BSF Consultation

8/9/2019 BSF Consultation

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Building Schools for the FutureTransforming learning, communities and lives

Consultation on proposals for Building Schools for the Future abcdefghijklmnop

Complete and return your questionnaire for a chance to win 50 of Argos vouchers in our prize draw


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Forward

Our vision for Building Schools for the Future is to build on our record of improvement across childrens services

and the secondary schools sector to secure excellent outcomes for children, young people and families well into

the 21st century. At the heart of this will be a transformation in learning and opportunity for every child andyoung person within our secondary schools.

We recognise that education is vital to the future prosperity and stability of our community. We aim for the

highest standards of attainment and achievement for all. We want our children and young people to be condent,

ambitious, creative and highly skilled and to have a real sense of belonging to an inclusive and cohesive learning

community.

The Building Schools for the Future programme offers an opportunity to turn our vision into a reality for future

generations of children and young people. Building Schools for the Future will enable us to make substantial

investment in state of the art secondary schools as well as increasing access to high quality leisure, sports and

learning facilities for the wider community at a neighbourhood level.

We hope that you will help us in developing Building Schools for the Future over the next year and beyond. We

welcome your views on our vision and proposals outlined in this document. The Council, its partner schools and

other partner agencies want to hear from you.

Transforming learning, communities and lives | 1


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Contents

1. What is Building Schools for the Future?

2. What are we trying to achieve?

3. What are our proposals?

4. When will it happen?

5. Challenging issues

6. How to nd out more

7. Consultation and engagement arrangements

8. Have your say

9. Glossary of terms



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1. What is Building Schools for the Future?

At its simplest, Building Schools for the Future is a national programme to improve secondary school buildings

across England. Billions of pounds of investment will be made over a 15 year period. The aim is to provide all

children and young people with educational facilities t for the 21st century. More widely, it is designed not onlyto substantially improve school buildings, but also to support new ways of teaching and learning.

Building Schools for the Future provides local authorities and schools with a once in a lifetime opportunity to

consider:

what services should be delivered within schools to ensure that the very best outcomes are secured for

children and young people

what secondary school buildings are needed

where they should be

what facilities they should have

Blackburn with Darwen joined the national programme in January 2007 and Government funding of around

150 million will be available over the next six years. Building works are unlikely to begin until 2009 but work

has already begun to develop a vision for what Building Schools for the Future will mean for children, young

people, school staff and the wider community across Blackburn with Darwen. This vision has been developed so

far with the involvement of headteachers, school governors, councillors and a wide range of stakeholders.

This document outlines the main aspects of our proposals both the principles and aims that underpin them

and the main proposals for secondary education within the borough. We welcome your views on this work and

any suggestions you might have for developing improved ways of working in our secondary schools into the

future.



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We all want children and young people to achieve their very best throughout their school career and beyond.

Through Building Schools for the Future we aim to better meet the individual needs of each child and youngperson, especially improving the life chances of currently under-achieving groups, through the creation of state

of the art learning environments and resources.

We aim to build on our nationally-recognised network approach to childrens services, where parents and children

can access a range of services from different providers in one centre. Our Building Schools for the Future

proposals will enable us to build on this way of working and develop increased access to a range of educational

and childrens services at a neighbourhood level. In addition to this we aim to make sure that all children have

access to an excellent local school, within walking distance of their home.

We also aim to develop a network of inclusive secondary schools that work together to meet the needs of all

children, including those with special educational needs. The network of schools will be designed to activelypromote community cohesion and promote a strong sense of belonging to Blackburn with Darwen.

Finally, we aim to achieve all of the above in buildings that are inspirational, environmentally friendly, beautiful

and in which children, young people and adults feel safe and secure.


2. What are we trying to achieve?


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Enabling all children to have access to an excellent core curriculum and specifc specialist provision at

their local school

This means that each local secondary school will offer access to all core subjects as well as specialising in a

particular subject area, such as engineering, arts or sport. Most of our schools already have specialist status

and through Building Schools for the Future all will become specialist in one or more areas. Schools will work

together to ensure that all children will be able to access specialist subjects led by or delivered at any of the

specialist schools in the borough.

