ROLL AND CAPITAL IMPLICATIONS
General Comment
All four options carry some capital costs and for Options 2 to 4 these are substantial. For the purposes of this exercise the eight planning areas, set out in the School Organisation Plan (SOP) have been used. These are: Cowes, East Cowes, East Wight, Newport, Ryde, South East Wight, Ventnor and rural area, West Wight. For each option the report looks at the organisation of schools which results from the proposals and the likely capital costs at an April 2002 price base (a gross building cost of £1,600 per square metre for a project which includes a mixture of new building and alterations). In assessing the effects for the various options the following assumptions have been made:
All cohorts have been assumed at 1500 and distributed between the planning areas on the basis of the January 2001 School Census figures. It is felt that the figure of 1500 will take account of the numbers from new housing set out in the SOP. Where possible and where change is necessary primary schools have been planned at 2 or 3 Form Entry (FE) and middle and high schools at the most appropriate size to be economic within a particular planning area. First year 6th forms are shown with a 70% take-up and second year 6ths with 90% retention. The 70% figure is higher than at present but follows the aspirations of the Authority, KPMG and Taylor reports. At this early stage no assumptions can be made on behalf of the two Portsmouth dioceses particularly as relatively large capital costs would fall upon the governing bodies involved. Therefore, it has been assumed for the present that the eleven aided schools will remain unaltered except for the changes in age range demanded by the various options. The dioceses will have a view about the future of their schools.
A further consideration is the many pre-schools on primary sites which currently do not form part of the primary provision. It is assumed that where a primary school is moved the pre-school will move with it or at least preserved in situ. No assessment has been made of these costs.
In considering Options 2, 3 and 4, it is assumed that the building alterations required and thus to some extent the reorganisation, will span a four to six year period and will require professional planning and construction resources from the mainland. This may increase the capital costs but it is clear that the Island’s building industry is too small to accomplish the whole task.
Summary of Costs
Option 1 £7.2 to 16 million.
Option 2 £62.5 million.
Option 3 £56.5 million.
Option 4 £58.5 million.
Option 1
A Tertiary Board would be
set up with representation from the LSC, the LEA, schools, the college and
private training providers. Under the guidance of an independent chairman the
Tertiary Board would make recommendations or decisions about the delivery and
integration of post-14 provision.
Roll
Option 1 suggests no changes to the distribution of pupils and admission arrangements. Unknown changes are, however, implicit in the Tertiary Board’s division of courses between institutions and it can only be hoped at this stage that rolls will balance out. The Option suggests the need for more flexible provision at the five high schools in order to deliver less academic courses and some community education. This might also be an opportunity for a rationalisation of primary and middle school places to produce more economic units.
Capital Costs
Based upon early planning work being undertaken at one high school it is assumed for planning purposes that a block of some 900 sm at each high school costing £7.2 million in total. Rationalisation of primary and middle schools could involve the replacement of one middle school and the closure of 5 small primary schools and the replacement of the places required at nearby schools. The last would be strongly opposed by many sections of the community. It should, however, be considered. The cost of replacing the middle school would be in the region of £6 million plus highway infrastructure and reorganising five primaries £1.5 million.
The minimum cost for this option is £7.2 million and the maximum cost around £16 million.
Option 2
First and middle schools
re-organised into 5-11 primary schools. 11-16 secondary
schools feeding into a Tertiary College which would offer all post-16
education. This might be based on a 16-18 centre, mainly offering Curriculum
2000, with a vocational FE unit largely catering for post-19 vocational
education, adult and community education and HE.
The main issues
with this option are:
Some primaries have sufficient space, some can be extended and some
definitely cannot. Most middle schools
are capable of conversion into large economic primary schools units whilst
others can either be converted into small 11 to 16 secondaries or combined with
existing high schools. The tertiary
college provision is more difficult as there is insufficient accommodation at
the college and after the B and Q alterations there will not be sufficient land
to build a new 6th form block.
An alternative to a new building would be for one of the Newport high
schools to become a 6th form college replaced by a new purpose built
secondary. Of the two possibilities the
first is probably the most economic and consequently it is assumed that a new
site will be required on which to build the new facility. This
must be in Newport.
Taking the planning areas one by one:
Cowes
The area requires 1160 primary places. To meet the need it is suggested that Solent and Somerton middle schools be converted to 3FE primary schools providing 1260 places and the existing primary schools closed. This is the most economic solution but an alternative would be to remodel the two middles to 2FE and retain two of the existing primaries. In the secondary phase Cowes High could cope with the numbers from the area (827). The cost of the alterations in the primary phase is estimated at £1.75 million and the secondary conversion at £1.5 million. Total cost £3,250,000.
