Consultation on the proposed age range changes at All Saints C of E VC First School, Dulverton and Dulverton

Middle & Community School

Julia RidgeStrategic Manager - Early Years & School

Commissioning 11 February 2014

Welcome to the consultation on changing the age range of the schools in Dulverton

Agenda• Welcome and introductions – Peter Lewis

Director of Children’s Services

• Presentation from Julia Ridge Strategic Manager – Schools & Early Years Commissioning

• Questions from the floor

• Summary of issues raised

• Next steps

Background• The Exmoor Federation is made up of Dulverton Middle

& Community School, All Saints CE VC First School (Dulverton) and Exford CE VC First School and was formed in 2007 following a review of education which recognised the importance of the communities on Exmoor and the importance of schools working together. The schools share the same Head Teacher and Governing Body.

• On the site of All Saints CE VC First School there is also a Nursery and Children’s Centre. Dulverton Middle & Community School provides community facilities including an outdoor pool, teaching kitchen, multi-use games area (MUGA), school hall and an Elliott building.

Background• Exford CE VC First School has 28 pupils aged 4 to 9. Capacity 60 pupils.

Rated by Ofsted as Good in June 2013. Cost per pupil = £6796 (national median = £4329).

• All Saints CE VC First School has 123 pupils aged 4 to 9. Capacity 120 pupils. Rated by Ofsted as Requires Improvement in 2012;current HMI monitoring inspections have been positive. Cost per pupil = £4626 (national median = £4329).

• Dulverton Middle & Community School has 96 pupils aged 9 to 13. Capacity 164 pupils. It is rated by Ofsted as Good.

• Cost per pupil = £7764 (national median = £4761).

• Pupils feed into the West Somerset College in Minehead at Year 9. The College also takes pupils from Minehead Middle and Danesfield Middle schools.

Drivers for change

• Dulverton Middle School is a small school

• Sustainable funding

• Ensuring high standards for the young people of Exmoor

• Ensuring the breadth of opportunities

for the young people of Exmoor

• Choice for parents

What is the role of the Local Authority?

Somerset County Council maintains the three schools in the Exmoor Federation - Exford First School, All Saints First School, Dulverton and Dulverton Middle School.

Somerset County Council has a duty to:• Commission sufficient good quality school places• Support schools who become unviableThere is no longer a duty to reduce surplus places.

The Governors of the Exmoor Federation:• Asked the Local Authority in June 2013 to test the

Governors’ conclusions and investigate the wider consequences

• Formally consult on changing the age range of All Saints First School and Dulverton Middle School

What is Somerset County Council doing?

Somerset County Council and the Governors of the Exmoor Federation recognise that:

• Exmoor is a small community with very few community facilities

• Dulverton and Exmoor are unique communities and we owe them the respect to take care, understanding the consequences of decisions

• Young people have a right to good and outstanding education

The LA has looked at the following issues:

• Pupil numbers• Funding• The effects on standards• The transport implications• The effect on other schools• The Key Stage 3 offers

Pupil Numbers & ForecastsNumber on roll and future forecasts for Exford & All

Saints First & Dulverton Middle Schools

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2022

Year

Nu

mb

er

Exford All Saints Dulverton Middle

In the national context:

• A secondary school needs at least 600 pupils to be able to afford a viable curriculum

• The DfE believes that a primary school of less than 150 pupils is ‘small’

• The DfE recognises the need for ‘necessary rural schools’

Pupil Number & Forecasts

Conclusion

• Dulverton Middle School has the largest catchment for a middle school in the country

• Pupil numbers rise slightly but not significantly enough to change the position

Funding

• Somerset has traditionally supported small rural schools by providing a large lump sum regardless of the number of pupils

• The DfE is moving to a national funding formula based on pupil numbers

• The DfE has this year agreed to additional funding for schools which supports areas of sparse population

Funding

School Number of pupils

Grant Expenditure Somerset Median

Non-London Median

National

Median

Exford CE VC First School

26 £6709 £7003 £3980 £3865 £4184

All Saints CE VC First School

144 £4575 £3980 £3865 £4184

DulvertonMiddle School

103 £7398 £7787 £4896 £4518 £4570

Standards

• There has been an Ofsted inspection of Exford First and Dulverton Middle Schools and both are judged ‘Good’.

• The West Somerset College is judged ‘Good’ but has identified that standards need to be raised and is aiming to work closely with its feeder schools to improve collaboration, especially around KS3.

