Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of the Children and the Young People’s Service – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People): To report on the response made to the Department for Children, Families and Skills in relation to the Strategy for Change (Part 2).

Building Schools for the Future - Strategy for Change (2) (Report of the Director of the Children and Young People’s Service - Agenda Item 11)

Concern was expressed about how the Government’s diversity and choice agenda would work in practice and about some of the wording used in particular in paragraphs 39 – 41 and 47 of the Appendix and the view expressed that there was a need for robust dialogue with both parents and the Government on these issues. Disquiet was also voiced about the tasks shown in paragraph 56 in relation to overseeing the initial stages of the New School Project and working towards a hard federation or Trust by September 2010 and 57 in relation to dialogue about  the benefits of foundation and Trust status. In particular, it was felt that stakeholders should be made aware of all of the options open to them rather than having one imposed on them. Clarification was also sought of the position with regard to charges made to supplementary schools at weekends.

We were informed that Strategy was intended to start a dialogue with the  Government which already held strong views about these matters. The Tasks column shown in the Appendix to which Members had referred should be read in conjunction with the Outcomes which indicated how these matters would be taken forward. With particular reference to paragraph 57, the Outcome would be a decision for the Governors of the school and what was being proposed was a process. With regard to charges made to supplementary schools, facilities management had only recently transferred back to schools and these arrangements would doubtless be reviewed.  

RESOLVED:

That the Building Schools for the Future - Strategy for Change (2)as set out in the Appendix to the interleaved report be noted.