East Cowes
East Cowes requires 830 primary places which could be achieved by extending and remodelling the existing schools. The area requires 593 secondary places which can be achieved by remodelling and extending Osborne Middle School which might be self standing or affiliated to Cowes High School. The cost of the work in primaries is put at £750,000 and at Osborne Middle at £2.5 million. Total cost £3,250,000.
East Wight
The area requires 500 primary places which could be found by extending and combining Bembridge Primary and Forelands Middle schools with the closure of St Helens and Nettlestone primaries. It is assumed that the secondary places from the area would be absorbed by Ryde but mainly Sandown secondary schools. Total cost £1,150,000.
Newport
Newport requires 2,500 primary places. These can be provided by remodelling Kitbridge and Downside middle schools at 2 FE and extending all the primary schools in Newport with the exception of Hunnyhill which would sensibly have to close because of its proximity to Kitbridge. It is also likely that Arreton would be a case for closure due to its size and the temporary nature of the accommodation. The area needs 1,783 secondary places. These can be provided by use of Medina and Carisbrooke High schools with a large amount of alteration at Carisbrooke. An alternative would use the two aided middles as a church secondary school supported by both dioceses. This would allow one of the existing high schools to be used as a 6th form college – see below. The cost of primary alterations is approximately £5 million while either secondary option will be £4.5 to 5.5 million. Total cost £10,500,000.
Sixth Form College
A 6th form college to be effective needs to be able to cater for more than the existing sixth form of 1,300 and if the 16+ retention reaches 70% will have to be the size of one of the existing high schools. The cost of such a building would be £16,000,000.
Ryde
The area requires 1,940 primary places. These can be achieved by conversion of Mayfield and Swanmore middle schools into 2 or 3 FE primary schools and the retention of the other primary schools in Ryde with the exception of Green Mount which should close due to the size and unsuitability of the existing site and buildings. Because of the likely uneven distribution of primary pupils in Ryde the provision of a new primary school in the Elmfield area must be considered. The cost of these primary alterations will be £4.3 million. The area requires 1,400 secondary places which can be provided at Ryde High School and a converted Bishop Lovett secondary school at a cost of £5 million. Total cost £9,300,000.
South East Wight
The area requires 1,665 primary places which can be found by converting Lake Middle School into a 2 or 3 FE primary and retaining all the other primary schools in the Sandown/ Shanklin areas with the exception of St Johns due to its small site and buildings. The distribution of places is uneven but this has always been true of the area. In addition some thought should be given to the future of Brading Primary which has very low numbers and is unlikely to grow in size quickly. The cost of the primary alterations is in the region of £5 million. There is a need for 1,707 secondary places, including those from the East Wight Area. These can be achieved by an amalgamation of Sandown High and Sandham Middle schools at a cost of £7 million. Total cost £12,000,000.
Ventnor and rural area
The area requires 980 primary places. These can be achieved by remodelling the existing schools at a cost of £640,000. Thought should be given to the need to retain Chale Primary. There is a need for 695 secondary places which can be gained by extending and remodelling Ventnor Middle School as a secondary school at a cost of £1.5 million. Total cost £2,140,000.
West Wight
The West Wight requires 730 primary places which can be accomplished by some remodelling of existing schools and the replacement of Totland Primary at 210 places on a new site. The cost of this work is estimated at £2.9 million. The number of secondary places required is 516 and can be achieved by extending and remodelling West Wight Middle School as a secondary at a cost of £2 million. Total cost £4,900,000.
The total capital cost of Option 2 is £62,490,000.
Option 3
First schools (5-9), Middle schools (9-14), High Schools 14-18+ with significant vocational developments 14-19, close collaboration with the College 14-19, reduction from 5 to 4 High Schools.
The main issues
with this option are:
Under this option there are no changes in the primary phase
although the costs of reorganising five primaries, set out in Option 1, still
apply. Middle schools have to increase in size by one age group and this will
not be possible in all cases largely due to small site areas. In addition middle schools will all require
an upgrading of their practical accommodation to better provide for a curriculum
which will be much more secondary orientated than before. The four high schools will work in pairs:
Ryde with Sandown and either Carisbrooke or Medina with Cowes. The remaining question is, therefore,
whether to close Carisbrooke or Medina.
The choice for closure probably falls upon Medina as travel between
Cowes and Carisbrooke is easier, Carisbrooke has appreciably more accommodation
than Medina and there seem to be no strong curriculum links to argue for either
school over the other. Carisbrooke also
links more easily with the West Wight area.
