Issue - meetings

AGREED recommendations.

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

A number of members of the public asked questions about the proposals in the report which were responded to by the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families and officers.  A member of the public queried why a document submitted by a member of staff at the School in response to the consultation and relating to financial data on pupil numbers had not appeared in Appendix B to the report.  The Corporate Director for Children and Young People undertook to look into this.

All present were reminded that the Council remained keen to hear from parents, staff and interested parties in response to the consultation.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the responses to the consultation on the future of Pooles Park Primary School, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, be noted.

(b) To proceed with the proposal to close Pooles Park Primary School to address the significant decline in pupil numbers, if the Department for Education do not identify an academy sponsor, and on the basis that the Executive makes a series of commitments set out at resolution (d) below to address the significant concerns and issues raised during the consultation.

(c) To issue a statutory notice of the proposal, attached as a draft at Appendix D to the report

(d). Based on the feedback received during the consultation, approval be given to the following commitments:

 1.To offer individual support to pupils and their families with transition from the point a decision is taken through to the settling into a new school

 2. To work with local headteachers of nearby Islington schools to support the School and its families, noting that there were places available for every child at Pooles Park in nearby Islington schools, all of which would provide this support should the proposal to close proceed.

 3. To work in partnership with a local group to develop the community garden into a Forest School provision which could be accessed by local Islington schools in the area as part of their curriculum offer during school time.

 4. To develop a clear plan for the ongoing use and management of the garden also as a community garden.

 5. To carefully consider the long-term future of the Pooles Park Primary School site and how it could be retained for educational and community purposes.

Reasons for the decision – Surplus capacity at the School meant that the School could not remain financially viable. The Hornsey Planning Area had the second highest rate of vacancies in Islington and Pooles Park had the highest surplus capacity of all schools in the Planning Area.

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none