780870 - Appendix 3
Argyll and Bute Council · 24 August 2023
Back to Community Services Committee — 24 August 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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St Joseph’s Public Consultation Meeting St Joseph’s Primary School 25 April 2023 Panel Douglas Hendry, Executive Director Jen Crocket, Chief Education Officer/Head of Education‐Wellbeing, Inclusion and Achievement Wendy Brownlie, Head of Education – Performance and Improvement In attendance Graeme McMillan ‐ Transformation Programme Manager Tina Sartain – Education Manager Brendan Docherty – Education Manager Mr Robert Hind – Education Scotland Michelle Collins ‐ Head Teacher of St Joseph’s Primary School Admin: Fiona Ferguson – Directorate Support Officer Laura Blackwood – Directorate Support Officer 1 parent Welcome and introductions were made by Douglas Hendry. Ms Crocket and Mrs Brownlie then spoke to a prepared presentation on the proposal this included, the background to the proposal, the reasons for the proposal the educational benefits which the Council believe would be achieved upon implementation of the proposal and information on how stakeholders can submit formal responses to the consultation. Question 1 Who has discretionary power to agree transport to St Joseph’s? Panel Response Panel advised that the transport service are responsible for arranging travel to school. It was suggested by the panel that this issue could be picked up at the end of the meeting as this meeting has been arranged in regard to extending the catchment area for St Joseph’s. Question 2 It’s been over a year and a half since this was raised by Councillor Trail why has this taken so long? Panel Response Correct in your understanding. Councillor Trail did raise this at a Council meeting and this was referred to the Community Services Committee who, on 16th December 2021 agreed to take forward a statutory consultation to extend the catchment area for St Joseph’s. You are also correct that there was a delay in this kicking off, as the Education Service was already involved in another large piece of work and officers did not have capacity to run these both at the same time. Appendix 3
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Question 3 Is there a timescale which the Council must follow when a parental request is made to change the catchment area of a school, if so what is it? Panel Response The panel confirmed that a parental request does not in itself trigger a statutory duty to conduct a review of a catchment area under the 2010 Act. Question 5 The issue of there being an empty seat on the mini bus which travels to school on the same route which this parent travels was raised again. Panel Response The panel advised that this was a matter for transport and not the Education Service. Question 6 By what agreement can pupils to go to Our Lady and St Patricks High School? Panel Response The panel advised that the right for all pupils in the Hermitage Academy catchment area to choose to attend Our Lady and St Patricks High School as a denominational school was established in 1995 at the time of disaggregation. There were no further questions on the proposal and Ms Crocket suggested that a conversation with Michelle Collins and Brendan Docherty may be the best way to address the other issues which were raised tonight and this was agreed by the parent. The parent in attendance wanted to have on record that she was refused transport for her son while she was being treated for cancer and has epilepsy. Mr Hendry thanked those in attendance and closed the meeting at 7.40pm.