Taking
the middle planning areas one by one:
Cowes
The
area requires 150 new middle places at a cost of £1.2 million including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at Solent and Somerton middle schools.
East Cowes
The
area requires 150 new middle places at a cost of £1.42 million including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at Osborne Middle School.
East Wight
The
area requires 30 new middle places at a cost of £380,000 including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at Forelands Middle School.
Newport
The
area requires 480 new middle places at a cost of £9.48 million including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at Downside, Kitbridge middle schools and
the replacement of Nodehill Middle School which cannot be extended on its
present site.
Ryde
The
area requires 390 new middle places at a cost of £6.75 million including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at Mayfield, Swanmore and Bishop Lovett
middle schools. Numbers in the area
also require the building of a new middle school as none of the existing
schools is capable of sufficient extension on their existing sites.
South East Wight
The
area requires 450 new middle places at a cost of £6.62 million including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at Lake and Sandham middle schools. The area requires a new middle school as
neither of the existing schools is capable of sufficient extension on their
existing sites.
Ventnor and rural area
The
area requires 120 new middle places at a cost of £820,000 including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at Ventnor Middle School.
West Wight
The
area requires 30 new middle places at a cost of £380,000 including the
upgrading of practical accommodation at West Wight Middle School.
High Schools
Cowes and East Cowes
The area requires 1,000 high school places (600ms + 400 6th form) which can be provided at Cowes High School with surplus place removal of temporary accommodation, conversion of main school areas to 6th form accommodation and provision of flexible vocational/ community areas at a cost of £7 million.
Newport and the West Wight
The area requires 1,460 high school places (875ms + 585 6th form) which can be provided at Carisbrooke High School with conversion of Art/ Drama accommodation, conversion of main school areas to 6th form accommodation and provision of flexible vocational/ community areas at a cost of £8 million.
South East Wight
The area requires 1,365 high school places (820ms + 545 6th form) which can be provided at Sandown High School with conversion of main school areas to 6th form accommodation and provision of flexible vocational/ community areas at a cost of £5 million.
Ryde
The area requires 1,175 high school places (705ms + 470 6th form) which can be provided at Ryde High School with remodelling of Music/ Drama areas, conversion of main school areas to 6th form accommodation and provision of flexible vocational/ community areas at a cost of £8 million.
The
total capital costs of Option 3 are:
Primary
- £ 1,500,000
Middle -
£27,050,000
High -
£28,000,000
Total -
£56,550,000.
Option 4
First and middle schools re-organised into 5-11 primary schools. 11-18+ secondary schools. Virtually all 'lighter' vocational work would be moved into schools who would have their vocational facilities extended. Pairing and collaboration as Option 3 (but the closure of one high school would not be possible as the 11-18+ schools would be too large). Some 'heavier' or skills options such as Construction, Engineering, Hair and Beauty, delivered through skills centres on an industrial estate or commercial location either by a remodelled college or by private training providers.
The main issues
with this option are much the same as in Option 2:
The primary solution is exactly the same as that in Option 2 costing
£21,490,000. The secondary age range
allows a tidier solution, linking a smaller 11 to 16 secondary school feeding
one of the existing high schools at 6th form level.
Taking the planning areas in pairs:
Cowes and East Cowes
The area requires 1,420 main school places and 378 sixth form places. These can be achieved by extending Osborne Middle School to 600 main school places and Cowes High School to 900 main school places with a sixth form of 380. Total cost £7,000,000.
East and SE Wight
The area requires 1,707 main school places and 454 sixth form places. These can be achieved by extending Sandham Middle School to 700 main school places and Sandown High School to 1,000 main school places with a sixth form of 460. Total cost £9,000,000.
Ryde
The area requires 1,400 main school places and 372 sixth form places. These can be achieved by extending Bishop Lovett Middle School to 500 main school places and Ryde High School to 900 main school places with a sixth form of 380. Total cost £8,000,000.
Ventnor and Newport East
The area requires 1,585 main school places and 422 sixth form places. These can be achieved by extending Ventnor Middle School to 700 main school places and Medina High School to 900 main school places with a sixth form of 430. Total cost £7,000,000.
West Wight and Newport West
The area requires 1,406 main school places and 374 sixth form places. These can be achieved by extending West Wight Middle School to 400 main school places and Medina High School to 1000 main school places with a sixth form of 374. Total cost £6,000,000.
The total capital cost of Option 4 is £58,490,000.
PR/AS - 10 May 2002