Agenda item

To consider a report from the Chief Executive, Education Leeds on the future of Primrose, City of Leeds, Parklands Girls’ High Schools and of Girls Only Secondary Education in Leeds.

The Chief Executive, Education Leeds submitted a report on the future of Primrose, City Of Leeds, Parklands Girls High Schools and of Girls Only Secondary Education in Leeds.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds – Executive Board – 6^th January 2010 – The Future of Primrose, City of Leeds, Parklands Girls’ High Schools, and of Girls Only Secondary Education in Leeds’ for the information/comment of the meeting.

The following officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

Pat Toner, Director of Organisational Improvement, Education Leeds

Richard Smith, Head of Service, Education Leeds

The Director of Organisational Improvement provided the meeting with the relevant background information and reminded Members that the main purpose of this report was to enable the Area Committee to:-

• comment upon the proposal to close City of Leeds High School and the future use of the site for educational purposes;

• consider commenting upon the remainder of the proposals being consulted upon within the 6^th January 2010 Executive Board report

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  clarification of how Elected Members can comment on the proposals

(The Director of Organisational Improvement responded outlining the following courses of action available:-

- Elected Members to register their views

- write in with a specific response to the proposals

- via minutes of the Area Committee meeting)

·    reference to a recent Yorkshire Evening Post article listing the

  performance of a number of schools within the NW Inner ward

(The Director of Organisational Improvement responded and made specific reference to the poor performance at the City of Leeds High School)

·   clarification on how closing the City of Leeds High School

and moving these pupils to a another nearby school would generate better achievement and results in the long term

·   the need for the Area Committee to see evidence ‘for and against’

  regarding the reorganisation proposals

(The Director of Organisational Improvement noted the specific points made by the Area Committee)

·   the need for a full review of the proposals to be undertaken at the City

  of Leeds High School with a specific focus on BME and exam results

(The Director of Organisational Improvement responded and outlined the departments views around achievement and improved learning outcomes. He stated that unlike other schools in the area, the City of Leeds High School had not significantly improved it’s performance over an eight year period as other schools in Leeds had done)

·   clarification of how Education Leeds had addressed the reasons why 

  pupils had not achieved at the City Of Leeds High School, including

  extra-curricular pursuits

·   clarification on how moving these pupils would impact the nearby

  schools of Lawnswood and Carr Manor

  (The Area Committee noted the response given)

·   clarification of the number of pupils from the Headingley area who

  attend the City of Leeds High School and details of the feeder schools

  should the City of Leeds High School result in closure.

  (The Director of Organisational Improvement responded and informed 

  the meeting that, in the first instance, places would be sought in the

  school nearest to where the children lived, including Lawnswood and

  Carr Manor. In relation to the number of pupils from the Headingley

  area, he agreed to circulate this information to the Area Committee via

  the Acting West North West Area Manager)

·   clarification of the Government’s view in relation to targets

  (The Director of Organisational Improvement responded and briefly

  outlined the current  pressures facing the city in relation to

  those schools who were not hitting the benchmark. The department 

  had considered structural changes and new leadership proposals as

  part of the current reorganisation process, but in relation to the City of

  Leeds High School, closure was considered to be the best option at this 

  present time)

·   the view expressed that structural changes make some schools

  unviable

(The Director of Organisational Improvement responded and acknowledged this statement)

·   the need for the Area Committee to be supplied with details on how 

  travel would be affected by reorganisation proposals 

RESOLVED –

a)  That the content of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That the comments made at the meeting be fed into the consultation process and that Members of the Committee be encouraged to forward any further comments to the Chief Executive, Education Leeds.

(Councillor J Monaghan left the meeting at 5.25pm during discussions of the above item)