A meeting of East Sussex County Council's Lead Members for Children's Services agreed today (Tuesday, 12 January) to publish a statutory closure notice for Eastbourne Technology College (ETC).
The move follows a public consultation on the closure of the school which, under the plan, would be replaced with a new state-of-the-art academy school.
At the meeting councillors were told that of 3,200 brochures and questionnaires distributed in the closure consultation, there had been a total of 94 responses. Those responses had shown 67% supported the proposal to close ETC and replace it with an academy.
The closure consultation was conducted by the County Council during November and December and ran alongside a separate consultation about the creation of the new academy that was held by the sponsors: Sussex Downs College and East Sussex County Council.
Matt Dunkley, the County Council's Director of Children's Services said: “We are grateful to those who took the time to respond to this consultation and I'm delighted a clear majority of people support what we would like to do. I'm especially pleased such a high proportion of parents at ETC who responded recognise what an opportunity for improvement this could be.
“We truly believe these plans represent the best opportunity we have of unlocking significant Government funding to enable us to transform both the buildings and the educational offer to students and parents through a new kind of partnership with Sussex Downs College.”
“Obviously to open the new academy we need to go through the process of closing the existing school and so that's what this notice is about. ETC badly needs significant investment and this academy proposal would enable us to secure it.”
Mr Dunkley added that the Lead Members for Children's Services would be asked to make a final decision on the closure following the six week period in which members of the public can comment on the notice. If closure is agreed the school would close on 31 August 2010 but only if the Government agrees to the creation of a new academy on the same site from 1 September 2010. Clearly, the proposal to create a new academy can only proceed if the school closure is agreed.
Further information
The Government has already agreed the sponsors' outline vision for the new academy which would replace ETC. At the moment the proposal is the new Academy would open in the school's existing buildings in 2010 with a target to open the new building in 2013.
The sponsors and the County Council have already set out their plans around the ethos and values for the proposed new school, namely to drive up standards and expectations for all students. They continue to stress that it would be an all ability, non-selective school for local pupils. If there are more parents applying than places, the County Council's normal admission policies would apply. The new Academy would also provide for pupils with special educational needs in improved facilities. It would cater for up to 180 pupils a year, 900 in total.
The sponsors have appointed Keith Pailthorpe, the current Headteacher of Eastbourne Technology College, as Principal Designate of the proposed Eastbourne Academy. This follows a full application process including presentation and interview to the sponsors, DCSF and a serving Academy principal.
During the consultation, as well as the 3,200 brochures and questionnaires distributed, a public meeting was held as well as meeting with staff. As part of the sponsors' consultation a series of playground meetings for parents and staff meetings were held in the area.
Academies are all-ability, state-funded schools established and managed by sponsors from a wide range of backgrounds, including high performing schools and colleges, universities, and businesses. Some are established educational providers, and all of them bring a record of success in other enterprises which they are able to apply to their Academies in partnership with experienced school managers. All academies are bound by the same School Admissions Code, SEN Code of Practice and exclusions guidance as all other state-funded schools. All new academies are also required to follow the National Curriculum programmes of study in English, maths, science and ICT.
The public can comment on the statutory closure notice between 20 January and 3 March.
For more information on the Academy proposal visit the Eastbourne Academy website.
Reference:
2678
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