Decision details

Call In Request: Proposed Closure of Hameldon Community College, Burnley

Decision Maker: Education Scrutiny Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Decisions:

The report explained that on 12 April 2018, Cabinet received a report on the proposed closure of Hameldon Community College, Burnley. Cabinet:

 

  i.  Considered the information in the report

  ii.  Approved the proposal as detailed in the statutory notice to close Hameldon Community College, Burnley, with implementation commencing from 31 August 2018; and

  iii.  Approved that an appropriate statutory decision letter be sent out, as specified under legal requirements, to give the reasons for the decision to those who were to be informed of them.

 

Following requests from seven County Councillors in accordance with the "Call In" procedures, the Chair of the Education Scrutiny Committee had called a meeting to consider calling in the decision.

 

The Committee welcomed Sarah Ingham, a witness from Save Hameldon Campaign, and County Councillor Jeff Sumner, to present their reasons for the decision to be reconsidered.

 

In presenting the case for the Call In, it was felt that the steps and procedures for the consultation into Hameldon Community College had not been managed appropriately and this was a violation of the county council's own rules as it had not followed all the steps that had been set out in its own consultation policy. It was reported that the consultation had not been received by all parents.

 

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children Young People and Schools, spoke in response. It was highlighted that since 2007, the HMCI stated that Hameldon Community College required special measures, as it was failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education. The persons responsible for managing and governing the school were not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvements in the school. It was highlighted that the school was built for 700 pupils and there were now under 200 pupils. In addition, it was reported that the school had a financial deficit of £2.5 million and there would be an ongoing financial risk if it was to remain open.

 

In the debate that followed, committee members expressed sympathy for the parents of Hameldon pupils, but recognised that in light of the poor Ofsted reports and declining pupil numbers, the decision of Cabinet to approve the proposed closure of the school was an appropriate course of action.

 

It was proposed and seconded that the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools' decision on 12 April 2018 in relation to the proposed closure of Hameldon Community College should not be called in. On being put to the vote, the motion was carried and it was therefore:

 

 

Resolved: That the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools' decision on 12 April 2018 in relation to the proposed closure of Hameldon Community College should not be called in.

 

 

Date of decision: 25/04/2018

Decided at meeting: 25/04/2018 - Education Scrutiny Committee

Accompanying Documents: