Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education and the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update following its meeting on 29 June 2021 at which it considered the two options available to Local Authority regarding the management and governance of the new Woodford Garden Village school including the early response to the pre-proposal consultation which commenced on 1 July 2021.

It was noted that since the Cabinet decision of the 29 June 2021, significant opposition had already been received to the option of relocating Queensgate Primary School to the new site.  This had been evidenced from the online pre-proposal consultation survey, letters of concern from concerned parents and residents and directly from ward members (including via a petition).

Accordingly, the report recommended that the decision of 29 June 2021 be rescinded and replaced with an alternative decision.

RESOLVED – That with regard to ‘Woodford Development - New School Governance Decision Affecting the Queensgate Primary School Option’ the Cabinet has:-

(1) Given approval to the rescission of the Cabinet’s decision of 29 June 2021 (CAB307) with regard to ‘Woodford Development - New School Governance Decision’;

(2) Confirmed that the relocation of the Queensgate Primary School to the Woodford Development site is no longer an option for consideration by the Council;

(3) Affirmed that the only option now available to the Council is the presumption process which will establish the new school as an academy in order to meet the need for additional places;

(4)  Noted that the pre-proposal consultation which was launched on 1 July 2021 continues and forms part of the first stage of the free school presumption process, namely, to hold a Local Authority consultation prior to publication of a school specification and, the beginning of a competitive process;

(5) Given approval that the decision to publish the school specification for the new free school and begin the competition period be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Education in consultation with lead portfolio holders for Children, Family Services and Education and Resources, Commissioning & Governance;

(6) Given approval that the decision on the Local Authority’s preferred sponsor after the assessment period has concluded be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Education in consultation with lead portfolio holders for Children, Family Services and Education and Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education and the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

As a part of the new Woodford housing development (building 920 homes), the developer is obliged via a section 106 agreement, to have constructed a single form entry (FE) primary school building and pass the freehold to the Council for no consideration. The site requires a decision as to how the school is governed.

There are 2 options available to Local Authority regarding the management and governance of the new school. The Local Authority can recommend that an existing community school transfers to the new site and is expanded or the site is offered, though a competitive process, as a free school/academy.

Both Queensgate Primary (Community School) and at least one Multi-Academy Trust are interested in taking over the governance and management of the new school site.

The main report outlines an appraisal of both options in line with an agreed common aim within the ONE Stockport Brough Plan that we have sufficient places in good local inclusive schools at the heart of the community that children and families want to go to.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Determine that, subsequent to continued stakeholder engagement in June and July 2021 and further work on place planning projections, a formal consultation on a final proposal and preferred option will be undertaken from September 2021.

(2) Agree that the decision to begin consultation will be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Education in consultation with lead portfolio holders for Children, Family Services and Education and Resources, Commissioning & Governance, and that Cabinet will make the final decision in December 2021.

Officer Contact: Geraldine Gerrard on 0161 474 3837 or email: geraldine.gerrard@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet has considered a report detailing two options available to the Local Authority regarding the management and governance of a new school to be built as a part of the new Woodford housing development, and has:-

(1) Determined that, subsequent to continued stakeholder engagement in June and July 2021 and further work on place planning projections, a formal consultation on a final proposal and preferred option be undertaken from September 2021.

(2) Agreed that the decision to begin consultation be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Education in consultation with lead portfolio holders for Children, Family Services & Education and Resources, Commissioning & Governance, and that Cabinet make the final decision in December 2021.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children's Services.

The report outlines the 2 options available to the local authority regarding the management and governance of the new school.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the report and to make recommendations to the Cabinet as appropriate.

Officer contact: Geraldine Gerard, 0161 474 3837, geraldine.gerrard@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children's Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the two options available to the local authority regarding the management and governance of the new school.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education (Councillor Colin Foster) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         There was a discussion regarding the draft report previously circulated to the Governors of Queensgate School before local ward councillors and the Scrutiny Committee.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the number of children that had applied to Queensgate in 2021 and how many places were offered. In response, it was stated that 176 applications for Queensgate were made and 30 places were allocated up to national offer day. In the lead up to national offer day discussions with the Governing Body and Headteacher had taken place regarding flexible arrangements to take the offer up to 45. It was also stated that further work was being undertaken regarding pupil projections across the borough while ensuring the commissioning of new places would not undermine existing schools or places.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the costs of the highway mitigation to get children from Bramhall to Woodford. It was commented that the work had not been done in the process as the considerations at this time were only the options contained in the report.

