HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL CABINET MONDAY 20 … · Alban & St Stephen Catholic Infant and...

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HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

CABINET MONDAY 20 JANUARY 2020

PROPOSAL TO ‘AMALGAMATE’ ST ALBAN ST STEPHEN CATHOLIC INFANT AND NURSERY SCHOOL AND ST ALBAN ST STEPHEN CATHOLIC JUNIOR SCHOOL

Report of the Director of Children’s Services

Report Author: Michael Dunnage, Planning Officer (Tel: 01992 555621)

Executive Member: Terry Douris, Education, Libraries & Localism

Local Member: Chris White, St Albans Central

1. Purpose of report

1.1 To inform Cabinet that the federated governing body of St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Junior School and St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery School has undertaken a statutory process to ’amalgamate’ by:-

closing St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery School on 31 August 2020; and

increasing the age range of St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Junior School from 7-11 years old to 3 – 11 years old from 1 September 2020.

1.2 In light of the responses received to the statutory notice, for Cabinet to

approve the request of the governing body to implement the amalgamation.

2. Summary

2.1 Governing bodies of Voluntary Aided schools may make proposals to amalgamate or change age range by following the statutory process as set out in The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2018 and its associated Guidance. The Local Authority is the final decision maker.

2.2 A public consultation was undertaken by the governing body, which began on 30 September 2019 and ended on 25 October 2019 for the proposal. The majority of respondents were in favour of the proposals, with 77% of respondents supporting the amalgamation.

Agenda Item No.

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2.3 Following the pre-consultation, the governing body published a statutory notice, which ran from 8 November 2019 to 6 December 2019. There has been one objection to the proposals, which is outlined below.

2.4 In the light of the responses received, the Director of Children’s Services, recommends approval of the amalgamation.

3. Recommendation

3.1 The Education, Libraries & Localism Cabinet Panel considered a report on this item of business at its meeting on 11 December 2019. The Panel recommended that Cabinet approve the proposal of the federated governing body of St Alban St Stephen Catholic Schools to amalgamate St Alban St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery and St Alban St Stephen Catholic Junior Schools, as from 1 September 2020.

4. Background

4.1 The federated governing body of the infant and junior schools has asked the County Council to approve its proposal to amalgamate the schools to create one 2 forms of entry (one form of entry is 30 pupils) primary school, providing education through from ages of 3 – 11 years old, in the best interests of the local community and children. The governing body’s judgement is that one school will provide a consistent approach to each child’s primary education under the leadership and management of one head teacher and one staffing structure. It is proposed to extend the age range of the junior school to create the new primary school. Both the infant and junior schools are currently graded as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

4.2 A public consultation on the proposal began on 30 September 2019 and ended on 25 October 2019.

4.3 Consultation letters were distributed by the schools to parents and carers, school governors and staff at the schools. The consultation was also published on the school’s website. All responses were taken into account by the governing body at its meeting on 14 October 2019 before proceeding with publishing a statutory notice.

4.4 The governing body published a statutory notice, which ran from 8 November 2019 until the 6 December 2019. In line with the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2018 and its associated Guidance, this was published in the local newspapers, on the school’s websites and clearly displayed on all entrances to the school, as well as in receptions at both of the schools.

4.5 Both the federated governing body of the St Alban St Stephen Catholic schools and the Diocese of Westminster are in favour of the amalgamation of the schools.

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5. Results of the public consultation and statutory notice

Pre Consultation - St Alban St Stephen Catholic Schools (both Infant and Junior)

5.1 A total of 13 responses were received to the pre-consultation as summarised in the table below.

Total responses Agree Disagree

Don't Know

13 10 (77%) 3 (23%) 0 (0%)

Statutory Notice - St Alban St Stephen Catholic Schools (both Infant and Junior)

5.2 A total of 2 responses were received to the statutory notice as summarised in the table below.

Total responses Agree Object

2 1 (50%) 1 (50%)

Key Issues and responses – statutory notice

5.3 One respondent to the statutory notice objected to the proposal to amalgamate the schools.

5.4 The issue raised in the objection is listed below:

‘…I object to the proposal as this will increase traffic along an already busy road, increasing the risk to our children. Parents already park dangerously outside the school and an increase in traffic of potentially another 120 cars morning and afternoon will cause congestion and additional pollution in an already restricted, built up area. The road already struggles with limited parking due to those using the shops and mosques on Hatfield road and this will only increase the problem.’

5.5 The above objection is with regards to increased traffic and increased number of pupils attending the schools once amalgamated. However, the amalgamated school would continue to offer the same number of pupils as the infant and junior schools do currently (2 f.e) and the infant aged children would continue to be educated on the current infant site, with the junior school children continuing to be educated on the current junior school site. It is therefore anticipated that there will be no increase in traffic flow for either school because of the amalgamation.

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6. Financial implications

Revenue

6.1 There are no revenue implications for the County Council. After a transitional period there would be an annual saving in school budget shares due to the reduction in the number of per school allocations from two to one, potentially slightly offset by a split site allocation to the amalgamated school. At current funding rates this would equate to approximately £149k. However, it is anticipated that there would be a reduction in Hertfordshire’s Dedicated Schools Grant of a similar amount.

