Parents Against School Closure

Don't let it happen to your school without a fight – Save Your School!

Parents Against School Closure

Epinay – Outstanding Special School to be Closed

August 8th, 2010 · Uncategorized

South Tyneside Council are proposing to close a special school – Epinay School – that has recently been assessed as outstanding by Oftsted and has national and international significance.

To the untrained eye this may seem like utter madness. To be honest, to the trained eye it is utter madness as well!

Why is it being closed? Because councillors want it to be closed. Officers had previously put an acceptable proposal forward to Cabinet which proposed the development of Epinay, a very successful Business and Enterprise special school in Jarrow. Building on success as part of a wider review of special education in the area. Even the scrutiny committee supported the proposal. At the eleventh hour Cabinet changed the proposal to one which involved the school closing down! Why?

Is the closure a reaction to the fact that the school had recently received Co-operative Trust status which weakened the hold that the council had on the school? Or have the unions “nobbled” councillors about the potential loss of jobs as part of the review?

Epinay is very successful as previously mentioned. It is one of the top special schools in the country. It has no problem with surplus places unlike some its neighbouring special schools. It has excellent attainment levels. It provides services to the local community which are welcomed. Parents and pupils alike hold the school in high regard. It is a beacon for other special schools as any normal person will see. Surely, this is the definition of a successful school. And this has been achieved by a very hard-working team of teachers and staff over a number of years.

And, as such, it should be supported and expanded under current government policy not threatened with closure for petty, parochial, political reasons. Do South Tyneside Council realise they have a major asset here and not a liability? All of this hard work and achievement is to be obliterated under the current proposals.

It is a good job that there is a right of appeal to The Schools Adjudicator who can right the wrong that South Tyneside Council has already done to this very special school.

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School Closures – Political Yoyos

July 11th, 2010 · Uncategorized

Have you seen the debate going on about the cancelling of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme? To my mind it typifies the ineptitude of both the outgoing and incoming governments.

I understand the coalition government has a big task on its hands in finding cuts in public sector spending and the big juicy BSF programme was ripe for cancellation. However, they have raced into a hurricane of criticism because of the mistakes and errors that have been made by in compiling their list of schools affected. Now Michael Gove is having to backtrack a little (and so he should in certain cases) but he is now being hounded by Ed Balls, the previous Education Minister.

The other big idea from the coalition government is to axe the Census with no clear idea of what will replace it. All public services need base data on population trends from a national to a local level so that they can plan public services. The danger here is that a decision will be taken before the options are assessed and a viable alternative is agreed to satisfy a short term financial pressure.

Ed Balls on the other hand is ramping up the pressure on the government with much public support for this popular programme which the country cannot afford in its present state. However, he is also the Minister who presided over the closure of many perfectly good primary schools by local authorities that are now having to having to replace them because of the pressure now being put on the areas by rising pupil populations! They encouraged local authorities to close primary schools because of falling rolls yet failed to see the big wave of school pupils coming over the hill! What brilliant forward planning!

I suppose my point is that, whatever government is in power, parents should not expect any help in their fights to save their primary schools. Both government and opposition have different agendas to each other and parents and parents must fight their own corner with the help of the law and its guidance and seek to get an objective view on their case. What seems blindingly obvious to parents isn’t even given a backward glance by the political parties.

Education policy is now in a big mess. Parents need to be vigilant because anything can happen in these dangerous and volatile times for education. Parents have few rights and governments pay lip service to parent participation in education so parents really need to form a national body so that their views on education policy have to be heard. We can fight the good fight when our backs are against the wall ie when our school is threatened with closure but we need to strike earlier and more strategically. Insert some common sense into governmental thinking.

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Primary School Populations Projected to Rise!

July 7th, 2010 · Uncategorized

The last couple of weeks have been very interesting with information coming out of the ONS and the Department of Education indicating that, far from primary school numbers forecast to fall, these numbers are set to rise to record levels by 2018! This, coupled with the effective moratorium on the schools building programme, may cause some headaches for school planners. Indeed, it must cause some consternation in many local education authorities that have based their strategies on falling rolls rather than increasing rolls.

In June 2010, the BBC reported on this issue. The full news item can be seen by clicking the link below:

BBC news item – Primary Pupil Numbers “Growing”

A recent newspaper article in the Daily Mail in July 2010 reported the following:

“Children face an unprecedented scramble for primary school places following forecasts that pupil numbers will rise by more than 500,000 in only eight years.

Schools will come under intense pressure as the number of four to eleven year olds increases to its highest levels since the 1970s.

