Agenda and minutes

- to receive minutes

The minutes of a previous meeting held on 15^th March, 2005 were agreed as a correct record.

Admissions to Schools 2006/07 – Consultation Report

The meeting was informed that further clarification had been sought with regard to the admission number for Aston ComprehensiveSchool.   The appropriate number, based on the revised net capacity calculation, was now 300.

This had been reported at the recent meeting of the Local Admissions Forum and there was agreement to this number.

Resolved:-  That 300 be confirmed as the admission number for AstonComprehensive School for 2006/07.

- to receive minutes

The minutes of a meeting of the Christmas Carnival Co-ordinating Group held on 10^th March, 2005 were received.

- to consider a proposal to begin a consultation process

Consideration was given to a report of the School Organisation, Planning and Development Manager on a proposal to make changes to the catchment areas of WickersleySchool and SportsCollege, Clifton: A Community Arts School and Oakwood TechnologyCollege.

The ‘Admission to Secondary School 2005-06’ booklet, Section 5, outlines the Admission Criteria for community secondary schools in Rotherham.

It states that where the number of applications for a school is greater than the admission number, the LEA will use specified criteria for allocating places at the community secondary schools.  One of these (number vii), is ‘Children who, on the Closing Date, are on the roll of one of the associated Primary/Junior/Junior and Infant Schools as identified by the Authority.’

The Associated Primary Schools of WickersleySchool and SportsCollege are Bramley Grange, Bramley Sunnyside, Flanderwell, Listerdale, St. Alban’s CE and Wickersley Northfield.

The proposal to be consulted upon therefore is:-

To move the catchment area boundary of Wickersley School and Sports College to incorporate the whole of the catchment area of Listerdale J & I School.

This would mean that Brecks Lane (numbers 29a, 29b – 52 consec.) would no longer be in the catchment area of Clifton: A Community Arts School, and East Bawtry Road (19 – 111 odd) and Sheepcote Road (2 – 106 even) would no longer be in the catchment area of OakwoodTechnology College.

All of these, with the exception of the above-mentioned roads in the Listerdale catchment area are included in the catchment area of WickersleySchool and SportsCollege.

In addition, information contained within the following appendices was considered:-

-                       Appendix A – background information to support the proposal

-                       Appendix B – 2 maps;  1 showing the whole of the Listerdale catchment and 1 showing the areas of the Listerdale J & I catchment that are currently within the catchment areas of Clifton; A Community Arts School and Oakwood Technology College.

Resolved:- (1)   That the consultation on the proposal is begun.

(2)  That a further report be submitted to a future meeting with details of the outcome of the consultation.

- to seek Member support of proposals

Consideration was given to a progress and further development report of the Strategic Leader School Improvement on the Children’s Centre Strategy and proposed partnership arrangements with the private and voluntary sector.

Children’s Centres will serve children and families in Rotherham’s most disadvantaged communities across the borough and will provide integrated education and care for young children, health services, and family support.  In addition, they will also act as a base within the community for parents and providers of childcare services for children of all ages – offering support for childminder networks and a link to other day care provision, out of school clubs and extended schools.  Centres will also have links with local training and education providers, Jobcentre Plus and Children’s Information Services.   The centres will bring together locally available services and integrate management and staffing structures but will not necessarily be developed on one site.

Centres have been agreed by members and approved by DfES for the following:

Designated from September 2003

·        Aughton Early Years Centre – A partnership between Barnardos and Aughton Early Years Centre outreaching to Thurcroft,Treeton and Catcliffe

·        Rawmarsh Children’s Centre – A partnership between RawmarshNursery School and Rawmarsh Sure Start

Revenue approved by DfES for April 2006.  Capital awaiting approval

·        DinningtonCommunity Primary School

·        Dalton FoljambeSchool

·        The Arnold Centre – Herringthorpe

·        ThryberghPrimary School

·        WathVictoria Primary School

·        Rockingham Junior and Infant School – Greasbrough

·        The Ferham Centre – A partnership between Ferham School and Sure Start Central – outreaching to Canklow

·        Maltby – Led by Maltby Sure Start

Proposed for September 2006

·        KimberworthPrimary School – PFI build

·        ColeridgePrimary School – PFI build

The report contained details of two successful bids for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding to support the Children’s Centre Initiative, details of the partnerships involved and work to be covered within a leadership programme consisting of nominated head teachers and key change agents.

Confirmation of further funding from the DfES for 2006-08 is expected before the end of this financial year.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be received.

(2)   That the proposals be supported in principle.

(3)  That the report be referred to Cabinet.

- to note the forecast outturn position for 2004/05

Consideration was given to the ninth Budget Monitoring Report of the Strategic Leader Resources and Information for the Programme Area in 2004/05, with a current forecast to overspend against budget for the financial year by £586k (0.36%).

This relates to budget pressures in both Culture and Leisure Services (£565k) and Education Services (£21k).

A detailed summary of the main variance analyses for each Service Area, with reasons for projected overspends was included in the attached appendices.

The variations were as follows:-

-                       Culture and Leisure Services – overall overspend of £565k

-                       Education services – overall overspend of £21k

All possible action is being taken to minimise overspending in the Programme Area.

Resolved:-  That the forecast outturn for 2004/05 based on actual costs to 28^th February and forecast costs to the end of March 2005 be noted.