Listening Panel: City Schools
September 2008
These are the main points that were raised in Alan's Listening Panel on schools in the west of Southampton. The Panel was held at the Mansel Park Pavilion on September 4th 2008.
Alan gave an introduction where he listed what he believed to be some of the key issues facing schools in the west of the city:
- Closure of schools, opening of new academies and plans for Oaklands and Millbrook sites;
- Ensuring Building Schools for the Future funding results in facilities that are of a high standard;
- A good education within the city must lead to good jobs and apprenticeships again within the city;
- New vocational courses at City College and increased communication with Southampton employers over course content.
A public discussion followed where teachers and constituents were able to raise their concerns:
- Building schools for the Future funding- is it secure?
- Capita delaying rebuild of Redbridge Primary School
- Lord's Hill Academy
- Oaklands and Millbrook current school sites- what will happen to them?
- New school sites
- Future of Newland Primary
- Apprenticeships and vocational courses
Building schools for the Future funding- is it secure?
There were queries relating to the Building Schools for the Future funding waves. Constituents believe that the initial wave is secure, but are concerned about future waves. Alan confirmed that all future funding appears to be secure, especially as some of the works paid for by the first wave of funding rely on the second wave of funding to be completed. The level of Building Schools for the Future funding in Southampton is impressive.
Capita delaying rebuild of Redbridge Primary School
Andrew Hind, Southampton City Council, stated that the target start date for the Redbridge Primary rebuild is September 2009, but that he could not confirm that it would not be later, e.g. March 2010. Many of the constituents present at the meeting were appalled that a sod cutting ceremony had taken place when the Council were aware that the rebuild was going to be postponed due to a funding gap between Capita’s estimate and Mansell Construction’s quote. Mansell Construction was given preferred bidder status by the Council, but their quote turned out to be at least 10% higher than Capita’s estimate.
One constituent raised the question of the future school building projects suffering a similar fate, due to Capita’s underestimations. Councillor Baillie, the Cabinet Member for Education, stated that an investigation into Capita’s will take place when the Council receives the report on the Capita – Mansell price negotiations and the proposed start date. Alan suggested that the Council use the EU tendering process in future (a regional tendering process was used for Redbridge), because although this takes nine months, it has a much more reliable track record and is being used for large projects, such as Shirley Towers.
Concern was expressed over the new Lord’s Hill Academy “cherry picking” the best pupils in Southampton and Ian Golding, the new Head of the Academy, was asked about the Academy’s admissions procedure. Ian explained that as this is a new school, a lot of parents were not selecting it as their first choice school. Ian stated that the Academy’s first intake includes a lot of children with educational difficulties, but that Oasis has set very high targets for the Academy.
The Academy is working with architects on the design brief for the new building, which will open on 5 Acres in 2011. Ian hopes that this building will reflect the needs of the Academy and inspire the teachers and pupils working/studying within it.
A part rebuild of Mayfield Academy in the east of the city will take place before the Lord’s Hill Academy construction starts, so if the Mayfield works are successful, Lord’s Hill will most likely use the same contractors at 5 Acres.
Oaklands and Millbrook current school sites- what will happen to them?
Andrew Hind (Southampton City Council) confirmed that there are a lot of plans in place for the Millbrook School site when it is vacated in 2011. The playing fields and wooden area and arboretum are protected under the Town and Country Planning Act and Children’s Services are drawing up plans for future use.
Discussions have not yet taken place regarding the Oaklands site, although the pool and Down to Earth Farm will continue to be used by the Lord’s Hill Academy. No decision has been made over whether the Oaklands site will be sold to a housing developer, although the housing market is struggling at the moment.
The new Academy site at 5 Acres will be on the edge of the site, so the fields used by Sport England and the football and rugby clubs will not be affected. Keith Morrell (Coxford Labour Action Team) stated that it was important that any open space that is built upon would need to be replaced elsewhere in the Lordshill/Redbridge area. He made the point that providing open space/sports fields elsewhere in the city would not be appropriate for those without transport, who currently use the 5 Acres site.
Andrew Hind brought up the Council’s plans to purchase the former civil service fields by St Mark’s School, so that the community and Regent’s Park pupils can make use of these in the future.
Councillor Cathie McEwing asked the Education Officer whether Newlands Primary School will be closed/rebuilt. Andrew Hind confirmed that there would not be enough primary school places in the city if Newlands was closed, so it will be rebuilt. New family housing will be built on the Ordnance Survey site and this will mean an increase in the number of school pupils in the city. A decision has to be made as to whether Newlands will take 45 or 60 pupils per year, as the size of the new school depends on this.
Apprenticeships & vocational courses
Alan stated that it was important that all educational establishments work together to ensure that parents send their children to Southampton schools and colleges. One way this can be achieved is by ensuring all educational and vocational needs are met within the city, but not necessarily by one institution. Helen Mason from City College agreed and also made the argument for increased communication between educational establishments and local businesses, especially over vocational courses. City College is consulting businesses over the College’s buildings, which will possibly need to be adapted for future vocational courses.
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