Agenda item

To receive an update on the Macclesfield High School and Macclesfield School Review

Prior to receiving the presentation from the relevant officers, the Chairman outlined that this was an opportunity for the Committee to make comments on and give input into the design of the consultation process rather than a discussion on the actual options.

Fintan Bradley and Rob Hyde, Organisation and Capital Strategy Manager attended to provide a short presentation to outline the latest position at the mid point of the informal consultation process which ended on 8 October.

It was explained that the purpose of the presentation was to bring the committee up to speed on where the process was currently at, provide some preliminary conclusions and then go through the next steps.

Fintan Bradley reported on the consultation on the future of Macclesfield High School and referred to the report previously heard by the Committee on the 29 June 2010.

The Committee was made aware that there has been four consultation events already held and that these were very well attended. The Council had also set up a website with a number of FAQs to provide as much information to the public as possible. It was reported that the Council had constructed a list of 10 possible options for the future of Macclesfield High School and as a result of the consultation process to date, they had received a further 19 options. It was explained that many of these were variations on particular themes. These were as follows:

• Rationalisation
• Federation
• Closure
• Cap Entry
• College
• Super Head
• Super Primary School
• UTC – Universities that Count programme

It is likely that there would be further options raised at the consultation events on the 15^th (MacclesfieldTown Hall) and 16^th (Macclesfield Football Club) September. Attempts have been made to engage with all relevant stakeholders but the Committee was informed that there have been some notable exceptions at this point. An external consultant was to be be appointed to provide support and to act as a ‘critical friend’ during the process.

It was explained that the evaluation criteria had not been finalised and that the observations and advice of the Committee would form an essential part of the validation of the process.

Considering the large volume of options, it was made clear that an evaluation criteria was required that was able to reduce the number in a fair but effective manner. As a result, it was reported that the criteria had a number of fundamental principles that the option must have met if it was to be considered viable. These were as follows:

·        Addresses surplus places

·        Improves Achievement (choice, added value and exam results)

·        Affordability (capital and revenue)

·        Sustainability (brand, transport, asset utilisation, micro costs)

·        Deliverability (disruption, leadership, transport and time frame)

The Committee was also made aware that a review panel (approx. 8 members) had been established which included the Children and Families portfolio holder, key officers and representatives from the Diocese and Admissions Forum among its membership.

It was reported that a decision by the Children and Families portfolio holder would be made on 1 November as to whether or not to go forward with a formal consultation. If this were to go ahead there would be a 6 week formal consultation period leading up to 22 December 2010. Following this, a further 6 week period for representatives would take place, ending on 18 February 2010. Any implementation of possible options would continue from the beginning of March 2011.

The Chairman thanked the officers for their proposal and commended them for their work on a difficult issue.

RESOLVED – That the Committee endorse the robustness of the process and the proposed timescales.