Models for School Organisation

Models for School Organisation

Contents Page

Introduction 3

Wrexham schools – the current picture 4

The case for change 5 – 6

The right model 7 – 16

Further information 16

2

Models for School Organisation

Introduction

Planning future education provision and predicting the demand for school places is a complex process, dependant on a number of contingencies and assumptions about population forecasting, local demographics, migration and planned housing developments. In spite of these challenges, Wrexham County Borough Council continues to proactively plan to meet future demand for education provision to ensure that learners receive high quality education within improved learning environments.

Aim

The local authority needs to plan strategically for the future and review its schools on a periodic basis to ensure that Wrexham County Borough has enough school places in the right location. Any school organisation proposals will be informed by feedback from public consultation and any recommended options for change will be put forward with a view to improving existing educational provision and educational outcomes for the children and young people of Wrexham. The School Standards and Organisations (Wales) Act 2013, provides local authorities with the legislative framework and powers to reorganise and reconfigure schools. All local authorities are required to follow statutory procedures which are outlined in the Welsh Government’s ‘School Organisation Code’ (April 2013).

The Role of the Local Authority

Wrexham County Borough Council is responsible for:

� The planning of school places;� Ensuring that there are suitable and sufficient school places for

children of statutory school age;� Reducing surplus places;� Pupils projections;� Assessing school capacities;� The publication of statutory proposals for school reorganisation.

Audience

This document is for Headteachers, teachers, other school staff, parents, pupils, school governors, Councillors, the Diocesan Authorities and any other key stakeholders who have an interest in school organisation in Wrexham. It sets out a number of models to inform the development of school organisation proposals and strategic planning for future education provision in the County Borough.

3

Models for School Organisation

Wrexham Schools The Current Picture

Wrexham currently has1:

� 1 nursery school� 59 primary schools� 9 secondary schools� 1 special school (the largest in Wales)� 1 Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)

This is set within a context of:

� A growing population overall (the fourth highest growth in Wales).� A growing population in the 0-15 age group.� The fifth highest number of live births per 1, 000 of the population and

the fifth highest total fertility rate in Wales.� An increasing number of pupils with English as an Additional Language

(currently the fourth largest in Wales).� An influx of in-migrants in the higher education and working age groups

coming into the County.

1 List of Schools in Wrexham (2015/16) http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/pdfs/education/admissions/schools_list.pdf

4

Models for School Organisation

The case for change

Impact on the school population

The demand for school places has increased and will increase further in line with national trends. In Wrexham, the demand for Reception places is expected to rise further, with fluctuations in growth across the county. In certain areas of Wrexham, for example the town centre, demographic changes can be rapid, substantial and unpredictable. Schools that are situated in urban villages on the fringes of the town centre are also experiencing increasing demand over and above existing capacity.

21st Century Schools Programme

Wrexham’s 21st Century Schools Strategic Outline Programme is a long term strategic approach to school organisation in Wrexham, aimed at providing investment across the whole school estate from ages 3 to 19. Our Strategic Outline Programme aims for balance across all education sectors, be they Welsh medium, faith based or community provision and for children and young people with special or additional educational needs. The 21st Century Programme contributes towards:

� The continuous drive to improve educational outcomes for all learners;� Addressing capacity issues in Wrexham town centre schools both at

primary and, in time, secondary school level;� Providing formal and informal environments consistent with a 21st

Century approach to teaching and learning;� Ensuring the viability of rural schools;� Meeting the continuing demand for Welsh medium education and faith

based education;� Improving access to ICT to support new and innovative methods

of teaching.

School Amalgamations - Nine pairs of infant and junior schools have been amalgamated into all-through community primary schools during the past ten years as part of The Primary Review programme which began in 2005. A further amalgamation is planned for September 2016.

School Federations - Wrexham now has 3 Federations, each with its own Headteacher. A fourth Federation is imminent.

5

Models for School Organisation

What more must we do?

Wrexham County Borough Council has the statutory responsibility to ensure that there are suitable and sufficient school places available across the county. The 21st Century Schools Programme sets out Wrexham’s long term capital investment to schools and learners, providing better learning environments that are fit for the 21st Century, meet the new curriculum requirements and meet national building standards.

In order to secure the long-term viability of schools, a set of criteria has been proposed which would initialise a review of a particular school or a group of schools:

� Educational Standards� Leadership� Pupil Numbers� Capacity� Building Condition� Financial� Proposed Housing Allocations� A direct request from a school’s governing body� A ministerial notice is served on the Local Authority.

In accordance with the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code, any proposals for the reorganisation of schools will give paramount importance to outcomes for learners (standards and wellbeing), provision (learning experiences, teaching, care, support and guidance), leadership (improving quality, partnership working and resource management) and delivery of the curriculum at Foundation Phase and at each Key Stage.

In addition, proposals will ensure that disruption to learners is minimised and any impact on vulnerable learners, including children with Special Educational Needs, is minimised. Information relating to a school’s effectiveness will be informed by Estyn reports, Estyn advice and any other relevant information pertaining to performance monitoring.

6

Models for School Organisation

The right model

The following pages set out a selection of proposed models for school organisation. Each model brings with it a number of advantages and disadvantages. The options for individual schools / groups of schools will depend on the circumstances in each case and the appropriateness of each model in a given situation. Any school organisation review will involve consideration of the merits of proposals with a view to improving existing educational provision and promoting positive outcomes for children and young people.

Weighing up the options

� What are the advantages / disadvantages of each model?� Which are the most viable and sustainable?� What do we expect our schools to look like in the future?� What benefits will arise from the proposals?