Developing individually tailored learning and development opportunities for all pupils

Each child has their own preferred way of learning and their own learning and development needs. Building

Schools for the Future will provide an opportunity to develop classrooms and IT facilities that will mean pupils

can learn in different ways, in small groups, individually or in larger groups. Improved facilities will also ensurethat pupils can access new subjects such as construction and health care in hi-tech and real world working

environments. Investments in IT and communication technology, worth somewhere in the region of 10 million,

will enable pupils, staff and the wider community to access teaching and learning opportunities both within and

outside of the normal school day.

Increasing collaboration across all secondary schools to offer the widest possible opportunities for all

children and young people

Many schools in Blackburn with Darwen already work closely together to share expertise and offer better learning

opportunities for pupils. Building Schools for the Future will enable this collaborative working to increase and

be made more effective. Schools are looking to share facilities, resources, staff and information and knowledgethrough improved ICT systems.


In more detail, the key aims of our Building Schools for the future programme are:


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Tackling segregation through collaboration and the development of learning environments where all

children and young people can share a sense of belonging to Blackburn with Darwen

We are committed to retaining the current balance of faith and community school provision into the future.

However to meet the challenge of segregation and communities living separate lives, schools will work together

to ensure children from all faiths and social backgrounds can learn and socialise together.

Increasing access to a wide range of educational, social and health services at neighbourhood level to

meet local need

All schools are expected to provide an extended range of services, including out of school activities and

community access, by 2010. Building Schools for the Future investment will mean that services and facilities can

be developed at a neighbourhood level - offering a wider range of learning, health and family support servicesat your local secondary schools. This could mean new sports facilities, adult learning centres or even a health

centre.

Increasing opportunities for all pupils with special educational needs to learn alongside their peers

Many children with special educational needs are already learning very effectively alongside their peers in

mainstream schools.

Building Schools for the Future investment will enable us to respond to the growing demand by parents for

inclusion of their children with special educational needs within mainstream schools, or in co-located schools,

through widening access to additionally resourced high schools and establishing a exible specialist facilityon the site of the current Crosshill Special School. Secondary schools will work together to develop even more

effective approaches to inclusion of all children within mainstream settings.


In more detail, the key aims of our Building Schools for the future programme are:


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The Government requires all authorities in the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that their

proposed investments in new and remodelled schools are sustainable. This means that we have to look closely

at the current and future need for pupil places. Schools also need to be in the right locations to meet futurepopulation changes.

Key Points for Blackburn with Darwen to consider:

Overall secondary school pupil numbers in the Borough are projected to fall slightly over the next ten

years

Pupil numbers in Crosshill and Fernhurst Special Schools are already falling and this trend is expected

to continue as parents choose to send their children with special educational needs to mainstream

schools

Currently over 200 pupils per year leave authority provision at the end of year 6 either transferring out to

schools out of the Borough or into the private school sector, with just over 100 pupils arriving from outside

the borough or from private schools.

Many pupils currently travel a signicant distance across town rather than attend their community local

school

The centre and east of Blackburn are areas with a growing school age population

The west of Blackburn is an area where the school age population is falling

There are currently three community schools located in the west and north of Blackburn

There is only one small community school located in the east of Blackburn

Blackburn with Darwen is a relatively compact borough, with tightly drawn borders, which limits the

number of potential alternative sites for Secondary Schools

Building Schools for the Future is a complex programme affecting every secondary school in the borough.

To complete the building programme within the specied time-frame by the end of 2015 will require

considerable exibility and patience on the part of schools, parents and the authority.


3. What are our proposals?


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What we are proposing for Blackburn with Darwen faith schools:

We are proposing that there is no major change made to the existing faith school provision offered by:

St Bedes Roman Catholic High SchoolOur Lady and St John Roman Catholic High School

St Wilfrids Church of England High School

Tauheedul Islam Girls High School

St Wilfrids will be least affected, as the school building is a relatively recent construction and therefore outside

the remit of the national Building Schools for the Future scheme. The school will however be able to benet from

IT investments through Building Schools for the Future.

Both Our Lady and St John and St Bedes will be refurbished and rebuilt on their current sites. Currently it is likely

that for both the whole school will need to be temporarily transferred to alternative vacant school sites while

building works are completed.

We are proposing that Tauheedul Islam Girls High School relocates from its current site on Bicknell site, as the

current site is incapable of meeting the needs of a 600 place school, to the current Beardwood High School

site.



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What we are proposing for Blackburn with Darwen special schools:

We will develop a wider range of opportunities for pupils with special educational needs to reect the growing

trend of parents who want their children to learn alongside their peers in a mainstream school.

