The information below was displayed during the first and second round of BSF (Building Schools for the Future)consultation events up until 12 April 2006. This information was correct at that time.
| School |
Jan 07 |
Jan 08 |
Jan 09 |
Jan 10 |
Jan 11 |
Jan 12 |
Jan 13 |
Jan 14 |
Jan 15 |
| Thomas Sumpter |
708 |
675 |
668 |
634 |
612 |
589 |
569 |
536 |
531 |
| South Leys |
428 |
398 |
390 |
377 |
353 |
342 |
352 |
347 |
356 |
| Total |
1136 |
1073 |
1058 |
1011 |
965 |
931 |
921 |
883 |
887 |
What is included in these projections?
- Existing numbers in secondary and primary schools projected forward
- Current pattern of parental preference applied
- New entrants from planned housing developments
- Toddlers registered with GPs for 2014 to 2015
NOR = Number on Roll
BSF consultation issues – key factors to consider
There are three main things to take into account when planning what to do with the BSF investment at each school:
- Pupil number projections
We project pupil numbers to 2015, to tell us what size of school is required. This takes into account current parental preferences, numbers in primary schools, birth rates and new housing.
- Condition of school buildings
We will consider the condition of schools buildings, the facilities currently available and how well the accommodation will accept new IT (Information Technology) investments and different teaching methods.
- The Government’s academies programme
Where exam results* are at or below 30 per cent in at least one of the last three years, the Government will consider turning a school into an academy. This is a privately operated school, independent of North Lincolnshire Council. In such circumstances, the government and academy sponsor will decide the way the new school is configured. It will consult with local people.
*GCSEs – five or more A* to C
BSF consultation issues – project scope
Total funding available is £62m
The Government has assumed this will provide
- 50 per cent new build
- 35 per cent refurbishment
- 15 per cent light refurbishment
That means investment in Scunthorpe will be a mix of these things. Every school will be assessed to find out what it needs to bring its buildings up to standard.
BSF consultation issues – the benefits
Apart from better buildings, what are the benefits of BSF?
- Courses that let students learn in ways to suit them best, at their own pace
- Access to a much wider range of courses
- Fewer compulsory subjects and a wider choice of what interests students
- Possibility of learning in more than one place
- Superb IT facilities
- Longer school opening hours and better community facilities
- More support for healthy lifestyles
BSF consultation issues – school by school
Brumby
- Pupil numbers projected for January 2011 is 734
- Needs significant refurbishment and remodelling
High Ridge
- Pupil numbers projected for January 2011 is 525
- Needs significant refurbishment and remodelling
- Could become an academy
- Could merge with Foxhills to form an academy
Frederick Gough
- Pupil numbers projected for January 2011 is 1,178
- Needs significant refurbishment
Foxhills
- Pupil numbers projected for January 2011 is 828
- Needs significant refurbishment and remodelling
- Could merge with High Ridge to form an academy
South Leys
- Pupil numbers projected for January 2011 is 353
- Government says school is too small to stand alone
- Could merge with Thomas Sumpter (site to be decided)
- Could close and pupils could attend Thomas Sumpter
- Thomas Sumpter could close and its pupils attend an expanded South Leys
- Could become an academy
Thomas Sumpter
- Pupil numbers projected for January 2011 is 601
- Needs a complete re-build
- South Leys could close and its pupils attend Thomas Sumpter
- Could merge with South Leys (site to be decided)
- Could close and pupils attend South Leys
- Could become an academy
BSF consultation issues – likely timetable
- Public consultations in January to March 2006.
- Detailed submission to government late summer/autumn 2006.
- Tenders and negotiations with contractors throughout 2007.
- Work begins on first school April 2008.
- First new facilities ready September 2009.
- Last new facility finished September 2010.
BSF consultation issues – does the size of the school matter?
Small schools provide a nurturing and caring environment. But there are potential difficulties that come with small size Research shows, in general, best results are in medium sized schools and the worst in very small or very large schools. The optimum size would be 900 to a 1000 pupils overall for a school for 11 to 16year olds. A school below 500 would be very small by this measure.
Why is this the case?
- Narrower curriculum due to the smaller number of teachers limits subject specialisms available in the school.
Why is this the case?
- Collaboration can be a good thing. But beyond a certain point, relying on other establishments to provide an education is not good for a school.
- Staff are more likely to teach outside their specialist area.
- Costs of smaller schools are higher. May be harder to match salaries that larger schools offer.
- Flexibility of staff reduced (such as fewer learning mentors or specialisms)
- May have to teach mixed ability in some subjects (GCSE options)
- Class sizes may need to be unusually large or small to run GCSE options
- Small single person departments – impacts on strategies.