Identifying possible barriers

� Who will be likely to oppose the change(s)?� What are likely to be the biggest concerns?� What specific issues are there, e.g. staffing, statutory obligations?� Is each model affordable – in the short, medium and long term?

Communicating the vision

� What matters most to children and young people and their families?� What matters most to the school communities?� How can we generate positive commitment to change and bring people

on board?� Who is best placed to communicate the vision?

7

Models for School Organisation

Federation of schools

Federation is where two or more school governing bodies are joined. In practice, the schools are able to appoint one Headteacher and share a number of other key staffing positions. Each school keeps its own identity, name, category and budget. For example, there could be three schools that each have their own Headteacher and their own Governing Body and when they federate the three schools have one Headteacher and one Governing Body overseeing all three schools. The following illustration shows an example of how the federation model can work:

Before School Organisation

Post School Organisation

One Headteacher

Single Governing Body

One Budget

MODEL

1

8

One Budget

One Budget

= more flexibility with budget

Models for School Organisation

Amalgamation of schools

Amalgamation is where two or more existing schools become one school. These could operate on more than one site. For example, where former infant and junior schools become one primary school, the term ‘merger’ or ‘amalgamation’ may be used. The new school has one identity, one name, one category, one budget, one Headteacher and one Governing Body. The following illustration shows an example of how the amalgamation model can work:

Before School Organisation

Post School Organisation

MODEL

2Headteacher

SeparateGoverning

Body

Own Budget

SCHOOL A

Headteacher

SeparateGoverning

Body

Own Budget

SCHOOL B

One Headteacher

SingleGoverning Body

School C School C

One Budget

Same name and uniform (single identity).

9

Models for School Organisation

New schools

This involves the commissioning of purpose built new schools, for example as a result of new housing developments, closure of schools that are no longer viable, or to meet demand in a specific sector (e.g. Welsh medium or faith schools).

MODEL

3New

housing development

Increased demand for

school places

Potential requirement

for new school

10

Models for School Organisation

New all-through schools

In most areas of Wrexham, children attend a primary school until they are in Year 6, then transfer to a secondary school in Year 7. The establishment of all-through schools involves the amalgamation of a single primary school or several primary schools with a single secondary school, increasing the age range of pupils from 3-16 year olds or 3-18 year olds. This creates a new school with one Headteacher, one governing body and one budget. An all-through school can be located on a single site or on multiple sites and is inspected as a single school. The following illustration shows an example of how the all-through school model can work:

MODEL

4Single

Governing Body

Primary School Reception to Year 6Ages 3-11

Secondary SchoolYear 7 to Year 11 Ages 11-16 or

Year 7 to Year13 Ages 11-18

New all-through School Reception to Year 11 Ages 3-16

New all-through School Reception to Year 13 Ages 3-18

11

Models for School Organisation

Studio schools (14-19 year olds)

Studio Schools are a new type of state school model for 14 to 19 year olds that offer academic and vocational qualifications with a focus on personalisation, practical learning and paid work experience. They are open year-round and, with a 9am–5pm working day, and feel more like a workplace than a school.

Studio Schools have seven key features:

� Academic Excellence� Employability and Enterprise Skills� Personalised Curriculum� Practical Learning (based on enquiry based learning)� Real Work� Small Schools (around 300 pupils)� Students of all abilities

MODEL

5

1212

Models for School Organisation

Closure of schools

In some cases, where there is sufficient capacity in other nearby schools, it might be considered appropriate to close a school and transfer the pupils to an alternative school that provides education in the same language medium and / or faith as the school that is being closed. Alternatives to closure, such as amalgamation or federation with other schools, will be considered in any review of schools.

MODEL

6CLOSED

Temporary Expansion

The Local Authority may consider the temporary expansion of an existing school / schools, for example, by erecting temporary accommodation such as portakabins.

MODEL

7

13

Models for School Organisation

Permanent Expansion

The Local Authority may consider the permanent expansion of an existing school / schools to increase capacity in order to meet the demand for school places.

MODEL

8

Swapping school sites

The Local Authority may consider swapping school sites, where one school swaps sites with another on a permanent basis.

MODEL

9

14

Models for School Organisation

Relocating schools

This is where a school is relocated from its existing site to an alternative site in a different location.

MODEL

10

Changing the use of spaces at schoolsThis is where the use of a space in a school is changed, for example, by creating a flexible learning area in part of a school which can be used by community groups.

MODEL

11

15

Models for School Organisation

Mixed language medium schoolsMixed language schools (or dual-stream schools) offer both Welsh and English provision which exists side by side.

MODEL

12Changing the language category of a schoolThis involves changes to the language medium of teaching (for example from English to Welsh or vice-versa).

MODEL

13Changing the status of a schoolThis is where changes are made to the status (type) of school, for example from a voluntary aided school to a voluntary controlled school. In Wales, examples include community schools, foundation schools, voluntary aided schools, voluntary con-trolled schools or special schools. Schools are not permitted to change their status to foundation and schools with a religious character may not become community schools2.

MODEL

14

6th Form Provision (Secondary Schools)The Minister has the power to add or remove or remove 6th Forms if this is recommended by a Local Authority. If a 6th Form is added to a secondary school, the age range of pupils would change from 11-16 years to 11-18 years. If a 6th Form is removed from a secondary school, the age range of pupils would change from 11-18 years to 11-16 years. Pupils would then access Post-16 provision from an alternative provider.

MODEL

15

2 Welsh Government School Organisation Code, Section 1.12, pg. 5

Further informationEducation Department, School Organisation, Lambpit Street, Wrexham, LL11 1AR

This document is available in other formats and other languages upon request. To make a request for this document in another format or language, write to School Organisation, Education Department, Lambpit Street, Wrexham, LL11 1AR.

16