To inform the Committee of the requests to change the provided Primary School arrangements for Bearwood and Covender.

The Committee was informed of requests received to change the provided primary school arrangements for the hamlets of Bearwood and Covender.

The Head of Policy and Resources reported that this issue had been brought to the attention of the Committee due to the lack of a consensus being reached between the particular schools involved.

The Admissions and Transport Manager informed the Committee about each of the proposals in turn.

Bearwood 

The Head of Policy and Resources informed the Committee that the proposal for Bearwood a part of Pembridge Parish to become apart of the catchment area for Pembridge Primary School, which was 2.0 miles away, rather than Dilwyn Primary School, which was 2.8 miles away, was the more significant of the two proposals.  He stated that Dilwyn Primary School was anxious that it may come under review if it were to lose any future pupils as there were currently only 34 children on its roll.

The views of the local Members had been sought and it was reported that Councillor R.J. Phillips supported the proposal whereas Councillor J.H.R. Goodwin was in favour of retaining the status quo.

The Admissions and Transport Manager informed the Committee that Bearwood consisted of 49 properties.  In October 2005 each address in Bearwood was sent a consultation document from which 28 responses were received 27 of which were in favour of Pembridge becoming the catchment primary school for Bearwood.  Currently in Bearwood there were six children of primary school age and two children below primary school age whose parents have stated a preference for Pembridge.

The issue was further complicated by High School provision.  Currently, the provided high school for Bearwood is Weobley High School whereas that Pembridge Primary School is Kington Lady Hawkins High School.  The Admissions and Transport Manager stated that any change to the catchment area at primary school level should also be made at high school level to maintain simplicity in organisational terms he also stated that the majority of children from Bearwood attended Lady Hawkins.

Mark Chamberlain informed the Committee that, although he did not have the details to hand, that he envisaged that at one time there would have been a school in Bearwood which closed and that the decision was then taken for primary school provision for Bearwood children to take place at Dilwyn even though Bearwood was in the Pembridge Parish.

The Committee noted the information provided and felt that the proposals were logical and backed up by the results of a consultation.  However the potential impact the proposal could have on Dilwyn Primary School and the request of one of the local Members to retain the status quo resulted in the Committee asking for a decision to be deferred pending a minor review of the catchment areas in the area.  If after preliminary investigations it was revealed that a Review was not necessary the issue would be referred back to the Committee in time for a decision to impact on the 2007/08 school transfers

Covender

The Admissions and Transport informed the Committee that Yarkhill Parish Council had requested that Ashperton, which is 2.4 miles away, rather than Withington, which is 4.1 miles away, become the provided Primary School for this small hamlet.  If this change was to go ahead a total of five houses would be affected.  There was already one child from the hamlet attending Ashperton with one child aged two whose parents had informed the Council that they would state a preference for Ashperton when they applied for a primary school place.

The Head of Policy and Resources stated that the Governors of Withington Primary School did not support the proposed change unless it is a result of a comprehensive review of catchment areas across the County.  There were currently no plans at present to undertake such a review.

Councillor R.M. Manning, the local Member, supported the proposals to include Covender in the catchment area for Ashperton Primary School.

The Committee was informed that catchment areas were still relevant as they were significant in terms of entitlement to school transport and with transfer applications as catchment children received a high priority for admission.

The Committee noted the views of the parish, the respective schools, the views of parents, the small number of people that would be affected by the changes and the views of the local Member so decided to support the proposal to include Covender in the catchment area for Ashperton Primary School.

RESOLVED:

That (a) a minor review regarding primary school provision for the hamlet of Bearwood be undertaken prior to June 2006 when if a review is still pending the matter be referred back to the School Oganisation Committee;

and;

(b) Ashperton Primary School to be become the provided primary school for the hamlet of Covender.