Minutes of the Open Meeting held on Wednesday, 24th February, 1999, at Provost Williams School.

The Chairman of the Governing Body welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Mr.C.James. who had agreed to the Chair the meeting.

Mr.James explained the reasons for calling the meeting, which was to clarify the issues and action that the Governing Body has to take on the Key Issues of the Ofsted Inspection and Report which was carried out in March 1998. The next Ofsted Report will inspect the progress against the Key Issues.

This evening's meeting was arranged for all interested parties to voice their opinions and questions on:

"Make more effective use of the financial resources and accommodation available to the school by rationalising them against its long term strategic needs".

There were two options to be considered:

The LEA had considered that for the Annexe to be remain viably open 30 pupils should be taught there - at present 22 were there. Therefore, the status quo was not an option.

If relocation to Ryton was realised a temporary classroom would be required at Ryton in September 1999 and children would be transported from Bubbenhall from the age of 4+. Transport costs are not an issue as these would be born by the LEA.

Mr. James drew attention to page 6 of the Consultation Document highlighting the benefits of teaching on one site.

Mr.James then opened the meeting for discussion.

T.Ciuffini Spoke to Ofsted today, who said that there is nothing in the Ofsted Report that says the status quo is not acceptable.

Parent Financially the Annexe is cost neutral, how can Governors take

Bubb. action to improve children's education if the school is financially worse off?

T.Harris I am bemused that 4-7 year olds will be bused - they don't have P.C.Ryton any road sense.

Parent Why has it taken Ofsted report to raise these issues - were they not

Bubb. noticed before?

Chairman The LEA recognises that transport is a sensitive issue but statistically the chances of accidents are much lower on buses than other forms of transport.

V.Ledger A Times newspaper report says that many minor crashes do occur with

Bubb buses - coaches do crash. Would Governors put their own 4 year olds on the bus? It is socially good to walk to school.

Chair Financial issues are not about savings, it is about efficient

use of resources.

Parent The most important issue is education of our children, how can it be

Ryton My children walk to school and sometimes I drive them. Bubbenhall

Parent children do get buses to Ryton for assemblies etc.

Parent Which we do not like.

Bubb.

Parent Is the transport going to be LEA transport or public transport?

The quality of safety standards gives concern (regarding seatbelts).

Parent Is it legal for the decision made 2/3 years ago for the LEA to

manage the Annexe now to be handed to the Governors?

Parent Regarding the temporary classroom, is this the temporary

classroom at the Annexe to be transferred to Ryton and if so

the children will still have to go outside to the toilets, and

who will pay for the relocation?

Chair Children would be bused by public transport. The LEA will look

at the situation for the 4+ aged children, with an attendant on

the bus and a coach with seatbelts.

Parent This would cost more, how is this an efficient use of

resources?

Chair Regarding the legality - the Secretary of State agreed that the

responsibility for the Annexe move to the Governing Body - it

is an annexe of the Ryton school.

Parent The building is viewed as being within the community and a

fundamental part of the village.

Chair Regarding temporary accommodation: the LEA will fund and look

at the availability of classrooms, it could be the existing

hut, or possibly there are temporary classrooms with internal

toilets

Parent This could also mean that Ryton children could be in temporary

Bubb. classrooms.

Parent Why did Ofsted draw attention to the problem?

Chair Ofsted is an external monitoring system to identify these

problems. There are two options to consider - Ofsted has drawn

attention to the main issues.

Parent Bubbenhall children come to Ryton Nursery - not on a bus.

Ryton

Parent This is acceptable for one year, we do it in our own cars

Bubb. which have seatbelts - we cannot do it for three years.

Parent Why must this issue be decided by the end of March?

Chair The Governors have to balance how long discussion can go on.

Parent What will be the impact of the new homes to be built in Ryton

and what are the formal arrangements with the builders?

Chair The LEA have been in discussion with the developers and have

reached a financial commitment to secure 30 additional pupil

places at Ryton school across the age range, which will mean an

additional temporary classroom - which could become a permanent

classroom.

Chair There are too many temporary classrooms throughout Warwickshire

which we are looking to make permanent as and when possible.

We cannot say when the Ryton classroom will be made permanent.

Parent I have one child at the Annexe and one at Ryton and although I

am very happy with their education I am horrified about the

proposed transport arrangements.