Key Stage 2 results for West Somerset Middle Schools

Percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in both English and Maths 2009-2012

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

2009 2010 2011 2012

Year

Per

cen

tag

e

Dulverton Middle School Minehead Middle School Danesfield Middle School Somerset National

Key Stage 2 results for West Somerset Middle Schools

Percentage of pupils making expected progress 2012

0

10

2030

40

50

60

7080

90

100

Dulverton MiddleSchool

Minehead MiddleSchool

Danesfield MiddleSchool

Somerset National

Per

cent

age

English Maths

Somerset Middle Schools KS2 Results: percentage of pupils at Level 4 or above in reading, writing & maths

2012 Rank 2013 RankSomerset average 74 75National average 75 75Hugh Sexey, Blackford 87 1 79 1Selwood, Frome 72 3 72 2Maiden Beech, Crewkerne 65 7 71 3Oakfield, Frome 71 4 69 4Fairlands, Cheddar 70 5= 68 5Dulverton Middle 70 5= 67 6Danesfield, Williton 59 9 66 7Minehead Middle 64 8 60 8Swanmead, Ilminster 74 2 51 9

Key Stage 4

Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths 2009-2012

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2009 2010 2011 2012

Per

cen

tag

e

West Somerset Community College Wadham, Crew kerne Kings of Wessex, Cheddar Frome College Somerset National

Results based on size of school(Somerset)

Size ofSchool 1 - 60 61 - 120 121 - 210 211 - 420 420+

NoMatch

CountyAverage

Percentageof students

with5+ A*-CGCSEs

(Somerset)

57 61.2 62.9 56.5 54.1 50.3 56.9

Expectedprogress

for English(Somerset)

68.0 70.2 72.1 63.9 60.8 69.1 65.6

Expectedprogressfor Maths

(Somerset)

72.4 65.4 70.7 65.5 65.5 68.3 66.9

SchoolNet

CapacityNOR

CurrentOfsted Judgement Date

CUTCOMBE VA FIRST 60 27 Outstanding 03/12/2008

EXFORD FIRST 60 28 Good 03/07/2013

TIMBERSCOMBE VA FIRST 60 30 Good 26/06/2013

CROWCOMBE VA PRIMARY 60 33 Satisfactory 28/09/2011

STOGUMBER PRIMARY 49 33 Satisfactory 28/09/2011

WINSHAM PRIMARY 57 36 Good 03/10/2013

SAMPFORD ARUNDEL PRIMARY 60 40 Good 09/12/2009

SHEPTON BEAUCHAMP PRIMARY 72 40 Good 11/12/2012

OTHERY PRIMARY 57 41 Requires improvement 21/11/2012

COSSINGTON PRIMARY 59 43 Requires Improvement 31/01/2013

HASELBURY PLUCKNETT FIRST 60 43 Good 03/03/2010

HATCH BEAUCHAMP PRIMARY 60 44 Good 22/05/2013

ASHILL PRIMARY 60 46 Outstanding 27/02/2013

LANGFORD BUDVILLE PRIMARY 60 46 Good 08/12/2010

PRIDDY PRIMARY 60 46 Outstanding 18/03/2009

WEST CHINNOCK PRIMARY 60 46 Good 30/03/2011

STAWLEY PRIMARY 60 48 Good 22/11/2011

NORTON ST PHILIP VA FIRST 60 49 Good 18/04/2013

STOKE ST MICHAEL PRIMARY 54 50 Good 28/11/2012

HEMINGTON PRIMARY 50 51 Good 03/05/2012

EAST HUNTSPILL PRIMARY 60 52 Good 04/03/2009

LEIGH ON MENDIP FIRST 60 55 Outstanding 18/05/2010

LOVINGTON PRIMARY 60 57 Good 23/05/2012

COXLEY PRIMARY 60 58 Good 19/02/2013

CHARLTON HORETHORNE PRIMARY 57 59 Good 09/05/2012

MISTERTON FIRST 60 59 Good 12/10/2010

Results – percentage of students gaining 5+ A*-C GCSEs including English & maths

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2011 2012 2013

Year

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe The West Somerset College, Minehead