They will be forced to accommodate 540,000 extra youngsters at a time of severe public spending cuts prompting fears that pupils will be taught in classes of more than 40 or in temporary buildings. According to projections by the Department of Education the numbers at nursery and primary schools is predicted to soar to 4,526,000 by 2018 – the biggest total for four decades. This is a 13.5 per cent increase on the current number 3,986,000.

The equivalent of more than 2000 extra primary schools will be needed to accommodate the extra pupils.

London will be particularly hard-hit. The primary population in the capital is expected to grow by 16% to 748,000 by 2014.”

This just acknowledges what many parents groups have felt for some time that primary school populations are on the verge of explosion after evidence of high birth rates over the last few years.

It does seem a pity that many education authorities have been blind to these trends even when they have had them pointed out by parents groups.

On the evidence now provided by ONS (Office of National Statistics) many local authorities should now have the good grace to at least review their school place planning strategies and the assumptions they are built on. The current emphasis on school closures should now be challenged strongly as the primary school stocks must be seen as assets rather than liabilities in the current economic climate.

The new coalition government has promised to review capital spending in the autumn spending review with priority going to primary school building.

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School Closures and the Economy

June 30th, 2010 · Uncategorized

Everyone knows that we are in the most difficult economic circumstances for generations. The new coalition government has just announced drastic measures to cut public expenditure. Figures of 25% over the next five years have been mentioned. This may be an underestimate as some public services will be protected ie NHS. Where does this leave education?

There is no doubt in my mind that education will face some severe cuts particularly in the new schools capital programmes. This will have a significant impact on education. Yet local government will also be faced with jaw dropping reductions in their day to day (revenue) spending as well. The only way that local authorities will be able to balance the books in education will be to close or amalgamate schools and make teachers redundant. So there will be even more pressure on local authorities to find schools to close or amalgamate from now on. Whatever the rights and wrongs of this approach, it will happen.

Small schools are easy targets. Economically they represent a less efficient use of scarce education financial resources regardless of the educational benefits that a small school can bring to its pupils. Even if the small schools survive they will have to operate on a much smaller budget. Class sizes will rise. In some cases the operational viability of small schools will come into question. It is a gloomy picture but one which I fear is realistic for the next few years as the country tries to get back into a more positive economic footing.

I do have some sympathy for what local government will have to go through and education in particular. But parents still have the right to fight for their child’s education and they will have their say in the matter of proposed closures. The rule of law becomes ever more important in the closure process and the statutory guidance is key to any successful challenge. If local authorities do not carry out review processes comprehensively, fairly and consistently, if they ignore statutory guidance, if their consultation methods are poor, then parents have a right and a duty to complain and challenge the proposals.

The nagging fear is that the government will change the rules on school closures to make it easier for local authorities to make closures happen in order to meet the financial targets being set. This could erode parents’ ability to challenge and object to proposals they feel are unfair. Unscrupulous local authorities could use any changes to ride roughshod over parents’ wishes and preferences.

The situation is serious and needs to be monitored constantly. We need to be vigilant and watch the press and the media for any proposed changes by the incumbent government affecting education. I will try and assess the impact of any possible changes on the guidance given on this site.

In the meantime, fight the good fight using all the means at your disposal.

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School Closures in Wales

June 29th, 2010 · Uncategorized

Closing a school in Wales is governed by the Welsh National Assembly. You can access the details below:-

School Organisation Proposals: Welsh Assembly Government Circular No: 021/2009

However, the situation appears to be changing as the Minister wants to reduce the time taken to make a decision and reduce the involvement of the Minister in appeals cases where there are objections. The text of his latest letter is shown below (dated June 2010):-

Minister’s Oral Statement – School Organisation – June 2010

It seems to me that the National Assembly is trying to get out of the difficult process of making the final decision in most cases. However, it is not clear if there will be a replacement for their appeals process at local level that is fair and objective. May be now is the time to lobby the National Assembly to keep a workable appeals process in the new proposals.

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Free Schools – New Government Policy

June 24th, 2010 · Uncategorized

The new coalition government is bringing in new legislation to help parents and other groups to set up their own new schools which are publicly funded but free from local government control. The educational model follows similar models in Sweden and America. More information on free schools can be found by clicking the links below

Department of Education Information on Free Schools

Directgov Information on Free Schools

This appears on the face of it to be an opportunity for parents to have more choice about where their children are educated.

It is too early to say whether it offers a real alternative for schools facing closure proposals by a local authority. There is a long waiting list of groups wishing to set up their own free schools currently. It does show that the new government are open to giving more choice (and responsibility) to parents and is worth exploring further. A charity called the New Schools Network is involved in helping groups with their applications but unfortunately their site is not accessible at the moment because of the high demand breaching their current bandwidth arrangements!

