Statutory proposals

Part 1 – Eskdale School – Discontinuance

As set out in schedule 2 to the Establishment and Discontinuance Regulations the information below must be included in a proposal to close a school:

Contact details

Proposal, published by North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD, to discontinue Eskdale School, Stainsacre Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4HS, from 31 August 2024.

Eskdale School is an 11-16 Community Secondary School in North Yorkshire.

Implementation

It is proposed to close the school from 31 August 2024.

Reason for closure

The Governing Board set out three linked factors as the reasons for their proposal to amalgamate Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School: low pupil numbers, significant financial challenges at both schools and an imperative to give the best education and curriculum to the young people of Whitby. More details about these are set out in the consultation document.

Pupil numbers and admissions

The numbers (distinguishing between compulsory and non-compulsory school age pupils), age range, sex, and special educational needs of pupils (distinguishing between boarding and day pupils) for whom provision is currently made at the school.

Number of Pupils on Roll: 403

Sex of Pupils:

197 Female

207 Male

Pupils with Special Education Needs:

There are 8 pupils who have Education Health and Care Plans and 47 pupils who receive SEN Support.

The school’s age range is 11-16 years, and provision is available for boys and girls. There is no boarding provision.

Displaced pupils

A statement and supporting evidence about the need for school places in the area including whether there is sufficient capacity to accommodate displaced pupils.

Details of the schools or further education colleges at which pupils at the school to be discontinued will be offered places, including—

a) any interim arrangements;

b) the provision that is to be made for those pupils who receive educational provision recognised by the local authority as reserved for children with special educational needs; and

c) in the case of special schools, the alternative provision made by local authorities other than the local authority which maintain the school.

Details of any other measures proposed to be taken to increase the number of school or further education college places available in consequence of the proposed discontinuance.

a) No interim arrangements have been necessary. Pupils will be accommodated by the amalgamated school (see Part 2 of this statutory proposal) and there will be sufficient capacity within that school to accommodate all the pupils currently on roll at Eskdale School.

b) This is a mainstream secondary school, and therefore, not a school that is reserved for providing to pupils with special educational needs. SEND provision within a mainstream setting would be provided for any pupil with an identified SEN at their new school upon the closure of Eskdale.

c) This is a mainstream school, and therefore, not a special school that is reserved for providing to pupils with special educational needs

Impact on the community

A statement and supporting evidence about the impact on the community of the closure of the school and any measures proposed to mitigate any adverse impact.

In responses to the consultation it was clear that some members of the Whitby community felt very strongly about the position of the school on the east side of the Town and the adjacency to housing developments. It is acknowledged that some pupils will have further to travel to access secondary education. However, the distance to the amalgamated school is not considered to be significant and the benefits of the proposal are considered to outweigh this.

Decisions about the future use of the Eskdale site, including its 3G pitch, would be taken after the determination of the amalgamation proposal. However, the council will work with all groups using the pitch to ensure all information is taken into account when considering the future use of the site and specifically the pitch.

Rural primary schools

Where proposals relate to a rural primary school designated as such by an order made for the purposes of Section 15 (Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA), a statement that the local authority or the governing body (as the case may be) considered Section 15(4) EIA.

Not applicable to this proposal.

Balance of denominational provision

Where the school has a religious character, a statement about the impact of the proposed closure on the balance of denominational provision in the area and the impact on parental choice.

Not applicable to this proposal.

Maintained nursery schools

Not applicable

Sixth form provision

Not applicable

Special educational needs provision

The existing provision at Eskdale School is not reserved for pupils with special educational needs. Students receiving special educational provision will continue to receive their provision at the amalgamated school if the decision is taken to implement the proposals.

The Whitby Secondary Partnership has produced a Vision for the newly amalgamated school - A Quality First Education for Whitby. This includes the following regarding Inclusion - SEND/Pastoral:

It is essential that within a larger school environment we do our best to make each student feel a part of the school community and we will provide a high quality pastoral structure to support our students and maintain relationships with parents/carers. We will continue to dedicate time to developing an inclusive approach to education for our students, providing space, staff and resources for students who require additional support using the expanded resources that will be available through the proposed amalgamation.

