Agenda item

Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning presented the report of Trevor Cook, Acting Assistant Director for Education to Cabinet.

The London Borough of Havering submitted an expression of Interest (EOI) for a new a special free school in Havering in November, 2016.  The Department for Education (DfE) notified the Council on 12^th April, 2017 that this was successful and this is now progressing onto the next stage which is underway.

Once the specification is finalised and advertised for proposers the Council would only be able to withdraw with the consent of the DfE if a change of circumstances could be evidenced.  It is unlikely that would be the case given the local need.

The site identified for the new school is the Century Youth House, Albert Road, Romford, RM2 2PS.

It is anticipated that proposals will be advertised in September, 2017.  Four months will be allowed for responses..  Detailed evaluation will then be undertaken and a two stage process will be followed to determine the preferred provider.  The panel may choose to visit a school run by the proposer group.

The Regional Schools Commissioner will consider the submission put forward by the DfE and Local Authority following the determination of their chosen provider. The final decision will be with the Secretary of State for Education.

Once a decision is in place the Local Authority will work closely with the proposer and the DfE to conclude the implementation of the new school.

The new school will create much needed extra provision for SEN places in the Borough and it will allow some of the Borough’s children currently educated outside of the Borough to be educated in Havering.  The new school will be co-educational, 3-16 years age group and will provide 60 places.

The basis for the DfE approval is that the site will be provided by the Council.  They will then grant fund and procure the building works necessary to provide the new school.

A number of local bidders are expected and the time line has been set.  Further formal decisions will come forward through executive decisions which will allow consistent monitoring of progress by Members.  There are a large number of independent providers nationally and schools of this kind are thriving across the country. Everything will be done to secure the best possible provision for Havering to attain a facility the Authority can be proud of.

The location of the site is well placed given the transport links and this represents an excellent opportunity for the Borough in an area that is ready to be developed to meet a very real need for local children. 

For the reasons set out in the report Cabinet:

• APPROVED the proposal to seek a free school proposer for the establishment of a new special free school for 60 children with Communication and Interaction Needs (C&I) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) in the age range 3 to 16, on the site of Century Youth House, Albert Road, Romford RM1 2PS.  The opportunity to offer respite provision and short breaks at the new facility will be taken forward with the successful proposer.
• DELEGATED all further decision making on the process necessary to complete the establishment of the new school, including approving the final proposer and any property transactions to the Director of Children Services, after consultation with the Lead Member.

Other Options Considered:

• Alternative sites were considered - At the time of submitting the original EOI, no other sites were viewed as suitable for a number of reasons, and it was agreed that Century Youth House would be included, despite the issues over the potential receipts from disposal.  Further consultation with Strategic Property Services confirms that Century Youth House remains the preferred site, as all other sites are not deemed suitable due to a number of reasons.  If an alternative was to be considered, they would need to have the case worked up and a decision then taken, and there is a risk that many sites would fall away in that process, and the DfE need absolute certainty of the site before the Council can enter into the competition phase of the process.
• There was the option to do nothing – but this risks the Authority not being able to fulfil its statutory duty to provide suitable, sufficient education for the children it is responsible for.  It also risks the Authority not gaining significant capital investment.

It was not necessary to exclude members of the press or public as there was no detailed discussion in relation to the restricted aspect of the report.