• That GCSE results and pupil progress at Fort Hill Community School had been consistently poor; despite the best efforts and support of Children’s Services and that the school had experienced a high turnover of staff. Discussion was held regarding the reasons for the high turnover and how the career choices of those within the teaching profession were likely to be driven by the opportunities for professional development which were more accessible at larger, high  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services regarding a school amalgamation in Basingstoke