6.2 Whilst there are no confirmed plans for redundancies from the Governing Body at this time, any re-organisation following the amalgamation may result in redundancies and therefore there may be costs in relation to this for Hertfordshire County Council to bear.

Capital

6.3 There are no capital implications for the county council.

7. Equalities Implications

7.1 When considering proposals placed before Members it is important that they are fully aware of, and have themselves rigorously considered the Equality implications of the decision that they are making.

7.2 Rigorous consideration will ensure proper appreciation of any potential impact of that decision on the County Council’s statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As a minimum this requires decision makers to read and carefully consider the content of any Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA).

7.3 The Equality Act 2010 requires the County Council when exercising its functions to have due regard to the need to (a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

7.4 An Equalities Impact Assessments (EqIA) has been prepared for this school proposal. No equalities issues have been identified since the start of this consultation. A copy of the EqIA is attached at Appendix 1 to this report.

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Appendix 1

Equality Impact AssessmentTHE PROPOSAL TO ‘AMALGAMATE’ ST ALBAN & ST STEPHEN CATHOLIC INFANT AND NURSERY SCHOOL & ST ALBAN ST STEPHEN CATHOLIC JUNIOR SCHOOL FROM SEPTEMBER 2020

1. Who is completing the EqIA and why is it being done?

Title of service / proposal / project / strategy / procurement you are assessing

The proposal to ‘amalgamate’ St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery School and St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Junior School from September 2020 as proposed by the federated Governing Body by closing St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery School on 31st August 2020 and increasing the age range of St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Junior School from 7-11 years old to 3 – 11 years old from 1st September 2020.

Names of those involved in completing the EqIA Michael Dunnage

Head of Service or Business Manager Pauline Davis

Team/Department School Planning Team, Children’s Services

Lead officer contact detailsMichael DunnageTel: 01992 555621 (Comnet/Internal 25621)

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Focus of EqIA – what are you assessing? To identify the possible impact of the above-mentioned proposal on people within the protected characteristic groups listed in section 3 below, and to mitigate where possible for any equality impacts identified; which is to ensure equality of opportunity when considering this proposal.

The federated Governing Body of St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Schools has requested that the schools, St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery School & St Alban St Stephen Catholic Junior School, be ‘amalgamated’ to form one primary school which will continue to offer the same number of places as the two schools do currently. The ‘amalgamation’ would result in the closure of St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery School and the age range of St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Junior School being extended to incorporate ages 3-11.

The school has carried out a four week consultation from 30 September 2019 to 25 October 2019 prior to publishing a statutory notice which ran from 8 November 2019 to 6 December 2019.

At the conclusion of the consultation, all responses were carefully considered and no issues were raised regarding groups or individuals with Protected Characteristics. Once the Statutory Notice has concluded, all responses will once again be considered as part of an ongoing EqIA.

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Stakeholders The following groups are considered to be Stakeholders and were consulted:

Parents/carers/pupils, staff and governors at the school concerned; Residents local to the school concerned; Local Pre-Schools, Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special schools; Local MPs, County Councillors, District Councillors, Parish and Town Councils and Local Authority Chief Executives; Trade Union representatives;Church Diocese representatives;NHS representatives;Parent Governor representatives on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee atHertfordshire County Council;Further Education establishments, pre-schools, playgroups, Children’s Centres, toddler groups and day nurseries;Libraries and Citizen’s Advice Bureau;Senior officers in Hertfordshire County Council’s Children’s Services department and in Herts Property Services;The consultation letter was also published on the website of the School.

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2. List of data sources used for this EqIA (include relevant national/local data, research, monitoring information,service user feedback, complaints, audits, consultations, EqIAs from other projects or other local authorities, etc.)

A range of useful local data on our communities can be found on Herts Insight and on the Equalities Hub

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Data Sources Used DataSpring 2019 school census data on gender split, English as an additional language (EAL), ethnicity, free school meals (FSM) eligibility, number of children with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans or SEN support (K)

Spring 2019 school census data

SS Alban &

Stephen Catholic Infant School

County Primary

Students (Years 2 to 19) 176 84845

Number Minority Ethnic Students (not White British and excluding Refused and Not Obtained)

71 24831

% Minority Ethnic Students (not White British and excluding Refused and Not Obtained)

40.34% 29.27%

Number EAL (English as an alternative Language) (First language Not English or believed not to be English excluding Refused and Not Obtained)

46 10532

% EAL (English as an alternative Language) (First language Not English or believed not to be English)

26.14% 12.41%

Number with Statement (or EHCP (S or E)) 1 2295

% with Statement (or EHCP (S or E)) 0.57% 2.70%

Number SEN Provision (K) 9 10089 % SEN Provision (K) 5.11% 11.89%

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Number Eligible for FSM (at date of Census) 4 6508

% FSM (Free School Meals) (at date of Census) 2.27% 7.67%

Number of Male Students 79 42744 % of Male Students 44.89% 50.38% Number of Female Students 97 42101 % of Female Students 55.11% 49.62%