The pastoral and inclusion structure of the newly amalgamated school will provide a larger team for students to be able to access dedicated members of staff who are responsible for student welfare. It is our aim to establish a student centred inclusive school, where students are individuals and as a school community we all take the time and effort to work together and get to know each other ultimately as one quality first provision. The launch of the Targeted Mainstream Provision in January 2023 will be a significant part of our whole school inclusion approach and will provide significant support for students as well as training for our staff.

Expertise will be utilised from the County Council to provide appropriate SEN support.

Travel

Details of length and journeys to alternative provision.

The proposed arrangements for travel of displaced pupils to other schools including how the proposed arrangements will mitigate against increased car use.

In accordance with Department for Education guidance the Council provide free school transport to the catchment school or nearest school to the child’s home if it is over the following walking distances:

· two miles for children under eight years of age;

· three miles for children aged over eight; or

· where the route to the catchment or nearest school is not safe to walk accompanied by a responsible adult.

Free school transport is available to eligible pupils from the start of reception year until the end of year 11.

The following categories of children from low income families are eligible for free home to school transport:

· Children aged eight, but under the age of 11 who are attending their catchment or nearest school and the distance to that school is more than two miles;

· Children in Years 7-11 who attend one of their three nearest secondary schools and the school is over two miles but less than six miles from where they live;

· Children in Years 7-11 who attend the nearest denominational secondary school, where the distance is over two miles but less than 15 miles from home; or

· Children aged five to eleven who attend the nearest denominational primary school, where the distance is more than two miles but less than five miles from home.

A low income family is where children are entitled to free school meals or whose parent/carer are in receipt of the maximum level of working tax credit.

More information on School Transport can be found here https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-and-college-transport

The Council provide assistance with transport to sixth form (or college) to students who meet the eligibility criteria that can be found here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-and-college-transport/transport-sixth-form-or-college

If the amalgamation went ahead, the transport eligibility would be reassessed for some Eskdale pupils who could be affected. For example, if a child lives less than three miles from Eskdale, but more than three miles from the main Caedmon site. The eligibility for many pupils would be unaffected as they already live more than three miles from either school. The reassessment of eligibility would take place in summer 2024, after a decision on the amalgamation has been made, and as part of the preparations for implementation in September 2024, and be based on the criteria set out above.

There are currently 11 home to school transport services that serve the two schools. Nine of these services are shared and serve both schools. The Council’s current assessment is that the proposed amalgamation and technical closure of the Eskdale site would require 10 home to school transport services to serve the amalgamated school.

Procedure for making representations (objections and comments)

Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by sending them to Corporate Director- Children and Young People's Service, North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD, or by email to schoolorganisation@northyorks.gov.ukby 5pm on 25 May 2023.

Consultation

The decision to consult on closure was taken by the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills on 7 February 2023 following a request from governors. The following information is available in the appendices contained in the Report to the Executive of 18 April 2023. A consultation document (Appendix 2) was made available on the Council’s website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/current-consultationsand consultees (Appendix 3) including parents and staff were notified. Two public meetings have taken place at Whitby Pavilion on 8 March and notes of the meetings are available (Appendix 4A and 4B). By the closing date of 31 March 2023, 463 written consultation responses had been received. In addition, 104 items of consultation correspondence were sent to the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, and 26 items of consultation correspondence were sent to Council Officers (Appendix 5A-5D).

Part 2 – Caedmon College Whitby – Increase in the published admission number

School and local authority details

Proposal, published by North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD, to increase the published admission number of Caedmon College Whitby, Prospect Hill, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1LA from 1 September 2024.

The current admission number for Caedmon College Whitby is 184 and the proposed admission number for Caedmon College Whitby will be 240. The current number of pupils registered at the school is 787.

