Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children). The report seeks agreement to close the John Loughborough School with effect from 31 August 2013.

Due to the number and size of the appendices in relation to this item they have only been circulated to Cabinet Members in hard copy. They have been published on the Council’s website and are available on request.

Prior to Cabinet considering the report, Mr Samuel, Chair of the John Loughborough School Board of Governors, spoke in opposition to the school’s closure.

Mr Samuel began by questioning whether the process followed by the Council in closing the school had been fair and whether the Council could have been more supportive and allowed more time for an Academy sponsor to be found. He contended that the lack of time available had limited that school’s ability to identify a suitable Academy sponsor and suggested that more time should be given to allow that process to take place. It was noted that the school had sought legal advice on this point and had written to the Department of Education on this matter. 

Mr Samuel contended that the Council had demonstrated predetermination in its moves to put arrangements in place for pupils to be moved to alternative schools before the final decision with respect to the school’s closure was made. He also contended that comments had been made by the Leader of the Council, at a consultation event, which demonstrated predetermination.

Mr Samuel noted that the school aimed to equip pupils with skills that would give them confidence and enable them to contribute to their community. He noted that this was one of the school’s strengths and parents and pupils valued this highly.   Whilst he recognised the Council’s concerns with regard to the school’s performance he argued that the school had taken significant steps to improve performance over recent years.

At the conclusion of Mr Samuel’s deputation the Leader disputed an assertion made by Mr Samuel that she had made comments at a consultation event indicating that the decision to close the school was a foregone conclusion.  Cabinet Members were then invited to put questions to Mr Samuel and other members of the deputation.

In response to a series of points made with regard to the school’s poor performance and lack of improvement in comparison with other schools in the borough, the school’s head teacher acknowledged that poor levels of performance were not acceptable and agreed that it was important that all children in the borough received a good education. However, she contended that the school had been through a significant period of turbulence, due to a number of changes to its leadership over recent years, which the Council had not taken into account. She emphasised the value the school placed on supporting its pupils emotional well being and personal development and contended that this should also be taken into account.

In conclusion the head teacher argued that the decision with respect to the school’s closure should be delayed until the examination results for 2013 and 2014 were known as this would allow measures that had been put in place over this last year to become effective.

Cabinet was in agreement that ensuring that young people reached their full potential academically and that they possessed the qualifications and skills they needed in order to find employment was vital. The Council had to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 393