St Joseph - Proposal Paper 9.2.23, 22/02/2023 Pre-Agenda Briefing of the Community Services Committee
Argyll and Bute Council · 9 March 2023
Back to Community Services Committee — 9 March 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Appendix 1 Education PROPOSAL PAPER We are looking for your views on a proposal to rezone the catchment area of St Joseph’s Primary School. Closing date for responses: 12th May 2023 A public meeting will be held on: 25/4/2023 at St Joseph’s Primary School at 7.00 pm This document has been issued by Argyll and Bute Council for consultation under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. If you need this information in another language or format, please contact us to discuss how we can best meet your needs. Phone: 01369 708576 Email: argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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2 Contents 1. The proposal and consultation process 2. Implementation date for the proposal 3. Background to the proposal and overview of pupil population trends 4. Educational benefits – assessment of the effects of the proposal 5. Assessing the impact on the local community affected by this proposal 6. Employee implications 7. Financial implications 8. Responding to the proposal 9. Appendices Appendix 1 Distribution list Appendix 2 Map detail of current boundary and proposed boundary 10. Consultation response form
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3 1.0 THE PROPOSAL AND CONSULTATION PROCESS 1.1 Proposal Argyll and Bute Council is seeking views on the following proposal, namely: “To rezone the catchment area for St Joseph’s Primary School so that it is extended to the whole of the Helensburgh and Lomond area”. 1.2 Decision to undertake the consultation On 16th December 2021, Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Services Committee agreed to note the terms of a referral from the full Council relating to St Joseph’s Primary School’s catchment area. The Committee further agreed to take forward a statutory procedure (in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, to extend the catchment area for St Joseph’s Primary School to cover the whole of the Helensburgh and Lomond area; noting that a report on the statutory procedure to be undertaken would be presented to Committee in due course once resource pressures on the Education Service were eased. 1.3 Consultation on the proposal Under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, if a local authority proposes to alter the catchment area of a school, it must undertake a statutory consultation with the ‘relevant consultees’ affected by this proposal. In this instance; Arrochar Primary School Cardross Primary School Colgrain Primary School Garelochhead Primary School Hermitage Primary School John Logie Baird Primary School Kilcreggan Primary School Luss Primary School Parklands Primary School Rhu Primary School Rosneath Primary School would be the ‘affected schools’. The formal consultation on the proposal within this document will be undertaken under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the Act”). The consultation period will start on 16th March 2023 (with due written notice of the proposal issued to the relevant consultees listed in Appendix 1) and end on 12th May
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4 2023. Written representations must be received by the close of business on the closing date in order to be taken into account. 1.4 Public meeting A public Meeting will be held on Tuesday 25th April at 19.00 in St Joseph’s Primary School to discuss the proposal. Anyone wishing to attend the public meeting is invited to do so. The meeting will provide those in attendance with an opportunity to: Hear about the proposal; Ask questions about the proposal, and Express views about the proposal. A note will be taken of the views expressed during the public meeting and of any questions asked so that they can be taken into account as part of the consultation process. In addition to the public meeting, written representations will be able to be made during the consultation period. A copy of the Consultation Response Form can be found at the end of this Proposal Paper. 1.5 Pupil views Pupils will be invited to comment during the consultation process, through a session facilitated by a Council Officer, ensuring that they have an opportunity to contribute their views. 1.6 Education Scotland (formerly HM Inspectorate of Education, HMIe) At the start of the consultation period the Council will provide Education Scotland with this proposal paper. When the consultation period has ended, the Council will collate all of the written and oral representations. Thereafter, this information will be provided to Education Scotland and include; A copy of written representations made to the Council on the proposal (or summary of them if agreed with Education Scotland); A summary of oral representations made at the public meeting, and Other relevant documentation, so far as is practicable. Education Scotland will prepare a report on the educational aspects of the proposal taking account of the above, and in so far that Education Scotland considers them relevant, any written representations made directly to them. Education Scotland may also visit the schools affected by the proposal and make any other enquiries as they consider appropriate. Education Scotland require to send their report to the Council no later than 3 weeks (or longer if agreed with the Council) after having received the information from the Council. 1.7 Consultation Report