Caedmon College Whitby is an 11-18 Community Secondary School in North Yorkshire.

Description of alteration and evidence of demand

The current admission number for Caedmon College Whitby is 184 and the proposed admission number for the newly amalgamated school will be 240. The current number of pupils registered at the school is 787. The combined Year 7 cohorts for Caedmon College and Eskdale School over the last 5 years have been:

2018/19- 222

2019/20- 204

2020/21- 228

2021/22- 200

2022/23- 195

2023/24- currently 217

Although cohorts are forecast to fall over future years it is considered appropriate to set a new PAN of 240 to ensure a sufficiency of places in the area.

Objectives (including how the proposal would increase educational standards and parental choice)

The Governing Board views the proposal as offering the opportunity to deliver a broader curriculum offer with wider opportunities and development of skills to meet the need of students and the local community. They believe that any strategy to address the low pupil numbers and financial challenges without moving to become one school across two sites would hamper educational and curriculum improvement. Continuing to spend disproportionate amounts of their budget on premises costs across three sites would divert valuable budget away from the delivery of high-quality education.

The School Admissions Code, page 44, explains, the Common Application Form (CAF) is the form parents complete, listing their preferred choices of schools, and then submit to local authorities when applying for a school place for their child as part of the local co-ordination scheme, during the normal admissions round. Parents must be allowed to express a preference for a minimum of three schools on the relevant common application form as determined by their local authority. Local authorities may allow parents to express a higher number of preferences if they wish. The consultation proposal does not change parental ‘choice’ as interpreted in the admissions code. However, it is acknowledged that as a result of this proposal being implemented there would only be one secondary school in Whitby.

There are a number of towns of comparable size across the county and nationwide that only have one secondary school. Indeed, a number of respondents including at the consultation meeting, that did not support this proposal referenced how successful they believed the former Whitby Community College had been historically, when the community college itself was the only provider of education for 14-18 year olds within the town. The Whitby Secondary Partnership’s vision is to offer a wider curriculum increasing the choices for pupils, particularly key stage 4 (GCSEs) and preparing them to progress to a range of outcomes at 16+ and 19+. The amalgamated school would be able to provide a wider curriculum offer than currently provided at either school and this should enable more pupils to be successful in the subjects and pathways of their choice.

The effect on other educational institutions within the area

This proposal is a linked proposal to the proposal to discontinue Eskdale School from 31 August 2024. The proposal to increase the PAN at Caedmon College Whitby is not projected to have significant effect on any other education institutions.

Project costs and indication of how these will be met, including how long term value for money will be achieved;

Should the proposal proceed, arrangements will be put in place to meet the increased number of pupils and staff on the Normanby site. This will include a review of access arrangements for pedestrians, cyclists, buses and cars, but noting that an increase in transport services is not expected. From an accommodation perspective the initial analysis suggests there would be sufficient teaching spaces to suit the curriculum, but some ancillary modifications may be needed. Further work will be undertaken to confirm the position and any potential capital costs.

Implementation plan

Transition planning will focus on curriculum planning, staffing structures, finances and ensuring a smooth transition for students, particularly the most vulnerable. It will build on the joint working already established between the two schools. Elements of the curriculum in Eskdale and Caedmon College are already similar, however the proposed amalgamation would provide greater opportunities for curriculum development with a broader, more relevant curriculum being available to all students. The school would be better able to ensure that all students are taught by experienced subject specialist staff who can share and grow their passion and enthusiasm for their subject. It is a key priority of the newly amalgamated school to deliver curriculum pathways that will enable students to continue study through year 7 to year 13, including by establishing clearer progression routes from options at KS4, into KS5 and by offering competitive and relevant subjects with links to not only higher education, but also to apprenticeships and local business providers.

A statement explaining the procedure for responses: support; objections and comments

The proposals contained in Parts One and Two are all related.

Consultation