·         It was commented that the Woodford Garden Village was not geared up for the highway network that would be generated twice a day. In response, it was stated that there would need to be a travel impact assessment for both options that would be provided in due course. It was also noted that in the Section 106 agreement that the developer has agreed to employ a person to look at the needs and the infrastructure.

·         It was noted that in order to make the area safe for the children who would be walking and/or taking a bus or car would be quite costly and needs to be considered.

·         There was a discussion regarding the 750 houses being proposed by Redrow and the 920 houses included in the report. It was noted that certain information could not be included in the report regarding any further developments.

·         Clarification was sought on the length of the consultation and when it could be opened in 2022. In response, it was reported that it was not a long consultation relating to the importance of the decision to be made, but will take it into account.

·         It was commented that there was a planning decision taken in 2014 with comments made by the then Head of Education. In response, it was noted that a school will be opened on the site and would be delivered and it was important to listen to local councillors, officers, local community and schools.

·         Clarification was sought regarding paragraph 4.19 and the reference to “a small number of current pupils will have to travel over 3 miles to get to the new site”. In response, it was stated that a written response would be provided to the Committee.

·         It was commented that the report provided a start of the formal process with the options being established and what needs to be worked through. It was also stated that once it is established what Queensgate want to do, that engagement should involve local councillors going forward.

·         Clarification was sought regarding paragraph 2.1 and the reference to “the Section 106 agreement to ensure that the school is available in for the academic year when the 450^th unit is occupied”. In response, it was stated that the school would be available from June 2022.

·         Clarification was sought regarding when the decision was taken relating to Queensgate and the two options. In response, it was stated that a decision had not been taken as there were only two options and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (corporate and support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive

The Council granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the former BAE Systems site at Woodford to deliver a predominantly residential led developing comprising up to 920 dwellings.  The planning permission also secured the provision of a single form entry Primary school which is to be delivered by the developer to the Local Authority in June 2022. The purpose of the report is to outline the 2 options available to the Local Authority regarding the management and governance of the new school. The Local Authority can recommend that an existing community school transfers to the new site and is expanded or the site is offered, though a competitive process, as a free school/academy.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Geraldine Gerrard on 0161 474 3837 or email: geraldine.gerrard@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding the two options available to the Council regarding the management and maintenance of the new school at the residential development at the former BAE systems site in Woodford. The options were to:-

·         Build a one form entry new free school via Section 106 developer funds and retain Queensgate Primary School as it is; or

·         Relocate and expand Queensgate Primary School into a two form entry school site, but manage the intake of pupils in line with increased sufficiency needs.

The appraisal of the options was based on the agreed common aim within the One Stockport Borough Plan that there were sufficient places in good local inclusive schools at the heart of the community that children and families wanted to go to.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments/issues raised were made on behalf of the local Ward Councillors who supported Option 1 (build a new one form entry free school via Section 106 developer funds in Woodford and retain Queensgate Primary School as it is):-

·         A one form entry school could be delivered at Woodford to open in September 2022 and Queensgate Primary School remained open. That would give certainty to parents in applying for places for their children.

·         The report appeared to favour Option 2 (relocate and expand Queensgate Primary School into a two Form Entry school site but manage the intake of pupils in line with increased sufficiency needs) and an early draft of the report presented to Ward Councillors recommended this option.

·         If Queengate Primary School was closed, children who lived near the school, particularly on the ‘little Australia’ estate, would have a significant distance to travel to the new school in Woodford. To drive from Queensgate Primary School to the new housing estate in Woodford was 3.4 miles and to walk was 2.4 miles which was unreasonable given the age of the children involved.

·         The original intention when the planning permission included provision for a new primary school in Woodford was to satisfy demand locally when the new residential development was built.

·         If Queensgate Primary School was closed, the new school in Woodford would not open until September 2023 at the earliest.

·         It had been known since 2014 that when the 450^th house was occupied a new school would be available. The new school, as planned, was currently expected to be completed by May/June 2022.

·         The space for a two form entry at Woodford was to potentially accommodate the additional 750 homes proposed under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

·         The closure of Queengate Primary School would necessitate highway mitigation measures in the form of four additional pedestrian crossings. In addition, the number of car journeys would increase on already congested roads.

·         More information was requested on the information presented to the Governing Body of Queensgate Primary School, and whether any consultation had been carried out with stakeholders such as teachers, parents or residents. The right solution needed to be for parents and children not just the Council.

These points and the issues in general were debated by Members of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the comments made on behalf of the local Ward Councillors be referred to Cabinet Members for consideration.