Southend Primary School
Argyll and Bute Council · 9 March 2023
Back to Community Services Committee — 9 March 2023 and its agenda
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1 ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 9 MARCH 2023 SCHOOLS (CONSULTATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 – SOUTHEND PRIMARY SCHOOL 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report provides details of the Options Appraisal for Southend Primary School, carried out in accordance with the preliminary requirements set out in Section 12A of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended. 1.2 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: a. Note the outcome of this consideration of the preliminary requirements; and, b. Agree that officers now formulate a draft closure proposal that will come back to the August 2023 meeting of the Committee for approval by members which would subsequently trigger the formal consultation process under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.
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2 ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 9 MARCH 2023 SCHOOLS (CONSULTATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 – SOUTHEND PRIMARY SCHOOL 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 When considering the future of a rural school the Education Authority must first satisfy the preliminary requirements as set out in Section 12A the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended. 2.2 On 25th August 2022, Community Services Committee agreed that the Education Service would undertake the preliminary requirements in relation to considering a rural school closure and look at an Options Appraisal for Southend Primary School. As Southend Primary School is a rural school, the preliminary requirements stipulate that a possible closure proposal, and all the reasonable alternatives, are to be assessed, having particular regard to the following: a. Their likely educational benefits. b. Their likely effect on the local community – having particular regard to the sustainability of the community and the availability of the school premises to the community. c. The likely effect that would be caused by any different travelling arrangements on the school's pupils and staff and any other users of the school's facilities, as well as the possible environmental impact. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: a. Note the outcome of this consideration of the preliminary requirements; and, b. Agree that officers now formulate a draft closure proposal that will come back to the August 2023 meeting of the Committee for approval by members which would subsequently trigger the formal consultation process under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 This report provides details of the Options Appraisal, carried out in accordance with the preliminary requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended (the 2010 Act), in respect of Southend Primary School.
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3 4.2 The Options Appraisal for Southend Primary School is attached as Appendix 1. 4.3 Four alternative options have been assessed whilst considering the future of Southend Primary School. For each option, information was collated and particular regard was given to: Community feedback; Pupil numbers; Assessment of rural factors – namely the likely effect on the local community (having particular regard to the sustainability of the community and availability of the school’s premises and its other facilities for use by the community); and the likely effect of any different travelling arrangements that may be required (having particular regard to the effect on pupils, staff and any other users of the school’s facilities, and any environmental impact). Educational benefits; and Financial information 4.4 An authority that is contemplating a rural school closure proposal must satisfy the preliminary requirements set out in Section 12A of the 2010 Act prior to formulating any proposal. 4.5 Consideration was given to the underlying reasons as to why the future of Southend Primary School is being reviewed, and all reasonable alternatives to closure of the school as a response to those underlying reasons, were identified. All four options (including closure) were then assessed – having particular regard to likely educational benefits, likely effect on the local community and likely effect on travelling arrangements. Following this assessment, closing Southend Primary School and realigning the catchment area of Castlehill Primary School to include the current catchment area for Southend Primary School is considered to be the most reasonable option to address the underlying reasons for the possible proposal. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The Options Appraisal for Southend Primary School has been prepared in accordance with the preliminary requirements of the 2010 Act. 5.2 After consideration of the preliminary requirements, all identified reasonable alternatives and the reasons for why the future of the School is being considered, closing Southend Primary School and redrawing its catchment area to the delineated catchment area of Castlehill Primary School is considered to be the most reasonable option in order to address the underlying reasons for the possible proposal. Officers are now in a position to formulate a draft proposal that will come back to the August 2023 meeting of the Committee for approval by members which would subsequently trigger the formal consultation process under the 2010 Act.
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4 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – An authority that is considering formulating a rural school closure proposal must first satisfy the preliminary requirements set out in Section 12A of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended. 6.2 Financial – there are financial implications for each option, as set out in the Options Appraisal. 6.3 Legal – The Options Appraisal for Southend Primary School has been prepared in accordance with the preliminary requirements as set out in Section 12A of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended. 6.4 HR – None 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: None at present 6.5.1 Equalities – None at present 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty - None at present 6.5.3 Islands – None at present 6.6 Climate Change – None 6.7 Risk – None at present 6.8 Customer Service – None at present Douglas Hendry, Executive Director with responsibility for Education Councillor Yvonne Mcneilly, Policy Lead for Education For further information please contact:- Jen Crocket Chief Education Officer/ Head of Education-Wellbeing, Inclusion and Achievement Jennifer.crocket@argyll-bute.gov.uk / 07917529794 Wendy Brownlie Head of Education: Performance and Improvement wendy.brownlie@argyll-bute.gov.uk / 01369707118 Rosie Mackay Education Manager rosie.mackay@argyll-bute.gov.uk / 01436567674 7th February 2023 Appendix 1 Options Appraisal – Southend Primary School