To receive and consider the reports on Schools Transformation for Irfon Valley Community Primary School.
Minutes:
Background
The Governing Body contacted the Schools Services with concerns relating to a recent drop in pupil numbers and the impact on the financial stability. It was explained that a review process would be undertaken. It was stated that the Governing Body were not part of the review process nor part of the recommendation before Scrutiny Committee today.
There has been a sudden decline in pupil numbers with the main reason cited as being no afterschool provision.
Recommendation to be made to Cabinet:
To proceed to formal consultation to close Irfon Valley CP School as of the 31st August 2024 and for pupils to transfer to their nearest alternative schools.
Points raised by the Panel:
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Responses received from Officers or Cabinet Members.
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It would appear that local transferring in schools are either at capacity or near to, limiting the choice of schools for those pupils of Irfon Valley to transfer to, what would be the distance that pupils from Newbridge would have to travel to Builth or Dolafon.
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Do not have actual distances to hand but in terms of admissions if the pupils were closest to Newbridge, application for a place could be submitted if availability, they would be allocated a place, with home to school transport provided if the closest school. Currently more than half of the pupils at Irfon Valley are closest to Dolafon but would have to wait until parents have made their decision. Currently there are 44 spaces in Builth Wells CP School available across the Welsh and English mediums. |
2 pupils are closest to Newbridge which is currently oversubscribed, would the Admissions Team be flexible in their approach, or would there be the expectation that those 2 pupils would be transported elsewhere. What were the expected additional costs of school transport for those pupils who have already left Irfon Valley CP School and could be in receipt of that entitlement in the future, notwithstanding that pupils could be transported in possibly 3 different directions. |
Estimated transport costs based on pupils transferring to their closest schools.
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Does the £46k for school transport take into consideration those children that have already left Irfon Vally CP School who could become eligible for free Home to School transport, but who are not currently eligible. |
When the transport costs were modelled it would have been on the number of learners in the school at that time. Will confirm to Committee when the modelling took place and numbers of children involved. Confirm this is the case – number of pupils at the school in September 2023 |
Free School Meals (FSM) currently is at 17.6% has this figure increased significantly since half of the pupils have transferred elsewhere. |
The reason for the increase was due to there being less pupils within the school. Pupils who did not have FSM have transferred leaving those pupils in receipt of FSM. The reduction in numbers was due to parental choice rather than deprivation in any way. |
Confirmation sought that the Safeguarding recommendations made by Estyn had been complied with and addressed, where these factor in the reduction in numbers. |
The Safeguarding recommendation from Estyn had been addressed within the first few months. There were no concerns of the quality of education taking place inside the school, parents are not citing any reason other than after school provision for moving their child’s school, friendship groups have then moved alongside |
Cllr A.B Davies invited by the Chair to comment as Local Member. Comments made by the officers are correct the lack of afterschool provision has been the main concern. There were no concerns with the Leadership nor quality of education provided at the school. The Welsh medium school in Builth has taken a number of the Irfon Valley learners. Pleased to note that the Scrutiny Committee are giving due diligence to the report which in turn has provided confidence in the process. Chair commented that it was always important to have views from the Local Member (s) when discussing subject matter as sensitive and important to communities. |
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Clarity raised over the potential use of the site, tis there a co-dependency between a village hall to the school and the income the village hall can derive from the school. There would appear to be a difference in approach between town and rural areas, the earlier discussion on Newtown schools listed possibilities, but there would appear a lack of opportunities and service delivery in a more rural community. |
Cllr A.B. Davies advised that the village hall was completely separate to the school. The Service would follow the normal process for declaring properties surplus, i.e., discussions with the Community Council, options for Council services to utilise the space, then the option for capital receipts via the open market for sale.
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Scrutiny made the following observations:
· The Committee noted:
o The concerns from the Governing Body to the Schools Service to look into the recent fall in numbers and the impact on the financial sustainability of Irfon Valley CP School.
o That the Governing Body were not part of the review process, nor did they have any involvement in any decisions that have been made.
o And were supportive of the consultation process proceeding in regard to the potential closure of Irfon Valley CP School.
o That the previous safeguarding recommendations from Estyn relating to Health and Safety matters had been addressed.
o There were no concerns of the quality of education provision or management standards at Irfon Valley CP School, with reason given for falling numbers was the lack of afterschool provision.
· The Committee requested that:
o The Admissions Teams be flexible in their approach when dealing with any potential resettlement of pupils and when considering home to school transport.
o That a Powys-wide vision document be made available to the to inform of the direction of travel for the whole schools transformation programme.
· The Committee remained unconvinced about
o The future potential use of the site, given the lack of service delivery and opportunities in the more rural areas of the county.
· The Committee expressed concern:
o Regarding the admissions policy and request this be reviewed at the earliest opportunity.
o The cost of transport within the report at £46k, was this in relation to all pupils or the current number of 19 remaining in the school.
Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations to Cabinet were that:
1. Assurance that the admissions policy will be flexible and reviewed at the earliest opportunity.
2. Clarity is sought in relation to the transport costs held within the report.
3. Clarity is sought on the future potential use of the site.
Supporting documents: