Agenda item

The Chair welcomed five parents representing parents and children at Usk Church in Wales Primary School and Goytre Fawr Primary School to the meeting.  The following points were made:

Parents from Usk made the following points:

·         There was support for the proposal that Usk and surrounding areas form part of the catchment area for Monmouth Comprehensive School, thus enabling children and young people to continue their education through the Monmouthshire education system.  The current system has led to friendship groups of children being split up between four schools due to the lack of designated secondary school.  This has adversely impacted on children and parents’ wellbeing plus the stress of the admission appeals process.

·         It was commented that, under the new plan, a child wishing to follow an older sibling to Caerleon Comprehensive School would not be entitled to free home to school transport as it is not now the nearest school, and there was the potential that siblings would not attend the same school.

·         The oversubscription criteria was highlighted as a problem as there would be less chance of obtaining a place at Monmouth Comprehensive School from some addresses due to the distance from the school, with pupils from the Forest of Dean and Herefordshire being closer.  Priority should be given to pupils living in Monmouthshire.

·         The proposed change from Caerleon Comprehensive School catchment was felt to be too quick and unfair, and should be introduced from Reception age to better allow parental choice.

·         Consultation meetings were held at the same time as school parents’ evenings.

·         The admission of children from English schools creates difficulties with Welsh studies at Monmouth Comprehensive School, having had no experience or appreciation of the language.

The Chief Officer responded that there had been full and complete consultation comprising public meetings and an online survey.

Parents from Goytre made the following additional points:

·         There were too many consultation documents for parents to read, digest and respond to in a short period of time.

·         Different information was given at different meetings.

·         Concern about prejudicial interest from elected members with children educated in Monmouthshire schools.

·         A younger sibling will be in catchment for King Henry VIII Comprehensive School, and the elder at Caerleon School. Parents would prefer they attend the same school as they live closer to Caerleon School which is oversubscribed.

·         Concerns were raised about aspects of the online survey and storage of data.

The Chief Officer responded that:

·         There is no predetermined decision and that all views have been sought in a range of ways, as fairly as possible. 

·         There is no personal or prejudicial interest for elected members.

·         Regarding the survey, GDPR is taken into consideration and a balance of data will be looked at.

The School and Student Access Manager summarised the proposals and provided an overview of the consultation feedback.  This was mainly from Goytre and Usk parents where the majority of families didn’t have a catchment school in Monmouthshire.  A report will be written for consideration by Cabinet and will be publically available. 

It was confirmed that, during the consultation process, the views of children and young people in the schools affected have been sought and will form part of the consultation report

It was clarified that Newport City Council is not reviewing catchment areas and still considers Usk and Goytre to be within catchment for Caerleon School.

It was confirmed that home to school transport would be provided to the nearest or catchment school.

It was explained that the oversubscription criteria will also be consulted upon and will form part of the Cabinet decision.

The Cabinet Member appreciated parents’ concerns and supported that parents should be able to express a preference and have as much choice as possible, but also that Monmouthshire children should be able to access places in Monmouthshire secondary schools.

The Cabinet Member addressed the points raised about the consultation emphasising that timescales were reasonable for a decision by 15^th April 2019.  The conflict between dates for the public meetings and parents’ evenings were not raised as an issue prior to the public meetings otherwise changes would have been made. It was confirmed that dual catchment is still under consideration.

Regarding oversubscription at Monmouth and Caerleon Comprehensive Schools, it was explained that consideration is being given to a feeder school in the admissions criteria so peer groups and siblings can stay together.

It was not possible to agree sibling criteria with Newport in advance as this would have prejudged the consultation. 

Member Scrutiny:

·         A Select Committee Member wholly supported the proposals.  In a period of unprecedented education reform, implementation is being driven by the cluster and it is unfair that pupils from a school within a cluster don’t feed into the cluster secondary school.  It was suggested that catchment should align with clusters.  Monmouth Comprehensive manages transition very well and not all pupils from Usk have the opportunity to benefit.

·         A Member referred to the difficulties of parents managing children in different schools and asked how these difficulties could be lessened.  The Member commented on the oversubscription to Monmouth and undersubscription to Chepstow Schools.  It was suggested that Chepstow School could be offered as an alternative to Monmouth Comprehensive School.

·         Several Members supported the proposals for Usk area and acknowledged the participation of parents in the meeting.

·         A Member asked about Tredunnock and Llanhennock pupils and it was confirmed that currently, they fall outside of Usk Church in Wales Primary School catchment and will remain part of Caerleon Comprehensive School catchment.  If in future years Newport City Council discontinues this arrangement, an appropriate Monmouthshire School will be sought.