PUBLIC MEETING - 27TH February 2014
Education Provision in Dulverton – Questions and Answers
Q1
A1
Q2
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Q3
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Q4(1)
A4(1)
Are the costs of the proposed changes going to be in excess of 10 times the current
funding shortfall of £80,000?
A number of costs including building alterations, staff retraining and redundancies
are one-off costs. The annual shortfall in funding will be on-going as it is the
difference between the money needed to maintain the current standards and the
funding allocated through the national funding formula.
What impact will the proposals have, if implemented, on other schools in the
Federation?
No change to Exford First School is being proposed. However, pupils at Exford will
now have the choice of attending Dulverton Junior for two years and then
Kingsmead or attending Minehead Middle or Danesfield Middle and then West
Somerset College.
If the proposals are implemented will the schools involved have enough places to
accommodate the requests of parents?
Kingsmead is consulting on changing its catchment to include the Dulverton
Middle catchment. This will give the same priority to Dulverton children as the
current catchment children. West Somerset College will have places from Y9.
What evidence is there to suggest that the proposals are in the best interests of the
children? How much better will it be?
Key issues relate to educational and social isolation, including: the restricted size
of peer groups and sufficiency of challenge; limited opportunities for social
interaction; difficulties with recruitment and retention of staff; excessive burdens
for staff; increased expertise required to support pupils with special educational
needs.
The Dulverton Middle School Year 6 group in 2013 had 24 pupils with 8 girls and
16 boys. The Year 5 and 6 groups combined had 51 pupils (20 boys and 31 girls).
By contrast Kingsmead had 148 students. The breadth and range of opportunities
that can be provided to a cohort of 24 will inevitably be different to that possible
with 148 students. Within the 24 students there were 7 who had high prior
attainment from Key Stage 1, 8 middle ability and 9 lower ability. This presents
challenges in meeting the needs of all pupils - from SEN to challenging the most
able. Teaching these pupils in one class presents challenges in teaching at the
appropriate pitch and teaching in two classes increases costs considerably and
does not provide a sound preparation for the next stage of education where such
class sizes would not be offered.
The range of, for instance, sporting opportunities that can be provided are
constrained by these numbers – there are insufficient numbers for a full girls
hockey team, and every boy would be needed to field a rugby team. Extracurricular opportunities will again be constrained; multiple activities timetabled
simultaneously would soon run out of numbers.
Dulverton Middle School newsletters show that:
 a homework club runs on 2 evenings
 hockey on one evening and rugby on another
 gymnastics is also available
The DMS newsletter of 27 September states; ‘the current numbers attending both
after school hockey and rugby clubs are insufficient to carry on and if the numbers
do not improve the clubs may unfortunately need to be cancelled.’ Newsletters
show a range of competitive fixtures against other schools in Years 5 and 6 but
fewer opportunities in Years 7 and 8. There do no appear to be after school arts
activities. A larger cohort would provide the opportunity to participate in a much
wider range of activities.
There is evidence that pupils from Dulverton Middle School find it challenging
transferring at the end of Year 8 to a large cohort at West Somerset College in
which they are by far the smallest transferring group. They can find this isolating.
[Contribution of the Exmoor Curriculum to Rural Young People’s Educational
Achievement and Environmental Awareness (Final Report, January 2010). Sue
Waite, Faculty of Education, University of Plymouth.]
Being able to transfer at the age of 11 to a new school joining at the same time as
pupils from a range of schools, of different sizes would enable Dulverton pupils to
have a smoother transition. They would no longer be a small group in comparison
to much larger groups with established social groups from the other two middle
schools.
With such small cohort sizes is it possible to deliver a Key Stage 3 curriculum of
comparable quality to an 11-16 school? It has only been possible to deliver the
current curriculum this year by purchasing support from West Somerset College.
This will become increasingly challenging year on year. Teachers will be required
to teach subject they have not taught before and for which they are not trained.
In a very small school they will not have the support of fellow subject specialist to
draw upon. The range and breadth of continuing professional development
opportunities, support and challenge in a subject team of several teachers can not
compare to that for a single teacher who is also teaching several other subjects.
The experience of pupils will also be different. Workload on teachers is also
intense – one teacher will be writing 300 report because they teach the same class
for multiple subjects.
Q4(2)
A4(2)
Q5
In conclusion the proposed changes will reduce rural and education isolation and
provide a richer education experience.