Crosshill school for children with Moderate Learning Difculties will either close, with this group of children

being supported within mainstream schools, or will co-locate to the site of a mainstream high school

Fernhurst School for children with emotional and behavioural difculties will close, with this group of

children being supported by a combination of exible curriculum support at a new centre based on the

current Crosshill site and other centres such as the Highercroft Vocational centre, as well as places in

mainstream schools where appropriate.

Neweld Special School, recently completely rebuilt, will continue to offer provision for children with

complex needs on its current site.

Future provision for children with special educational needs will be widened to include:

Fully inclusive provision in mainstream schools (faith, community and Academy)

A number of specialist resourced centres in high schools including a new resourced Witton Park High

School to support a number of pupils with complex needs. This will complement the existing resourced

provision at St Wilfrids for pupils with hearing impairment and at Our Lady and St John, which is a

resourced school for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder

Access to exible curriculum provision catering to individual needs offered on a part time or full time

basis at a range of learning centres including a new centre to be based on the current Crosshill site

Neweld Special School for children with complex needs



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What it means for community schools and the Darwen Academy:

Provision in Darwen will remain unchanged through the Building Schools for the Future programme. The town

will be served by a signicantly remodelled community school at Darwen Vale and the planned Academy due to

open in its new location in the centre of Darwen in 2009.

Access to excellent community school provision needs to be increased in the east of Blackburn to meet the

increasing population in this area. Two sites are currently under consideration on which to build a 900 place

school:

The current Blakewater College Site

The golf-driving range site on Haslingden Road.

Three schools currently serve the west, centre and north of the borough where population changes indicate that

there will only be need for two in the future. All three schools are high performing and are currently meeting

the needs of their pupils very well. The proposal for which of these schools will close has therefore been made

following detailed consideration of the opportunity that each school site offers to develop top quality school

and community facilities. Following detailed site survey and assessment the Pleckgate and Witton Community

School sites have been identied as most suitable for the building of brand new, enlarged schools with associated

community and leisure facilities. The Beardwood site is the least able to support the effective development of

such an enlarged school with complementary community facilities and we therefore propose that this school

closes, but not until 2012. A further factor taken into consideration was the relatively high proportion of children

attending Beardwood who live in the east of the town.

Both Pleckgate and Witton Park are popular schools, adjacent to existing specialist facilities such as City Learning

Centres, with large enough sites to permit the building of new school buildings and additional community

facilities such as community football facilities. Both sites are also large enough to enable the school community

to remain on site throughout the building phase.

Pleckgate Community High School will increase in size by around 150 pupils to 1,350 places. Witton Park will

also increase slightly in numbers to 1200 places.



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The timeline below has been drawn up to demonstrate to the government how the construction programme might be delivered within the timescale and as far as

possible within the funding available. The plan may change as proposals develop further and in light of consultation with a range of stakeholders. Although some

building works may start earlier, or later, any proposed closures will not take place until 2012.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Darwen Vale

Work begins at Darwen Vale

High School Engineering

College & Extended School

early 2010

Darwen Vale High School

Engineering College &

Extended School reopens

on current site early 2012

Building work begins on

Pleckgate Mathematics

& Computing College site

early 2010

Pleckgate Mathematics &

Computing College reopens

on existing site early 2012

Building work begins at

Witton Park High School

Business & Enterprise

College site middle 2010

Witton Park High School

Business & Enterprise

College reopens on existing

site early 2012

Building work begins on

new school facility for East

Blackburn late 2010.

New East Blackburn school

opens early 2012

Blakewater College pupils

relocate to new EastBlackburn school

Beardwood High School

closes in 2012. Pupils

transferred to new schools




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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Work begins at Our Lady

& St John Catholic Arts

College site early 2013

Our Lady & St John Catholic

Arts College site reopens

Christmas 2014

Work begins on rebuilding

and refurbishing

St Bedes RC High School& Specialist Sports College

early 2013

St Bedes RC High School

& Specialist Sports College

site reopens Christmas2014

Tauheedul Islam Girls High

School moves to new site

late 2015

St Thomas Centre Pupil

Referral Unit and EOTAS

relocates to current

Crosshill site

Fernhurst school closes

summer 2012

Crosshill closes or relocates

summer 2012



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We are not pretending that every issue and detail has been answered or resolved at this point. In particular there

are several very difcult issues that are at the heart of the programme. We are in the process of addressing and

working through these issues with schools and partners and our preliminary conclusions are outlined below, butwe would be particularly interested in your views on the following:

Closure of Beardwood

Closing a school is always difcult, especially a large one. However, the closure is especially complex if it has

to mesh with a complex building programme that limits our ability to making it a staged process. The building

programme and the sequence of movements of school communities both within school sites and temporary

transfers to different school sites remove any possibility of a phased closure for Beardwood High School.

