Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Children’s Services – to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children). The report seeks approval to commence consultation with regard to the closure of the school.

Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to commence consultation on the closure of John Loughborough School.

A deputation was received from Mr Samuel, Acting Chair of the school’s Board of Governors.

Mr Samuel noted that whilst he understood the Council’s concerns with regard to the school’s performance the school had taken significant steps to improve performance over the last two years. These included the employment of a consultant head teacher, with a track record of driving up standards of performance in failing schools, and bringing in teachers with special expertise in Maths to improve standards in that specific area.

Mr Samuel noted that John Loughborough School had a strong Christian ethos and that in addition to providing a good education it also aimed to equip pupils with skills that would enable them to make a significant contribution to society.

Mr Samuel raised concern with regard to the impact that the closure of the school would have upon existing pupils and noted that whilst he appreciated that the Council had a duty to ensure that children in the Borough were provided with the highest standards of education, the disruption and impact upon children at the school also had to be considered.

In conclusion Mr Samuel noted that he hoped that the school and the Council could work together to continue to improve standards at the school and to support the school in its application for Academy status.

The Leader thanked Mr Samuel for his deputation and invited Cabinet Members to put questions to him.

In response to a question, with regard to the falling school roll and the decline in the number of parents and pupils selecting the school as their first preference, Mr Samuel advised that since the school had been placed under special measures by Ofsted in 2009 there had been an understandable fall in the school roll. However, he considered that the steps that the school had taken to drive up standards had made a positive impact and that if the school and the Council continued to work together this would improve further.

The Cabinet Member for Children thanked Mr Samuel for his deputation and acknowledged the work that the school had undertaken to improve its performance. Whilst she understood the school’s position in wanting more time to improve its performance further, she noted that as part of a recent review it had been concluded that the school was only financially viable if it continued to receive extensive and sustained support from the Seventh Day Adventist South of England Conference. Therefore the school was not financially viable from the Council’s perspective.

The Cabinet Member for Children noted that the Council recognised the unique Christian ethos of the school and the emphasis that it placed on its pupil’s spiritual development. However, this was not a sufficient reason not to consider closure against a backdrop of failing education standards and attainment.

In conclusion the Cabinet Member for Children noted that no decision would be made with regard to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 237