Tiverton High School South Molton Community College

The National Curriculum and transitionsAGE SCHOOL

YEAR KEY

STAGE2 TIER SYSTEM

TRANSITION3 TIER SYSTEM

TRANSITION

0 EARLY YEARS

EARLY YEARS EARLY YEARS

1

2

3

4 R

KEY STAGE 1MOVE TO PRIMARY or

INFANTS

MOVE TO FIRST SCHOOL

5 1

6 2

7 3 KEY STAGE 2 PRIMARY or JUNIOR

8 4

9 5 MOVE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL

10 6

11 7

KEY STAGE 3

MOVE TO SECONDARY

12 8

13 9 MOVE TO UPPER SCHOOL

14 10 KEY STAGE 4

15 11

16 12

17 13

Standards - summary• The three tier system is working in some areas• The current results and progress made of all the West

Somerset Middle Schools are not at the county or national level

• The West Somerset College has three years to support students from the middle schools

• Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe has the strongest GCSE results

• The national curriculum and national funding is based around four key stages with transfer at the end of Years 2, 6 and 9

Transport• The LA has a legal duty to provide transport to

the nearest school to their home.• Somerset also provides transport to the

catchment school, which may not be the nearest.

• Transport is managed to ensure pupils are protected from bullying or anti-social behaviour.

• Transport restricts the opportunity for after-school clubs.

Map showing the nearest secondary schools for Dulverton pupils

Transport - summary

• South Molton is the nearest school for all the community.

• There is significant travelling for most of the students.

• All pupils have a legal entitlement to transport to their nearest school

• Somerset County Council additionally funds for transport to pupils’ catchment school

Options Investigated

Five options:1. Partnership options: keep KS3 Yrs 7&8 at Dulverton Middle

School and work in partnership in a Co-operative Trust or Multi-Academy Trust.

2. Move to Infants and Junior schools at Dulverton with KS3 at either West Somerset College, South Molton, Kingsmead or Tiverton.

3. Move to Primary at Dulverton with KS3 at either West Somerset College, South Molton, Kingsmead or Tiverton.

Exford4. Move to Primary.5. Remain as a First school with pupils moving to Minehead Middle

or Dulverton Junior.

Partnerships

• Currently West Somerset College is providing staff to Dulverton Middle School which is working well but needs to be on a sustainable basis.

• To maintain KS3 (Yrs 7&8) other schools in the partnership will have to help fund the curriculum.

• To create strong partnerships all parties must invest time.

Partnerships explored

Co-operative Trust: • Tiverton High School (very enthusiastic)• West Somerset College (& possibly Danesfield, Williton)

(enthusiastic) • Minehead Middle (offer of help)Partnerships were supported by the Education Funding Agency (EFA)

and supported in principle by the local clergyMulti-Academy Trust• West Somerset College (keen)• Kingsmead• Minehead Middle (offer of help)Dulverton Middle School would need to persuade the EFA that it was

a viable school to become an academy

Conclusion of partnership working

• There is a willingness to work together.• The degree of funding required is more than the

budget available – it is doubtful the other schools / academies can support this in the longer term in an informal way.

• A multi-academy trust is a formal amalgamation and gives control to the Academy Board.

• Potential loss of local and democratic influence.

Infants & Juniors• Not normally supported in Somerset as it is important

that there is the same Head and Governors.• Exmoor Federation has same Head and Governors.• Extra lump sum approx £80K for second school which

would help run the Dulverton Middle School building.• Keeps two school buildings and facilities for community.• Allows growth of Early Years sector.• Schools could become part of the Wiveliscombe

Learning Partnership.• Some capital investment required to remodel the sites.

Financially

• Somerset has a number of Infants & Junior schoolsSchool Pupils Income

Expenditure

£ 2013-14 £ 2013-14

South Petherton Infants 95 4479 4389

Bowlish Infants 110 3967 4054

Dulverton Infants 75 4359

South Petherton Junior 119 3738 3517

Dulverton Junior 97 4032

All Saints First 127 4627 4273

Exford First 26 6796 7004

Primary

• No advantages for Exmoor Federation over Infants and Junior as less funding and a need for capital investment.

Key Stage 3 offers

Minehead Middle: very keen to support but challenged by standards; parents concerned about the distance to travel at 11.

West Somerset College: currently unable to offer places at 11; parents concerned about the distance to travel at 11.– Large age range 11-18.– Small cohort for 11-13 years in large College.– Offer not supported by the consultation (750

responses, 89% against, responses predominantly from Minehead area)

Key Stage 3 offers• Tiverton High: parents concerned too far to travel for many;

nearest school for some and they would be entitled to free transport.• South Molton: overall nearest school for the whole community but

full.• Kingsmead: nearest school for some but concern about the

distance to travel from Exford and Simonsbath; changes to the catchment could be facilitated.– The Wiveliscombe Learning Partnership would use the Exmoor

Curriculum, particularly for the collapsed curriculum days. – Kingsmead is an 11-16 school so there are no post-16 students on the

site. – Most of the pupils at Kingsmead are bussed in from rural areas.– These options do not require any changes to the structures within the

wider West Somerset education system.

