11.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2004 were confirmed.
12.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mr R G Mazillius declared a personal interest in Minute15 due to
his son’s business and as a LEA School Governor.
Mrs B D Clough, Mr C R Hancock, Mr J F Howe, Mr K Pearson and Mr C
R Richards declared a personal interest as LEA School Governors.
13.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mr J A Bowker raised a question on behalf of the Oakfield Crew who
wished for the Select Committee to view a video that they had produced
regarding living in Ryde.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT
Arrangements be made for the Select Committee to view the video at
a future meeting.
14.
FORWARD
PLAN
The Select Committee was advised of relevant items of interest
contained within the Forward Plan. It was noted that the Executive would be
considering the results of the consultation process on school organisation
earlier in October 2004 than previously stated. This was to give additional
time for the second consultative stage so that a decision could be considered
in early spring 2005.
Members were also advised that the catering contract at Ventnor
Botanic Gardens would soon be the subject of a tendering exercise. They were
reminded that there was a view that the type of service provided should be
developed further. There was an opportunity therefore for the Select Committee
to discuss issues relating to the tender specification before invitations were
sought.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE SUPORT AND HEAD
OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
An informal meeting of the Select Committee be held at the Ventnor
Botanic Gardens to discuss the specifications to be included within the
catering contract.
15.
SCHOOL
ORGANISATION CONSULTATION
The Chairman reminded members that at the Awayday in May 2004 it
had been agreed that the Select Committee would undertake independent fact
finding informal meetings with stakeholders on proposals to reorganise Island
Schools. A series of six themed meetings had been held during June/July at
which stakeholders were given the opportunity of raising key issues that they
believed the Council should take into account when considering the range of
options available.
A lead member from the Select Committee had chaired each themed
meeting and they gave a brief overview of these.
The Portfolio Holder thanked the Select Committee for undertaking
such a useful exercise. She gave a brief response to a number of the issues
that had been highlighted during the process. All the points would be taken
into account when preparing the report on the wider consultation exercise which
was to be debated by the Executive at its meeting on 6 October 2004. It was
noted that several issues raised were not in the direct control of the Council,
as Local Education Authority. The Select Committee was aware of this but considered
that it might be possible to try and influence the way in which things were
undertaken. The discrepancy between Ofsted’s inspection reports for individual
schools and that for the LEA had already been raised directly with Ofsted but
with no satisfactory outcome.
Members were advised that of the 156 LEA’s only 26 operated a 3
tier system and a number of these were either looking at changing this or
operated such a system with a 2 tier system. An overall view from the themed
meetings was that any changes had to be on the basis of raising pupil
performance, sustainability of schools and a better link in with the national
testing structure.
The Select Committee was advised that following the Executive in
October consultants would undertake a more detailed exercise on a number of
potential options. There would be an opportunity for the Select Committee,
along with other relevant stakeholders, to comment on the proposed scope of the
consultants brief. It was noted that the costs associated with this was to be
funded by the DfES as part of the 14-19 Action Plan.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES
AND DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES
The key issues arising from the Select Committee’s consultation
exercise be forwarded onto the Executive so that these can be taken into
account when it considers school organisation at its October 2004 meeting.
CHAIRMAN