Bearing in mind that the Kingsmead School consultation is highlighting concerns,
what will happen in the event that no guarantee of a place can be given?
Academies have their own admission policies, which give priority to pupils in the
catchment area. Dulverton and Exford children will be given priority in the
oversubscription criteria, if agreed for Kingsmead.
Technically would it be possible to have overlapping catchment areas?
A5
Q6
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Q7
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Q8
A8
Yes, it is possible to have overlapping catchment areas for admissions purposes;
however transport will only be provided to either the nearest or designated
transport area school (if the home address is more than 2 miles away for children
under 8 and 3 miles away for age 8 and over). The designated transport area does
not automatically change to match a change in catchment area; this is set by the
Local Authority.
Academies are able to change their admission criteria which may result in the
catchment areas shrinking and school places no longer being guaranteed sometime
in the future. What guarantee can SCC give that this will not happen?
Academies have the freedom to change their admission arrangements, including
their catchment areas, following an appropriate consultation. Even if admission
arrangements have been determined by the governing body there is still the
option for any member of the public, Local Authority or other own admission
authority to object to the determined admission arrangements to the Office of
the Schools Adjudicator. In essence the Local Authority can give no guarantee that
an academy will not alter their admission arrangements; however the Office of
the Schools Adjudicator, whose job it is to make sure admission arrangements are
fair, transparent and comply with the School Admission Code, can instruct an
academy to alter them. However, what is guaranteed is that the Local Authority
has a duty to ensure there is a school place available for every child in Somerset
(although it might not always be the preferred school), and the Local Authority
works closely with Academies to plan the provision across the Authority. It is
difficult to see a situation where, once agreed, Kingsmead Academy would choose
to reduce its new catchment.
If the stakeholders at Kingsmead decided not to take Dulverton & Exford children,
where will these children go at the age of 11 years?
Kingsmead is not the only option at Year 7 for Dulverton families, but it was
clearly their preference from earlier conversations; hence the Local Authority
approached Kingsmead to ask them to increase their catchment. If Kingsmead
does not change its catchment, this will be a factor taken into account in the final
report.
Confirmation was requested that parents of 11 year olds will be given a choice of
schools and the option paying extra transport costs if applicable.
Parents will be notified of the options available to them once their child reaches
the age of 10. Currently all parents are able to express a preference for any school
in Somerset at any time and there will be no change if Dulverton Middle changes
to become a Junior School. Depending on whether the preferred school is a
middle school or secondary school, the application may need to be an In Year
application form or the annual Applying to Transfer School application form. The
LA also writes to parents at transfer point telling them how to apply and guiding
them through the process. At present in Dulverton parents are written to when
their children are in Year 8. If the proposals go ahead parents will be written to
when their child is in year 6.
If the school at which a place is secured is not the nearest or designated transport
school then if there is a bus already running the option to buy a pay seat is
available but dependent on whether there is a spare seat. We advise all Somerset
Q9
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Q11
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Q12
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Q13
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Q14
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Q15
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Q16
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Q17
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Q18
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Q19
parents to think about how they are going to get their child to school before
deciding on their preferences and applying. See further information on online
consultation page.
Will SCC consider children from Somerset attending schools in Devon?
Yes, there is no county boundary for admissions.
Is it correct that DMS will still be used as an educational facility?
Yes, the Middle School will become a Junior School and be retained.
Is it correct that parents at this moment in time can send their children to other
schools if they wish?
Yes, however in the case of Kingsmead it takes children from the age of 11 years
and has no capacity to accept any other than those meeting their existing
admission criteria. This is why the Local Authority has asked Kingsmead to
consider changing its catchment.
If the number of pupils decrease will the school buildings be at risk of closure?
SCC cannot sell school facilities without the authority of the Secretary of State.
Furthermore, SCC is anxious that the existing community facilities are maintained
for the wider community.
If the proposals are implemented will there exist more useable space?
Yes, the First School is currently over-crowded.
Is it cheaper to send children to other schools rather than provide more classroom
facilities?
Dulverton All saints requires additional space, but it would be cheaper to provide
it than change the structure of the schools. Therefore it is not the reason for the
change.
Have the Church Authorities agreed the proposed change from a First School to an
Infants School?
Yes, as long as the Infants School remains a Church school, as the First School is
currently.
Where does Exford School fit in? Is the Federation being dismantled?