Key Stage 3 - summary

• Kingsmead should be asked to provide education at 11 for Years 7 & 8 from Dulverton; extending its catchment to include the full Dlverton Middle catchment.

Recommendation

• Dulverton First to become an infant school.• Dulverton Middle to become an junior school.• Kingsmead School is asked to amend its

Admissions over-subscription criteria to give priority to give priority to the Exford and Dulverton catchments at 11 from September 2015 (also Yr 8 to transfer in September 2015).

• It is also recognised that the community will have access to free transport to their nearest school.

Exford CE VC First: move to primary school

This was not favoured as:• Year groups too small• Classes would have too large an age range• Pupils would have too large a move to a very

large secondary school at the age of 11However, there was concern that they would be

isolated if they didn’t act in line with Dulverton schools

Exford: remains as a first school

This is supported.The choices at age 9 would depend on where families lived

and are likely to be :1. Minehead Middle to West Somerset College2. Dulverton Junior to Kingsmead3. Dulverton Junior to South Molton4. To avoid isolation Exford First School could consider

federating with Cutcombe & Timberscombe or other schools. This would be supported by the Church.

5. Families may look to North Molton Primary and on to South Molton Community College

Final recommendationsAll Saints CE VC First becomes an Infants School taking age 0-7 and

Dulverton Middle becomes a Junior School taking age 7-11.Kingsmead School is asked to amend its Admissions over-

subscription criteria to give priority to give priority to the Exford and Dulverton catchments at 11 from September 2015 (also Year 7 & 8 to transfer in September 2015).It is also recognised that the community will have access to free transport to their nearest school.

Exford CE VC First remains as a first schoolThe choices at age 9 would depend on where families lived and are

likely to be :Minehead Middle to West Somerset CollegeDulverton Junior to KingsmeadDulverton Junior to South Molton

To avoid isolation Exford First School could consider federating with Cutcombe & Timberscombe. This would be supported by the Church.

What would this mean?Admissions• Year 6s leaving in July 2015 (who will be Year 7 in September 2015) will be

treated as primary school pupils transferring to a secondary school. Parents and their children will decide which is their preferred school; knowing that they have a legal right to free transport to their nearest school and also Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe

• The Year 7s in July 2015 will have been provided with a special application form to apply to secondary provision to transfer in September 2015 as Year 8s. Parents will decide which is their preferred school, knowing that they have a legal right to free transport to their nearest school and also Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe.

• The Year 8s may wish to have the same opportunities as their younger siblings or younger friends. West Somerset is the catchment school and there is free transport. However parents may rather look to their nearest school knowing that they have a legal right to free transport, and Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe will have buses.

What would this mean

Transport• All pupils are legally entitled to free transport to the

school nearest to their home address, as long as the distance between their home address and their chosen school is more than 3 miles.

• In addition, as Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe will

include Dulverton in its catchment, free transport will be provided to Kingsmead School for pupils living in the current Dulverton Middle School catchment, for the duration of their secondary education at Kingsmead. This is because in Somerset, transport is provided to the nearest school or the catchment school, provided the home address is more than 3 miles away.

What would this mean

Activity on the school site• There will still be approximately 170

pupils going to the site. There will be more space for community use.

Our sincere thanks to:• The staff and Governors of the Exmoor Federation• Malcolm Barton, Diocese of Bath & Wells• Dave Gurnett, Education Manager, Exmoor National Park• Ian Bradbury, Head Teacher, Danesfield Middle School, Williton• Paul Rushforth, Head Teacher & Geoff Lloyd, CoG, Minehead

Middle School• Mark Griffin, Principal, Kingsmead Academy, Wiveliscombe• Andrew Lovett, Principal, Tiverton High School (part of Tiverton Co-

operative Learning Partnership)• Gaynor Comber, Principal, West Somerset College, Minehead• Jenny Glover, Principal, South Molton Community College• James Fisher Principal, Petroc, Tiverton• Tim Taylor, Leader WSDC• All SCC elected members for West Somerset• West Somerset clergy