Public Meeting Minutes 10/2/10

Download the minutes from the Public Meeting  on 10th February here

Notes from WD3 School Action Group

Chair: Mark Sutton

Vice Chair: Carolyn Venn

Venue: St Peter’s School Hall, Mill End

Date: 10^th February 2010

1. Overview

A public meeting was held to discuss the current situation regarding increasing difficulty for children living in South West Hertfordshire to be awarded a place at a local quality secondary school. The meeting was attended by local parents, District and County Councillors, School Governors and members of local residents associations.

In summary:

• Last year 914 children in Hertfordshire did not get a school of their choice.

• 397 of these children were from Watford or Three Rivers area.

• 1024 children from out of county got a place in a Hertfordshire school.

• Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is forecasting that by 2014/15 there will be more children demanding school places than there are places available. Yet they have still not stated how it will overcome this problem.

• Hertfordshire children are at a disadvantage when applying for secondary school places as HCC only offer our children 3 preferences on its application form so Hertfordshire children have to be very careful where they apply. Surrounding counties (Buckinghamshire / Hillingdon) get 5 or 6 choices thus enabling them to apply for schools in their own district AND Hertfordshire.

2. What Is Happening

1. 1. HCC are currently undertaking a consultation exercise regarding 2010/11 Secondary School Admissions Arrangements which can be found at http://www.hertsdirect.org/docs/pdf/c/cons1112.pdf

This consultation exercise covers many areas but there are 3 key points that we feel should be commented on:

• Changing to a straight line distance measurement. Currently it is based on the shortest safest route and we support this change as it should stop money being wasted in the appeals process when routes are disputed. It could also possibly bring some WD3 children into the catchment area for St. Clement Danes School.

• WD3 area has been stated as a priority area for Kings Langley School. Although a very good school it is 1½ hour bus journey away (8.5 miles) and we would not qualify for free transport. It is also pointless to state WD3 as a priority area as in 2009 the ‘furthest distance’ successful applicant was 3 miles away. Therefore we strongly reject this point.

• Demand that HCC offer the same number of choices in the application process as our neighbouring local authorities.

It was requested that all parents respond to this consultation either via the above website or a letter template available on the evening or via our website www.wd3school.wordpress.com . The deadline for this process is 26^th February 2010.

1. 1. HCC will also be meeting on 23^rd February to determine whether to accept the recommendations and budgetary requirements of the “Meeting the rising demand for school places” report into the Council’s budget plans (its IPP). It was requested that all parents write to Mr Richard Thake at HCC, and ideally emailing all other 76 HCC councillors for maximum impact stating the urgent need for new secondary schools in the WD3 area. (Again, letter template and councillors email addresses will be available on our website).

3. Other Questions/ Matters raised from the Floor.

• Ann Shaw (Leader of Three Rivers District Council) agreed the need for a new school is pressing. She is currently looking at possible undisclosed sites but it is not a straightforward process.

• David Gauke (MP) also agreed a new school is urgent and that on-going pressure from parents will ensure that HCC gets the message.

• Explore option of New Schools Network (where parents get together to build their own school). However it was noted that more manpower is needed to investigate this further. Chair’s post-meeting note: We have already established working contact with this organisation in December 2009. We have been allocated an individual to monitor our progress and assist us with any work we are seeking to move forward. A public meeting of this type was one of the steps recommended to us by our nominated contact.

• What type of feedback will we given after the consultation process has been completed?

Pauline Davis (County Schools Planning Manager) responded that all responses will be taken to the cabinet of the County Council who will turn them into a report after taking into account everybody’s views. These reports are public documents and will be available to view on the HCC website.

• What are the next steps once HCC have accepted the report on 23^rd February? Carolyn Venn responded that there is a provision for primary school places which HCC believe is more pressing but they will then put money aside to be used for secondary schools. Pauline Davis added they have also asked for Revenue Resources to be available enable to do site surveys, searches etc. The decision on this additional money will be made on 23^rd February as part of the HCC vote on the “Meeting the rising demand for school places” report.

• What is the reason for only having 3 preferences in the application process as opposed to 6, as it would appear this is something that could be changed quite easily?

Mark Sutton replied that this issue was raised at an HCC pre-consultation meeting to discuss what would appear in the consultation document but it was decided not to be included as it could disadvantage children in rural areas. However there seems to be no statistical evidence to support this. This is why the issue is being covered in the letter to be sent in reply to the consultation, and we will continue to push for this until it happens.

• The next committee meeting is on 23^rd February. Anyone wishing to join is requested to email first so we are aware of numbers expected. However, we would welcome anyone wishing to join subsequent committee meetings.

3. Next Steps

There are 3 actions we require all those who attended this meeting to take:

1. 1. Send letter to Mr Richard Thake and email other 76 county councillors as detailed in Section 2.2 by 23^rd February 2010.

1. 1. Respond to consultation exercise as detailed in Section 2.1 by 26^th February 2010.

1. 1. We urgently require representatives from all local primary schools to join the committee and to spread the word amongst their schools.