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5 After receiving Education Scotland’s report, the Council will review the proposal taking account of written representations received during the consultation period, oral representations made during the public meeting and Education Scotland’s report. The Council will then prepare and publish a Consultation Report which will include a recommendation on the proposal and make it available for inspection. The Consultation Report will be published no later than three weeks before it is formally considered by the Council. 1.8 Inaccuracies or omissions Where inaccuracies or omissions are discovered within this Proposal Paper, the Council will determine whether relevant information has been omitted or, if there has been an inaccuracy. Appropriate action will then be taken by the Council which may include issuing corrections, reissuing a corrected proposal paper or an extension of the consultation period. In any of these events all relevant consultees (and where applicable the notifier(s) of any omissions or inaccuracies) and Education Scotland will be advised of the appropriate action. 2.0 IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The proposal, if accepted, would be implemented from 24th August 2023. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 St. Joseph’s Primary is a Roman Catholic, co-educational primary school, situated in the upper east end of Helensburgh. St Joseph’s is one of four denominational primary schools in Argyll and Bute i.e. St Columba’s Primary School is in Oban; St Mun’s Primary School is in Dunoon; and St Andrew’s Primary school is situated on the Isle of Bute. It was built in 1977 to replace the old St. Joseph’s School and it covers the stages of Primary 1 to Primary 7. The current school roll is 136 as per the table below: St Joseph's Primary School - Helensburgh P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 Grand Total 21 15 23 17 20 20 20 136 3.2 On 26th October 2022 St Joseph’s Primary School Parent Council unanimously agree at its AGM to make a formal request to the Council to consider rezoning the school’s current catchment area 3.3 In considering all requests to re-align catchment areas, the Council will have due regard to its specific statutory duties as laid out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended. 3.4 The existing catchment area of St Joseph’s Primary School is shown in Appendix 2. The request by St Joseph’s Primary School Parent Council, and by
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6 the referral from the full Council as detailed at Paragraph 1.2, above, is for the catchment area to be increased to include all of the Helensburgh and Lomond area. 3.5 St Joseph’s Primary School Parent Council feels that the catchment area for their school should include all of the schools within Helensburgh and Lomond. The current catchment area is a historic boundary legacy, inherited from Strathclyde Regional Council in 1995. At present there are 2 children of primary school age living in the portion of the Helensburgh and Lomond area which is currently excluded from St Joseph’s Primary School’s catchment area. They attend St Joseph’s Primary School as a result of placing requests. The table below illustrates the current catchment area size for the denominational primary schools in Argyll and Bute. School Size of catchment area in hectares St Andrew’s PS 12,835 (this is the whole island of Bute) St Columba’s PS 153,184 St Mun’s PS 24,760 St Joseph’s PS 34,632 Proposed rezoned catchment for St Joseph’s PS 44,662 3.6 The School Roll of the affected schools as per September 2022 is: School P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 Grand Total Arrochar Primary School 6 6 9 5 9 5 10 50 Cardross Primary School 19 25 26 26 28 21 28 173 Colgrain Primary School 35 17 32 47 43 39 44 257 Garelochhead Primary School 12 15 9 10 19 21 21 107 Hermitage Primary School 55 49 51 54 51 59 50 369 John Logie Baird Primary School 16 13 10 19 11 20 14 103 Kilcreggan Primary School 11 15 11 15 10 13 10 85 Luss Primary School 1 0 1 1 2 1 5 11 Parklands Primary School 5 7 4 1 1 3 2 23 Rhu Primary School 24 19 17 21 28 32 30 171 Rosneath Primary School 15 10 10 14 11 7 13 80
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7 4.0 EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS STATEMENT – ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSAL 4.1 Benefits for present pupils of St Joseph’s Primary School Should the catchment area be rezoned, there may be benefits for current pupils such as additional opportunities for personal and social development through an increased roll. From a curricular perspective, there would be no particular changes, however an increased school roll may well bring additional opportunities for children to develop socially and emotionally, particularly in developing them as confident individuals. 4.2 Benefits for future pupils of St Joseph’s Primary School If the catchment area was rezoned it would mean that pupils from a wider geographical location would be able to attend a denominational school without their parents having to make a specific placing request. These pupils would also benefit from additional opportunities for personal and social development in St Joseph’s Primary School. From a curricular perspective, there would be no particular changes, however an increased school roll may well bring additional opportunities for children to develop socially and emotionally, particularly in developing them as confident individuals. 4.3 Effects on other users of the school’s facilities Effects on any other users of the school’s facilities would be negligible. 4.4 Pupils of other schools in the area Currently, pupils who live in the proposed rezoning area are able to make a placing request to attend St Joseph’s Primary School if they wish. However, the cost of transport is met by the family, not the local authority. If the proposal was to be implemented, then parents of children who currently attend other schools in the area may now be able to send their children to St Joseph’s Primary School for a Catholic education should they wish, without having to make a placing request, or pay for travel. If the catchment area for St Joseph’s Primary School was rezoned it would mean that pupils from a wider geographical area would be able to attend a denominational school without their parents having to make a specific placing request. There would be the following benefits to pupils: the increased opportunity for children to experience a faith based curriculum which works in partnership with the Catholic Church to provide spiritual growth and to celebrate faith in Jesus Christ; and