My only concern is that the scope for funding free schools will be limited under the current economic climate and it may take money away from the maintained schools system thus causing more problems for smaller schools. This situation needs to be monitored closely over the coming months and years.

This topic needs a watching brief for now.

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School Closure Process – Video

June 4th, 2010 · Uncategorized

School Closure Process (England)

Click the above link and the video will load up and play with Windows Media Player. There is an audio commentary with the presentation.

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Video Presentations

June 2nd, 2010 · Uncategorized

Having just reviewed the content of the site I can say there is a great deal of detailed information and help for parents and local action groups to help them in their fight against school closures. However, people learn in different ways. Many people might have been put off by the fact that most of this is in boring old writing. Whilst I do try to make it interesting there is only so much you can do to make statutory guidance exciting.

So… I am going to try and make some video presentations to present the information in a different way with some audio commentary. I will try and group it together in a way that is more useful as well.

I think the first one I will concentrate on is a clear explanation of the process of school closure as most people are unaware of the full extent of it.

See you soon.

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Parents’ Rights?

June 2nd, 2010 · Uncategorized

If you have ever been involved in a school closure it is difficult to avoid the conclusion  that parents seem to have no rights and their views are ignored during the consultation process. This is how many local authorities treat the parents in the process either deliberately or inadvertently.

But it is important to know that even the law says that parents have an important influence. The statutory guidance says:


“A System Shaped by Parents

4.17 The Government’s aim, as set out in the Five Year Strategy for Education and Learners and the Schools White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools For All, is to create a school system shaped by parents which delivers excellence and equity.  In particular, the Government wishes to see a dynamic system in which:

· weak schools that need to be closed are closed quickly and replaced by new ones where necessary;

· the best schools are able to expand and spread their ethos and success; and

· new providers have the opportunity to share their energy and talents by establishing new schools – whether as voluntary schools, Trust schools or Academies - and forming Trusts for existing schools.

4.18The EIA 2006 amends the Education Act 1996 to place new duties on LAs to secure diversity in the provision of schools and to increase opportunities for parental choice when planning the provision of schools in their areas.  In addition, LAs are under a specific duty to respond to representations from parents about the provision of schools, including requests to establish new schools or make changes to existing schools.  The Government’s aim is to secure a more diverse and dynamic schools system which is shaped by parents. The Decision Maker should take into account the extent to which the proposals are consistent with the new duties on LAs.

Standards

4.19 The Government wishes to encourage changes to local school provision which will boost standards and opportunities for young people, while matching school place supply as closely as possible to pupils’ and parents’ needs and wishes.


Surplus Places

4.34 It is important that education is provided as cost-effectively as possible. Empty places can represent a poor use of resources - resources that can often be used more effectively to support schools in raising standards. The Secretary of State wishes to encourage LAs to organise provision in order to ensure that places are located where parents want them. LAs should take action to remove empty places at schools that are unpopular with parents and which do little to raise standards or improve choice. The removal of surplus places should always support the core agenda of raising standards and respect parents’ wishes by seeking to match school places with parental choices.”

These are not idle words but local authorities seem to be blind to these sections of the guidance. These words can be used to support your case particularly when you have experienced a poor consultation and will resonate with The Schools Adjudicator if they get involved.

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The Importance of Community

May 31st, 2010 · Uncategorized

I just thought I would do a short post about the importance of community in the closure of a school. As part of the decision making exercise, local authorities are supposed to take into account community use of the school. It usually centres on how much use is made of the school premises by local community groups. This is actually what the guidance states. If there is a lot of use by community groups then it is more difficult to close the school.

However, in the case of Gillas Lane Primary School, we found The Schools Adjudicator to be open to a much wider interpretation of “community”. We argued that the community valued and supported the school in different ways even though there was little community use of the school’s premises. We pointed to the history of the area and the role the school had played when there was social disruption for several years. The school was seen as an oasis of calm for the children of the area and it never received any vandalism during this period. We were supported at meetings by members of the local community who did not have any links to the school. They stood up in meetings and supported the school in their own way. The school was a living symbol for the community of the good things in the area rather than a resource to be used.

The Schools Adjudicator did comment on this. He felt from the meeting and the written representations made that the local community valued the school and was impressed by the support given. I am sure that this had an impact on his final decision.

It just shows how The Schools Adjudicator is more likely to take a much wider view of the overall context of the school than the minimum that the statutory guidance states.

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