Southampton Schools' future: The Council report - part 5

Those three schools are "community schools" and it is therefore the obligation of Southampton City Council as the Local Education Authority to implement those decisions. Clearly all three sets of changes require building work in order that they can be implemented. If the recommendations in this report are approved it will become a statutory obligation on the promoters of New School West and New School East to implement the establishment of those schools. The Council is obliged to make available the sums specified in the statutory notices. It the expansion of Redbridge is approved, and the expansion and change of character at The Sholing Technology College it will be a statutory obligation on the Council to implement those changes. These too clearly require building work in order that they can be implemented.

75. The full effect of Learning Futures will be felt over several years, and further work will be required to deal with the changing requirements. For example, where schools are expanding, this will take place over several years as larger year groups are admitted at the age of eleven. Where schools are contracting, this could also take a number of years to have full effect as larger year groups leave at the age of 16 to be replaced by smaller groups at age eleven.

76. The government programme, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is expected to provide the means of a major transformation of school buildings in Southampton, including the complete replacement of some buildings and the major refurbishment of others. The government timetable shows that Southampton is scheduled to join the BSF programme from 2009. This means that a complex process of negotiation with government would begin in that year.

Government guidance indicates that these processes take a minimum of 15 months. The experience of local authorities in the programme currently suggests that the period can be longer. The preparatory work done in Southampton through Learning Future may enable the city to accelerate involvement in BSF.

Once the scale of resources is agreed, there would need to be a process of procurement, detailed design, and the obtaining of necessary permissions. The construction phase itself could last over several years. It is therefore not likely that completely new buildings delivered via BSF would be available for use before 2013, assuming construction commenced in 2011. The significance of this is that a whole generation of Southampton children will pass through schools largely accommodated in existing buildings. It is important to emphasise at this point that current government policy does not differentiate between Academies and other categories of schools in this respect: all new school buildings are to be funded through BSF, and on the same timetable.

77. Decision makers have to consider what investment to make in schools now in order to implement Learning Futures, and to make an impact on the outcomes for children over the next five years, as well as considering the longer term opportunities. The following paragraphs set out school by school what needs to be done. Further supporting detail can be found in Appendix 12.

19 78. The following table indicates in general terms what officers' initial view is of the likely scope of capital work to feature in Southampton's BSF Strategy for Change.

Bellemoor Complete rebuild Bitterne Park Substantial refurbishment Cantell Improvements to existing PFI building Chamberlayne Park Complete or very substantial rebuild New School East Complete rebuild (excepting sports hall) New School West Relocation and complete rebuild Redbridge Improvements to existing PFI building Regents Park Complete rebuild on new site or complete rebuild on existing site Sholing Technology College Complete rebuild on existing site or Relocation and substantial refurbishment St Anne's Substantial refurbishment/partial rebuild (dependent on strategy to be agreed with governors, trustees and diocese) St George Potential rebuild or refurbishment (dependent on strategy to be agreed with governors and diocese) Woodlands Improvements to existing PFI building Building work: new school west 79. If it is agreed that New School West be established it will become an obligation on the promoter to ensure that happens. The Council is obliges to provide the sums specified in the statutory notice for capital works. New School West will initially be accommodated in the Oaklands Community School building, with Millbrook Community School being used as an annexe. The feasibility of a long term move to the Five Acre site is under investigation. The Oaklands building is not big enough to accommodate all the pupils who will be on the school roll in September 2008, but numbers will decrease as the lower admissions limit of 180 applies in future years. In order to ensure that all pupils can be accommodated on one site by no later than September 2010, additional accommodation is required. This means more than just the provision of additional general teaching space. Specialist accommodation is also required. It is also necessary that some work is done to give the school the sense of a new start, and so that it can present itself positively to parents and the school communities. The sum of £270,000 was specified in the statutory notice as being available for these purposes. There is a binding commitment that this is available to facilitate the establishment of the new schools.

20 80. If there was not the prospect of rebuilding through BSF then there would be a compelling case for significant further investment in the Oaklands building, so that it comes closer to meeting current DfES standards. The cost of such improvements is estimated in the order of £1,745,000. It is not recommended that such expenditure is committed, but rather that every effort be made to enable Southampton to join BSF at the earliest opportunity.

Building work: new school east 81. If it is agreed that New School East be established it will become an obligation on the promoter to ensure that happens. The Council is obliges to provide the sums specified in the statutory notice for capital works. New School East will initially be accommodated in the Grove Park Business and Enterprise College building, with Woolston School Language College being used as an annexe. It is intended to rebuild the new school on the Grove Park site. The current Grove Park building is not big enough to accommodate all the pupils who will be on the school roll in September 2008, but numbers will decrease as the admissions limit of 180 applies to future years. In order to ensure that all pupils can be accommodated on one site by no later than September 2010 additional accommodation is required. This means more than just the provision of additional general teaching space. As the school is currently for boys only new toilet and changing room facilities will have to be provided. Some minor upgrading to the site entrance has been included. It is also necessary that some work is done to give the school the sense of a new start, and so that it can present itself positively to parents and the school communities. The sum of £300,000 was specified in the statutory notice as being available for these purposes. There is a binding commitment that this is available to facilitate the establishment of the new schools.

