In accordance with Paragraphs 4.16 and 4.17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules, at the discretion of the Chair a period of up to 10 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Community Committee. This period of time may be extended at the discretion of the Chair. No member of the public shall speak for more than three minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.
Minutes:
In accordance with Paragraphs 4.16 and 4.17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules, at the discretion of the Chair a period of up to 10 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Community Committee. This time may be extended at the discretion of the Chair.
The Chair of Governors from Queensway Primary School, along with other governors and parents of pupils from the school attended the meeting, to make representation against the proposed closure of Queensway Primary School.
The Community Committee were provided with the following information:
The Chair of Governors had held his position for 2 years. He acknowledged that the school has had some difficulties. However, since September the school had grown in numbers and in attitude.
He said that OFSTED had visited earlier than expected but the school had continued with the visit.
He informed the Committee that at no point prior to the summer holidays had the school, the governors, parents or staff been included in discussions in relation to the numbers attending the school. He said had this been the case there would have been a wider debate and motivation to increase the number of pupils.
The closure of Queensway Primary would have an impact on parents some of whom were vulnerable single parents coping with vulnerable children who have special needs. The Chair quoted the Public Sector Equality Duty saying that it was clear to see that the most vulnerable families would be impacted if the school closed.
Not only would the school be closing and causing stress to children and parents, but staff were facing potential redundancy. The teachers were continuing to work under this cloud.
It was their view that the process had been poorly managed with information being slow to filter to the school, the school felt let down by the Council.
Another Governor said that the school supported lots of children who have special educational needs some having additional difficulties. Parents whose children attend the school say that their child would not attend other schools in the area, but they had been able to get their child to attend Queensway. It was the view of this governor that proper consultation had not been undertaken and that the Council had not fulfilled the public sector equality duty. It was her view that consultation for closure should have taken place with all the schools across the area not just Queensway. She was of the view that there should be a plan to inform parents what is going to happen.
The committee was informed that many of the children who attend Queensway require one to one provision and this is offered at Queensway.
One parent thanked Councillors Wadsworth, Alderson, Downes, Lay and Campbell for their support.
Another parent whose child attends Queensway spoke of how her child would not go to other schools in the area but had settled at Queensway. She was upset that she would be forced to home educate her child and was of the view that it was not the best way for children especially with special educational needs should be taught. She explained the experience she has had with other schools in the area for her older child and explained that Queensway provided action plans specific to a child and one to one provision.
The parent informed the Community Committee that the parents who take their children to Queensway were vulnerable themselves sometimes being single parents with no family support, they were unable to afford the petrol for car journeys to schools further away. Queensway was more than just a school for children it also offered support for the most vulnerable parents providing a foodbank to ensure families are having meals.
Cllr Downes said that the Community Committee understands and were taking this issue seriously. The Committee had heard how passionately the speakers had spoken in relation to the proposed closure of the school and what it meant to them and their families. He advised the people in attendance that he was taking a White Paper to full Council on Wednesday 16th November. He said that as a child he had moved schools due his father’s work and recognised the impact that moving schools has on young children.
He informed the people present, that officers had looked at the facts and figures in relation to the closing of Queensway. However, it was the details of the needs of the children who attend the school which should be looked at.
Member’s discussions included:
· Concerns that this could happen to another community in the city
· The valuable resources in the teaching staff and what would happen to them
· The lack of consultation with the school, the parents, and local ward councillors. The fact that this issue had not been brought to the attention of the Community Committee or that the Children and Families Champion had not been made aware of this issue.
Cllr B Anderson put forward a motion for a resolution to be made by the Community Committee which was voted on and a recorded vote was requested. It was also suggested that the resolution be reported to full Council and the mechanism for doing so be reviewed by Governance Services. The clerk said that she would seek advice on this matter and report back to the Community Committee.
RESOLVED - This Outer North West Community Committee recommends that the consultation exercise on the Queensway Primary School proposed closure is withdrawn until clarification is received in respect of the issues raised by the Governing Body in the Open Forum at our meeting on Monday 14th November including setting out clearly the alternatives and how the Council will deliver these to affected children and parents.
The Committee further calls on the Executive Member responsible to apologise to the local schools, Governing Bodies, parents and pupils for not following the set out procedures and for not communicating effectively with those mentioned above plus the local Ward Members, in respect of the emotional distress caused to them. The Community Committee further calls on the Executive Board Member responsible to set in process a consultation in respect of potential redundancies and what steps the Council will take to support the Staff.
Under the provisions of the Council Procedure Rule 16.5 the following Members voted in favour of this resolution:
Cllr E Thomson
Cllr P Wadsworth
Cllr P Alderson
Cllr R Downes
Cllr C Campbell
Cllr S Lay
Cllr B Anderson
Cllr C Anderson
The following Member voted to abstain:
Cllr J Garvani