MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2001 COMMENCING AT 4.00 PM

Present :

LEA Members :

Mrs B D Clough (deputising for Mrs J L Wareham), Mr C R Hancock, Mrs S A Smart (deputising for Mr J F Howe)

School Groups :

Mr J Franklin, Mrs H Wilks

C of E Diocese :

Canon D Isaac

RC Diocese of Portsmouth :

Mr P Birks

Hants and IOW Learning Skills Council :

Mr P Holiday, Mrs S Simpkins

Apologies :

LEA Members : Mr G S Kendall, Mr J F Howe, Mrs J L Wareham

School Groups : Mrs C Tarrant

C of E Diocese : Mrs A Bradley

RESOLVED :

THAT Mrs A Bradley be elected Chairman.

2. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED :

THAT Mr C R Hancock be elected Vice Chairman.

(In the absence of the Chairman Mr C R Hancock, Vice Chairman took the Chair).

3. MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2001 be confirmed.

4. ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE

Mr K Johnson, Assistant Director of Education, outlined that the Committee was a statutory body comprised of key partners involved in the provision of education on the Island. Its main purpose was to approve the School Organisation Plan together with any statutory proposals relating to schools. The voting procedures were also explained.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

5. ISLE OF WIGHT SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLAN 2001/2002 TO 2005/2006

The Committee was advised of the need to plan school places so that appropriate capacity was available for pupils in the relevant areas.

The Senior Education Officer for Planning and Resources, Mr A Seaward, indicated the consultation process that had been undertaken. No objections to the Plan had been received. During the course of the consultation process it had been necessary for the Council to amend the admission arrangements for Community and Controlled schools. A copy of the revised criteria was circulated. Members believed that the final Plan when submitted to the Department for Education and Employment should include as an appendix the revised admission arrangements together with details of the consultation process involved.

The Committee discussed the difficulties associated with the forecasting of new housing development. Data from the census when released in 2003 would assist in the planning process and it was also hoped that information could be obtained from Island General Practitioners.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Draft School Organisation Plan 2001/2002 to 2005/2006 be approved subject to the inclusion of the revised admission arrangements.

6. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

Members were advised that a meeting would be held on Wednesday, 9 January 2002 at 4.00pm to consider the proposals with regard to special schools.

A meeting would also be held on Thursday, 12 September 2002 to consider the draft School Organisation Plan for 2002/2003 to 2006/2007.

RESOLVED :

THAT the dates be noted.

CHAIRMAN