Parent Have you had any complaints about the efficient teaching at

Bubb. Bubbenhall or Ryton from any parents or children?

Chair The LEA have had no complaints about this matter. We are

looking at the efficient use of resources.

Parent What educational benefit do the Governors see in having single

Bubb age classes?

Chair Research evidence shows that the outcome seems to be fairly

similar. Teaching in mixed age class environment raises more

demanding challenges for teachers. Ofsted have raised concern

about the wide range of mixed age teaching which means that

some children are not sufficiently challenged. The school is

addressing this issue.

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Parent We are all pleased with the quality of teaching at the Annexe.

Mr.Lilly We have received comments and complaints about the quality of

Governor teaching.

Parent Ryton is also good and if resources are brought together it

Ryton could be even better. What happens if the grant is not given?

Chair There has been a one-off grant for a "growing" school and for

the transitional term at the annexe. Class sizes across the

school are extremely low and the LEA will need to examine the

figures and the formula for funding. Small class sizes are

great for the children and parents.

T.Ciuffini The LEA documents show that there are no costs to be saved by

Parent We fought for the Nursery at Ryton to be kept open years ago,

Ryton could the LEA get it right this time - the people must make the

decision not just the LEA or the Governors.

Parent I have addressed all the comments set out in Key Issue 1. All

Bubb. can be resolved - parents are in a better position to see how

good the Annexe is. The school is run for the children not for

ease of administration.

Parent Governors always knew it was a special site they were managing

and if they are unable to do so they should stand down.

Parent We must not lose sight of the effect of closing the Annexe on

Bubb. the village now and in the future. The two sites were set up

2/3 years ago - I am confused when Ofsted say this is not

efficient. It seems that the Governors are saying there is

only one option and that is to close the Annexe

Parent We were discussing the same issue several years ago. We are

Row in a position for the LEA to provide a short term provision

but it requires a long-term resolution.

Parent Perhaps busing children from Ryton to Bubbenhall might help the

issue.

T.Ciuffini This not to fund the Annexe it is to fund the school.

Parent Closing the annexe is cost neutral.

Parent Regarding Key Issue 1 - how is closing the Annexe going to

Bubb. improve community links? More problems will be generated,

possibly the children from the Annexe might move to Ryton

school. If this figure of 22 children is achieved it would

affect class sizes and would also affect the relationship with

the church.

Parent If some of these children do not transfer there is a risk of

Bubb. two larger classes and the loss of a Key Stage 1 teacher and

single age classes might not be possible.

Chairman If numbers drop, yes, funding can change.

Parent I have not heard one argument that would suggest we should

Bubb. close the Annexe. I would therefore suggest that the Governors

take note and vote to keep the Annexe open.

Parent I wonder if there was any chance of Smiths Concrete offer to

build a new classroom at Bubbenhall being taken up.

Parent I feel that the children do not mix together enough. At swimming

sessions the Bubbenhall children even have to change clothes

separately from Ryton children.

Parent I was joint chairman of the PTA years ago - we have tried to

Bubb. get Ryton children to come to the Annexe- perhaps this should

be considered. There is a strong case for the LEA to advise

the Governing Body that there is only one option - i.e. the

status quo.

Parent What exactly is the process - why should Governors resolve the

situation before the end of March - we need another meeting for

them to come back to us with their proposal.

Chairman Governors are undertaking a lengthy consultation process.

Parent Governors must tonight get the strong feeling that everyone

At this point there was an almost unanimous show of hands in support of

this statement.

Parent I live out of Ryton or Bubbenhall but I have two children at

Ryton school. It could be beneficial for all children to be

taught together and in single age classes, but I do understand

the problem with transport.

Parent How much time is lost busing children between the sites?

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Parent If it is kept open we should look closely at integration and

the swimming situation should be addressed.

Parent There is a shortfall of numbers transferring and its not

unusual across the County.

Parent Regarding the consultation - we want to hear the Governors

proposals and be able to question them. The vast majority of

Governors do not live in the villages - please do not take a

decision lightly. Make closure the last resort - I do not

believe Option 2 is sensible.

T.Harris Transport problems exist throughout all the school ages.

Chairman I take your comments to heart, this is a very sensitive issue.

Parent How is voting by the Governing Body carried out.

Chairman The Governing Body makes its decision on a majority basis.

Parent Any decision must benefit all children.

The meeting closed at 9.05 P.m.