Spring 2019 school census data on gender split, English as an additional language (EAL), ethnicity, free school meals (FSM) eligibility, number of children with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans or SEN support (K)

Spring 2019 school census data

SS Alban and

Stephen Junior School

County Primary

Students (Years 2 to 19) 231 84845

Number Minority Ethnic Students (not White British and excluding Refused and Not Obtained)

85 24831

% Minority Ethnic Students (not White British and excluding Refused and Not Obtained)

36.80% 29.27%

Number EAL (English as an alternative Language) (First language Not English or believed not to be English excluding Refused and Not Obtained)

52 10532

% EAL (English as an alternative Language) (First language Not English or believed not to be English)

22.51% 12.41%

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Number with Statement (or EHCP (S or E)) 2 2295

% with Statement (or EHCP (S or E)) 0.87% 2.70%

Number SEN Provision (K) 19 10089 % SEN Provision (K) 8.23% 11.89%

Number Eligible for FSM (at date of Census) 7 6508

% FSM (Free School Meals) (at date of Census) 3.03% 7.67%

Number of Male Students 104 42744 % of Male Students 45.02% 50.38% Number of Female Students 127 42101 % of Female Students 54.98% 49.62%

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The above information shows that for both St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Infant and Nursery School and St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Junior School the number of Ethnic Minority Students is above the County average, as is the number of children with English as an additional language. The number of male students is below the County average, with the number of female students being higher than the County average. The number of children with special educational needs and Education, Health and Care plans is below the County average, as is the number of children that are entitled to free school meals.

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3. Analysis and assessment: review of information, impact analysis and mitigating actions

Protected characteristic group

What do you know? What do people tell you?

What does this mean – what are the potential impacts of the proposal(s)?

What can you do?

AgeIt is not currently anticipated that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their age.

No mitigation is currently required but the position will continue to be monitored and if any issues in respect of the protected characteristic are identified then the Action Plan below will be amended accordingly.

Disability

It is not currently anticipated that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their disability.

No mitigation is currently required but the position will continue to be monitored and if any issues in respect of the protected characteristic are identified then the Action Plan will be amended accordingly.

Genderreassignment

It is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their gender reassignment.


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What can you do?

Pregnancy and maternity

It is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their pregnancy or maternity.


RaceIt is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their race.


Religion or belief

It is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their religion or belief.


Sex/GenderIt is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their sex/gender.


Sexualorientation

It is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their sexual orientation.


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What can you do?

Marriage and civil partnership

It is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their marriage or civil partnership.


CarersIt is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people disproportionately because of their caring responsibilities.


Other relevant groupsConsider if there is a potential impact (positive or negative) on areas such as health and wellbeing, crime and disorder, Armed Forces community.

It is not anticipated at this stage that the proposals will affect people in other relevant groups disproportionately.

No mitigation is currently required but the position will continue to be monitored and if any issues in respect of people in other relevant groups are identified then the Action Plan below will be amended accordingly.

Opportunity to advance equality of opportunity and/or foster good relations

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It is believed that the proposed amalgamation will not adversely impact those with protected characteristics, but this will continue to be considered throughout the process.

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Conclusion of your analysis and assessment -

OUTCOME AND NEXT STEPS SUMMARY

i.-

No equality impacts identifiedNo major change required to proposal

ii. -

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Minimal equality impacts identifiedAdverse impacts have been identified, but have been objectively justified (provided you do not unlawfully discriminate)Ensure decision makers consider the cumulative effect of how a number of decisions impact on equalityNo major change required to proposal

iii. -

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Potential equality impacts identifiedTake ‘mitigating action’ to change the original policy/proposal, remove barriers or better advance equality

Set out clear actions in the action plan in section 4.

The federated Governing Body of St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Schools have carried out a four week consultation from 30 September 2019 to 25 October 2019 prior to publishing a statutory notice which will run from 8 November 2019 to 6 December 2019.

At the conclusion of the consultation, all responses were carefully considered and no issues were raised regarding groups or individuals with Protected Characteristics.

At the conclusion of the statutory notice period, any responses will be carefully considered again to identify the possible impact of the proposal on people within the protected characteristic groups listed in section 3 above, and to mitigate where possible for any equality impacts identified. These will be considered as part of an ongoing, updated EqIA.

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iv. -

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Major equality impacts identifiedThe adverse effects are not justified, cannot be mitigated or showunlawful discriminationYou must stop and remove the policy[you should consult with Legal Services]Ensure decision makers understand the equality impact

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4. Prioritised Action PlanImpact identified and group(s) affected Action planned Expected

outcomeMeasure

ofsuccess

Leadofficer

andtimeframe

Stakeholders

Explore ways of supporting parents, carers, governors and staff through the change process.

Ensure the communication strategy recognises that some groups may require information in a different format for example if they have a disability or do not speak English as a first language.

We are aware that the school may have its own communication strategy.

Michael Dunnage

This EqIA has been signed off by:Lead Equality Impact Assessment officer: Michael Dunnage Date: 29 November 2019Head of Service or Business Manager: Pauline Davis Date: 29 November 2019

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HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL CABINET MONDAY 20 … · Alban & St Stephen Catholic Infant and...

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