Agenda item

Regular update on Rotherhithe School,  Southwark Free Schools and the provision of primary and secondary school places in the borough. Report attached.

5.1  The Director of Education, Merril Haeusler, went through the report circulated, and commented that the University Engineering Academy Southbank is an academy rather than a free school.

5.2   She reported that she had recently met with the board of trustees of Compass School. The former headteacher is no longer there and they are advertising nationally for a new head.

5.3  The Director reported that Southwark Free School has also appointed a new executive head teacher, and this usually means that the executive is running more than one school, and added that she was unsure what happened to the former head-teacher. Members asked about the progress with the school and site  and the Director said that she is a little concerned with the number of children in a small and constrained site and that the school is not attracting many children  , however , she reported that the school is confident that once on a permanent site it will be viable . Members asked if there is a need for the places provided by the school. The Director responded that at the time when the application came through there was not,  but the education department is now factoring in the additional places and by the time the school gets to the permanent site there will be sufficient demand.

5.4  The Director was then asked about  the Judith Kerr Free School and numbers applying. The Director reported that there are around 40. She said that  initially the Education Department had concerns about barriers to entry, but these do not seem to be borne out and the school is operating well as a community school.

5.5  Members asked about the process for starting a free school and the Director explained that anybody can put in an application to the Department of Education for various reasons, for example there is a need for places or a community need,  such as learning German. She explained that that most times free school applicants are granted permission and they then come to the council for help with sites. She explained in the case of Harris Academy they unusually named the Dulwich Hospital. The NHS will presumably give to the highest bidder; or not. She explained that it is the Department for Education who put up the funding.  A member asked if the Director had further information about Harris Academy’s plans for Peckham, but she explained she didn’t  and the member suggested inviting Harris Academy to a meeting.

5.6  The chair reported that earlier this afternoon a meeting was held with Education and Children’s Service exploring working with schools and improving working relationships. He reported that the Director of Education attends the headteachers’ forum and is going to explain what scrutiny is and that scrutiny had offered to do anything possible to improve relationships with schools. The Director reported that she had suggested moving to providing reports on major updates to scrutiny. She emphasized that the council have signed up to ensuring that every child has a good education. She added that relationships with schools are good and progressing well. She reported that, with the exception of Harris Academy schools, the council has school improvement officers in local schools.  Harris Academy does things differently - for example they have their own education welfare officers. The council responded that this was fine but that it is essential that these link into the services the council has. The Director commented that the council do need to bring to the table respect for the difficult job that headteachers do. She added that every secondary school headteacher has invited her to a meeting.

5.7  A member asked why there were such a high turnover of headteachers, and raised concerns about exclusion levels, particularly at Harris Academy schools. The chair commented that a report will be forthcoming on exclusions, managed moves and with revised statistics on exclusions, and those schools will be asked for their policies The Director responded that the turnover of headteachers is mostly down to people leaving to retire, with the exception of one. She advised asking schools for their behaviour or wellbeing policies.  The chair commented that ARK/ Globe were very helpful and the committee can continue to request that Harris Academy attend.

RESOLVED

Invite Harris Academy to attend a future meeting.