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8 potentially an increased number of prospective pupils – thereby adding to the diversity, strength and vibrancy of the school community. If this proposal was to be implemented there would be a positive effect on children who currently do not attend St Joseph’s Primary School and who wish to have a denominational education. There could also be a benefit to current and future children who attend the school. If this proposal was implemented, all pupils who reside in the proposed rezoning area would fall within the new catchment area for St Joseph’s Primary School as well as their local non-denominational school. This would offer additional educational choice to these pupils, which would not be subject to a placing request. 4.5 Implications for pupils if the proposal was not implemented If this proposal is not implemented the children who currently live in the rezoning area, and who may move into the rezoning area, who wish to attend St Joseph’s Primary School will continue to have to make a placing request should they wish to attend. They would also have to pay the cost of transport to and from school. This may also be a potential barrier for parents who wish to provide a denominational education for their children and be educated in accordance with their faith. 5.0 ASSESSING THE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AFFECTED BY THESE PROPOSALS 5.1 There may be implications for the local communities of the affected primary schools. Potentially, children who attend these schools may opt to attend St Joseph’s Primary School. This may lead to a reduction in school rolls for pupils in these schools. Currently there is one school which has a school roll of less than twenty, and a reduction in their roll could have an impact on the ethos of these schools in their own communities. 6.0 EMPLOYEE IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Staffing arrangements will continue to be consistent with the Argyll and Bute Council Staffing Standards and other local arrangements. 6.2 If many children choose to go to St Joseph’s Primary School instead of their non-denominational catchment school, this may also have an impact on staffing in both schools. If the school roll of St Joseph’s Primary School increases it may require more staff, and if the other non-denominational schools sustain a corresponding drop in their school rolls, they may require to review their staffing arrangements. The Education Authority do not anticipate the numbers of pupils involved as a result of this proposed catchment extension to hugely impact other non-denominational schools.
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9 7.0 OTHER ISSUES 7.1 There will most likely be increased transport costs for the Council should this rezoning take place. Any additional transport requests could may well incur additional costs. It is not considered that the proposal would be likely to incur a large cost to transport. 7.2 It is not a requirement that all pupils who attend denominational schools must be of that particular religious persuasion. Every school under the management of the Education Authority must be open to pupils of all denominations. 7.3 Religion and belief is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, which the Council, as a public authority, must have regard to when making decisions of this nature. If the Council were to rezone the catchment area for St Joseph’s Primary School so as to increase the availability of denominational primary school education for children in the Helensburgh and Lomond area whose parents so wish to opt for it, this would be in accordance with the spirit of the 2010 Act. Denominational schools are afforded further statutory protections in terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, and associated Education legislation. 8.0 CONCLUSION 8.1 This is a proposal to rezone the catchment area of St Joseph’s Primary School, following requests to that effect from the previous Council (in December 2021) and the school’s Parent Council. It is recommended that a statutory consultation exercise take place in respect of this under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. There are currently 2 pupils who attend the school who live out with the catchment area, who are not entitled to free school transport. Should the catchment area be rezoned, there would be increased accessibility to denominational education for children in the rezoned catchment area (i.e. the Helensburgh and Lomond area). There may be implications in terms of staffing and transport costs should there be an increase in the school roll of St Joseph’s as a result of any rezoning. Members are invited to adopt the draft proposal and proceed to a statutory consultation exercise under the 2010 Act to consider extending the catchment area of St Joseph’s Primary School. 9.0 RESPONDING TO THE PROPOSAL 9.1 Interested parties are invited to respond to the proposal by making written or electronic submissions on the proposal using the form attached no later than close of business on 12th May 2023.