Exford First School wishes to remain as it is. However there is a consultation
process ongoing. It is not anticipated that the Federation will be disbanded.
Should not the whole of the federation be consulted with regards the proposals? A
more holistic approach taken?
The whole Federation is being consulted. Drop-in sessions have been held in both
Dulverton (02 July 2013 & 11 February 2104) and Exford (04 July 2013 & 27
February 2014). A public meeting was held in Dulverton Town Hall on 11 February
2014. Parents at all three schools were given the consultation document and have
the opportunity to give their views via an online consultation questionnaire.
How will the children’s education be affected during the transitional period?
Every effort will be made to ensure that the children’s education will not be
affected during the transition period. Funding will be put in place for additional
management to help with the changes and for staff to be released to enable them
to be retrained.
If the proposal is not implemented how will it affect the future of the Middle School
and what changes will take place?
A19
Q20
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Q21
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Q22
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Q23
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Q24
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Q25
A25
Q26
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Q27
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Q28
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Q29
If the proposals are not implemented the Middle School will have to run on a
reduced budget. This will mean a further reduction in staffing and opportunities
for the pupils.
Will SSC respect the outcome of the consultation and come to a decision based on
the consultation results?
As the funding is not sufficient for the Middle School, if it remains as it is there
will be changes. However, it may stay as a middle school with a reduced offer. All
responses will be taken into account as well as all other relevant issues/elements
before a decision is made.
What will it take to deem the Middle School as a ‘necessary’ Middle School with the
relevant safe guards attached to protect its existence?
The school is already deemed a necessary school and is recognised as being in an
area of sparsity. It receives sparsity funding of around £80K.
What is the decision making process? What are the issues under consideration and
how much weight will be given to each individual aspect?
All responses will be considered as well as all other relevant issues/elements and
the decision will be made following the completion of the analysis, by the end of
April 2014.
Is the coach route to Wiveliscombe safe?
Both Somerset County Council and Devon County Council fund the salting of the
route. If residents think this is not happening the must inform their local
Highways Department.
How much credibility will be given to the petition, bearing in mind that people have
signed it in the belief that the school is under threat of closure?
The Chairman responded by stating that he is confident that the authorities are
aware of the concerns raised and that the issue will not be decided by votes
alone.
Does the issue just concern funding cuts or are educational issues involved?
The school is currently judged as good. The challenge is to continue to provide a
high quality broad curriculum with a reduced budget.
Is it true that it is considered that the current standard of education at the Middle
School cannot be maintained due to the cut in funding?
Yes. The school will, have to reduce staffing and pupils’ opportunities to deliver
learning within the new budgets it will receive.
How will the analysis of the consultation be published to ensure a transparent
process?
The process will be transparent as it will be carried out in the public domain with
the paper published seven days before the decision.
Where has the £80,000 shortfall come from?
The shortfall comes from the difference between what the school would like to
spend to maintain current standards and the budget that it has available to it
from the national funding formula.
See further information on online consultation page.
In the event of a change will the existing specialist teachers be retained?
Will the standard of education improve as a result?
A29
Q30
A30
Should the schools change the Head and Governors will work to put a new
staffing structure in place to meet the needs of an Infants school and Junior
school. Staff will be offered retraining opportunities if they would like them to
enable them to teach junior aged children.
Is there a position that SCC is taking with regards all the Middle Schools in
Somerset?
There is a variety of schools across the County. There are nine middle schools
ranging in size from Dulverton with 96 pupils to Selwood (Frome) with 665 pupils.
The larger middle schools have not been as affected as Dulverton by the new
funding formula. The Authority sees Middle schools as part of its education
landscape.
Additional Questions
Q1
A1
Q2
A2
Q3
A3
How will the decision be weighted vis community input, costs, educational merits?
See response to Q22 above.
Will SCC consider other offers e.g. Minehead Middle School partnership; West
Somerset College Academy Trust etc?
The Governors and SCC considered many options for partnership working with a
number of schools. These included Minehead Middle School and West Somerset
College, plus Tiverton High School. All partnerships require commitment, time
and money to be successful. Under the circumstances it was felt by the Governors
that the offers were not viable. Any additional offers that arise as a result of the
consultation will also be considered, as this is part of the consultation process.
Will there be a Parent's Survey?
Parents at all three schools were given the opportunity to attend a drop-in
session and all parents have been given the consultation document and invited to
give their views via an online consultation page.