82. If there was not the prospect of rebuilding through BSF then there would be a compelling case for significant further investment in the Grove Park building, so that it comes closer to meeting current DfES standards. The cost of such improvements is estimated in the order of £800,000. If it is agreed that New School West be established it will become an obligation on the promoter to ensure that happens. The Council is obliges to provide the sums specified in the statutory notice for capital works.

83. It is important to note at this point that there is a new sports hall on the Grove Park site, paid for by a lottery grant. The recommendations to this report ask that best endeavours are made with the successful promoter to retain this facility, and to minimise any risk of having to repay the grant. This matter will remain under the control of the Council if one of the trust schools as funding for re-build options through BSF would have to be agreed by the authority. Other mechanisms would need to be employed in relation to the Academy options.

Building work: Redbridge Community School 84. If the recommendation to expand Redbridge is approved then it would be a statutory obligation on the Council to take the necessary steps to implement the required changes. Redbridge Community School is categorised by Ofsted as outstanding' and to be expanded. As a popular and successful school, it is likely that a grant of £400,000 will be obtained from government towards the cost of its expansion. Since Redbridge is a recently constructed PFI (Private Finance Initiative) school it is unlikely the school will qualify for a very substantial sum for 21 refurbishment. The school would not qualify for substantial investment through BSF. Therefore any building work done now should be done on the basis that it will be permanent, 85. Beginning in September 2008 the school will expand by 30 pupils per year for the next five years . Additional accommodation is required to accommodate the larger numbers and this will include specialist teaching areas as well as general teaching. This inevitably will require some remodelling of the existing building as well as providing addition of space. For example it would not make sense for new science labs to be located in a completely different part of the school to existing labs. There are also some significant design flaws in the existing building which should be rectified . For example heat and sound insulation is a major problem in some areas and areas of teaching space are significantly under-size.

86. The possibility of phasing building work at Redbridge could be considered, as it will not have to accommodate the full number of additional pupils in 2008.

However if the work was split into two phases this would mean multiple disruption to the school and is unlikely to secure best value for money. The sum of £2,500,000 is based on doing the necessary work to enable the school to expand to the new size with minimum disruption and the best prospect of retaining its status as one of the cities flagship schools. It also reflects the fact that Redbridge is unlikely to have substantial additional investment through BSF. Therefore the proposed expenditure is a permanent investment in the school building.

Building work: The Sholing Technology College 87. If the recommendation to expand The Sholing Technology College and change its character from single sex to mixed is approved then it would be a statutory obligation on the Council to take the necessary steps to implement the required changes. The Sholing Technology College (TSTC) will expand from 950 to 1050 places. The school will admit boys from 2008. It requires additional teaching space to accommodate the increased numbers, as well as toilet and changing room facilities. Some adjustments to social areas, including outdoor recreation areas, is also strongly recommended so that the needs of both sexes can be properly met. The sum of £520,000 will enable these necessary changes.

88. It is expected that TSTC would qualify for complete replacement under BSF if it remains in its current building. Many of its teaching rooms are under-size; its circulation space corridors are narrow; and space for teachers to mark and prepare work is cramped.

89. An opportunity has recently arisen which could provide an alternative to rebuilding TSTC on its own site. Itchen College (based a little to the north on Middle Road) has announced its wish to relocate to Eastpoint. This has not yet been finally agreed by all the interested parties, but there seems a willingness to facilitate such a move. Were this to happen the Itchen College site would be a very good alternative location for TSTC, and it is likely that much of the existing Itchen College building could be used, and would not require entire replacement under BSF. Itchen College also has a larger area of playing fields than TSTC.

Any such move on the part of Itchen College would take several years to implement, and of course is still not definite. The proposed investment in the current TSTC building is therefore recommended as necessary to enable its 22 change of character to mixed and its expansion.

Building work: Bitterne Park School 90. It has already been approved by the School Organisation Committee that Bitterne Park expands. It is a statutory obligation on the Council to take the necessary steps to implement the required changes. Bitterne Park School is categorised by Ofsted as outstanding'. The cost of its expansion is estimated as £950,000.

This includes necessary general teaching and specialist areas. It is not expected that Bitterne Park would be completely rebuilt through BSF, although it is likely that one block will be demolished and rebuilt. Bitterne Park is in need of significant refurbishment and remodelling; however, the core of the building is sound. Any work done at this stage would be designed in such a way that it would not be adversely affected by any future BSF work. The expenditure at Bitterne Park would be a permanent investment in the future of the school..