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10 Responses can be submitted to: Argyll and Bute Council Customer Services: Education Argyll House Alexandra Parade Dunoon, PA23 8AJ Email: argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk 9.2 Those sending in a response, whether by letter or electronically should be aware that their response will be open to public scrutiny and may have to be supplied to anyone making a reasonable request to see it. 9.3 If they do not wish their response to be publicly available, they should clearly write on the document: “I wish my response to be considered as confidential with access restricted to elected members and council officers of Argyll and Bute Council.” Otherwise, it will be assumed that the respondent agrees to their response being made publicly available.
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11 Appendix 1 Distribution list and how to access a copy of the proposal document A copy of this proposal document will be provided to the following ‘relevant consultees’ in terms of the Act: The Parent Councils of the affected schools; The parents of the pupils at the affected schools; A copy of the proposal will be provided to all Early Years Establishments in the local area, giving access to parents who have children expected to attend the affected schools within two years of the publication of this proposal paper; The pupils at the affected schools (in so far as the Education Authority considers them to be of suitable age and maturity); All Argyll and Bute Council employees at the affected schools; Trade union representatives of employees at the affected schools; Community Councils within the affected localities; Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow; All relevant users of the affected schools, and Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partners. A copy of this proposal document will also be made available to: All Elected Members of Argyll and Bute Council representing the Helensburgh and Lomond area; Argyll and Bute Youth Forum; Education Scotland (formerly Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, HMIe); The Constituency MSP of the affected schools; List MSPs for the area of the affected schools; The MP for the area of the affected schools; Police Scotland; NHS Highland; Argyll and Bute School Transport; Senior Local Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Services, and Care Inspectorate The steps listed below have also been taken to ensure that the proposal is widely available: The proposal document will also be published on the Argyll and Bute Council website; This document can be made available in alternative forms or translated by contacting Argyll House, Dunoon, telephone: 01369 708576 or argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk; The proposal paper will also be available at the following locations: a) Council Offices b) All libraries in Helensburgh and Lomond c) All Helensburgh and Lomond area/locality offices d) The schools affected by the proposal
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12 Appendix 2 Map detailing the current catchment area for St Joseph’s Primary School:
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13 Map detailing proposed catchment area for St Joseph’s Primary School:
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14 10. CONSULTATION RESPONSE FORM Education Service Please use this form to let us know what you think about the proposal You can complete this feedback form in Adobe Acrobat and print it out, or print and complete it by hand, using block capital letters. Return the form to: Customer Services: Education, Argyll House, Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, PA23 8AJ Or as an e-mail to argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk. The closing date for comments is 12th May 2023. Proposal Argyll and Bute Council is seeking the views on the following proposal, namely: To rezone the catchment area of St Joseph’s Primary School to cover the whole of the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Name Address I agree with the proposal(please tick) Yes No Undecided If you wish to comment on the proposal please use the space below, or attach another sheet
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15 I am responding in my capacity as a (please indicate by ticking the appropriate box) Parent/ carer of child at St Joseph’s Primary School Trade Union Parent/ carer of child at affected primary school (please specify) Elected representative Pupil Community Council St Joseph’s PS Parent Council Member of the public/ community Affected PS Parent Council Member of staff Church Other Group Details: _________________________ Handling your response - Please note that: We will use the information you provide for the purpose(s) of this consultation, including statistical and analytical purposes; We will pass a full copy of your written response to Education Scotland or a summary of it of agreed with them; and We are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and therefore would have to consider any request made under that Act for information relating to written responses/ records of oral representations made to us relating to this consultation. Electronic publication and additional copies This consultation, and all other consultation exercises, can be viewed online on the consultation web pages of the Council website at: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/consultations Public internet can be accessed at your local library. Thank you for taking time to respond.