Building work: Bellemoor School 91. It has already been approved by the School Organisation Committee that Bellemoor becomes a mixed school. It is a statutory obligation on the Council to take the necessary steps to implement the required changes. Bellemoor is changing its character from boys to mixed and therefore requires additional toilet and changing room facilities. Adjustments to social areas, including outdoor recreation areas, are also strongly recommended so that the needs of both sexes can be properly met. It is proposed that £590,000 be invested to make the necessary changes. The Bellemoor building has many deficiencies and is a strong candidate for total replacement through BSF. The proposed sum will deliver the required short term changes to enable Bellemoor to admit both boys and girls from 2008. More substantial works will be proposed through BSF.

Building work: Regents Park Community College 92. It has already been approved by the School Organisation Committee that Regents Park becomes a mixed school. It is a statutory obligation on the Council to take the necessary steps to implement the required changes. Regents Park Community College is changing its character from girls to mixed. There is therefore a need for additional toilet and changing room facilities; some adjustments to social areas, including outdoor recreation areas, is also strongly recommended so that the needs of both sexes can be properly catered for. It is also planned that the school reduces in size so there is no need for additional accommodation. It is an aspiration that the school relocates to the St Mark's CE Junior School site to form a learning campus with St Mark's and making use of the adjacent Civil Service Sports Ground as playing fields. It is proposed that £310,000 be invested to make the necessary changes. . More substantial works will be proposed through BSF.

Feasibility studies: relocations 93. As has been referred to above , there is the prospect of relocating three schools in order to take advantage of better sites and buildings: New School West from Oaklands to Five Acre Field Regents Park to St Mark's CE Junior School/Former Civil Service Sports Ground 23 The Sholing Technology College to the Itchen College site Clearly for each of these there is a range of matters requiring investigation, including: Site suitability Cost Planning considerations Land ownership It is therefore recommended that £90,000 is committed to conducting the necessary feasibility studies 94 The costs of preparing for BSF are considerable. A strong educational case has to be made to government to justify the very large potential investment that is possible. This has to be coordinated with detailed information about the available sites and buildings, and with an outline of how replacing or refurbishing schools will lead to improved outcomes for children and young people.

95. It is therefore recommended that the sum of £250,000, split £100,000 in the current financial year, and £150,000 in the 2008/09 financial year is committed to the preparation and project management of Southampton City Council's bid for BSF resources which, if successful, could mean capital investment in the city of approximately £250 million from as early as 2011 (based on allocations to similar sized authorities). It should be noted that further costs will be incurred at later stages of the process in relation to precise design detail, procurement, financial and legal advice. The proposal is that this sum be funded through a draw on reserves.

FINANCIAL/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS Capital 96. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) The council is committed to rebuild or refurbish all of the non-PFI secondary schools in Southampton, as part of the DfES Building Schools for the Future programme. This will include rebuilding or substantially refurbishing all of the schools (apart from Redbridge Community School) affected by the Learning Futures proposals. The current timescales require Southampton to present a business case to the DfES in 2009/10 with funding following in 2011-12.

97. Under the BSF procurement method the Local Authority is usually the client for the design and construction of a new school. The winning promoters would input into this process via a Design Group. The funding envelope is agreed by Partnership for Schools and the Design Group is tasked with producing a design that can be delivered within it.

98.

Although funding will be available from the DfES for BSF, there is an expectation that the council will need to contribute additional capital funding to the programme. In addition, authorities in the earlier waves of BSF have reported significant affordability gaps in their capital programmes. If not required to fund the cost of works associated with this report, a possible future source of funding to contribute towards any future capital requirement under BSF would be the 24 proceeds from the sale of the Woolston site.

99. In order to complete the preparatory work necessary to be in a position to submit a strong and convincing business case to Government, to ensure maximising the resources available to the city council through BSF, it is anticipated that the sum of £250,000 will be required, phased £100,000 in 2007/08, and £150,000 in 2008/09, to take this preparatory work forward.

It is proposed that this sum be funded from reserves.

100. Learning Futures proposals Following the last report to Council (15th November) on the Learning Futures proposal, Council determined that Council fully accepts that the essential reorganisation of secondary education in Southampton will require significant new capital resources.

Council agrees to provide appropriate and secured financial support at the appropriate time through the usual, well established procedures' The proposals in this report, in the sum of £5,530,025, would require new funding from the City Council in the sum of £3,410,025.

It should be noted that if the recommendation to declare the Woolston site surplus to requirements is approved by Council, then on current valuation, this would realise a future capital receipt in the sum of £3,580,000, which would be available as a contribution to corporate capital resources.

101. The breakdown of the total proposed works and costs, on a school by school basis, are detailed in Appendix 12 and summarised in the table below: 102.