According to the proposed building programme above, Beardwood High School will close at the end of the Spring

term in July 2012 and all children and young people attending the school will transfer to another High School at

the start of the next school year.

Places at each of the other High Schools will be allocated through an extra admissions round that would take

place in the Autumn of 2011. Places will be allocated in accordance with the boroughs admissions criteria.

We appreciate that the movement of children, especially during crucial academic years such as the year GCSEs

are taken or Key Stage 3 tests, is best avoided and we are exploring all possibilities of avoiding the transfer of

children in the year that they are due to take key exams.




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Closure of Crosshill or co-location to the site of a mainstream school:

There are now two options under consideration for the future of Crosshill Special School.

Currently the majority of pupils with moderate learning difculties are supported in mainstream schools. There has

been a 25% reduction in the number of secondary aged pupils in Special Schools over the past few years and this

downward trend is expected to continue as parents express a preference for their children to learn alongside their peers

in mainstream settings.

All mainstream secondary schools have signed up to the principle of supporting the individual needs of all

pupils in mainstream settings including those with special educational needs. This commitment to the principle

of inclusion, combined with the need to address the issue of falling pupil numbers at Crosshill had resulted in

the proposal to close Crosshill and develop more specially supported provision at mainstream high schools.

Following initial consultation another option has been identied for the future of Crosshill Special School.

Co-location of a smaller Crosshill Special School onto the site of a mainstream high school would provide

some increased levels of opportunities for those pupils with moderate learning difculties, like those currently

served by Crosshill, to learn alongside peers in a high school whilst addressing issues of falling numbers. A

co-located school would have a separate identity and stafng but might share some facilities with the adjacent

high school.

Movements of staff from closing schools

The authority and its schools offer a commitment to all current staff that there will be need for more staff,rather than less in the future. Furthermore, the age-prole of the current teaching and support staff points

to long-term shortages of staff, with many retirements of current teaching and support staff over the next

decade.

The authority is at the start of detailed discussions with schools and unions about how best to achieve a

smooth transition of staff between the current schools and the future pattern of provision. As a starting point,

schools and the local authority have committed to work collaboratively to support any school affected by

school organisation proposals


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6. How to nd out more:

We will work with children, young people, school staff, governors, parents and a range of partner agencies to

ensure that our vision for secondary schools of the future developed through Building Schools for the Future will

really improve outcomes from 2011 and beyond. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest so much into

our secondary schools and it is therefore important to get it right.

A number of stakeholder events took place in 2006 and we will be holding more of these events at local and

borough level over the next few months. Working groups have been established to take a lead on specic areas

of development. Headteachers are playing an active role in ensuring that pupils, staff and parents will be able

to play an active part in developing the vision fur ther and how it will be delivered. Details of how you can to get

involved will be available at www.blackburn.gov.uk/bsf , by phone on 01254 666746 or contact your local school

for more information.

A number of public meetings, staff meetings and mobile drop in consultation sessions are currently taking place.

These will take place in secondary and a range of primary schools as well as childrens centres, community

and shopping centres. The timetable for these events is available on the Council and Building Schools for theFuture websites: www.blackburn.gov.uk/bsf and details can be found in a special Shuttle supplement that will

be distributed to all households in the Borough in June. Copies of the Shuttle will also be available in Council

buildings such as the Town Halls in Blackburn and Darwen. Further details will also be available at your local

school.

7: Publication of statutory notices and period of representation:

Following the consultation period taking place up to and including September, the Council will consider the

feedback it has received and will then develop its nal proposals relating to specic school organisation changes

including closures. These will then be published in the form of statutory notices. Once published, planned for

October, all stakeholders will then have six weeks in which to make nal comments and representations. The

local authority will then make its decision.


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8. Have Your Say

We want to hear your views on the proposals outlined in this booklet. These proposals will only be a success if they

have the broad support of the wider community, especially parents and children. Any comments or views will be used

to inform how we develop, rene and revise our plans.

This section includes a short questionnaire.

Your chance to win 50 of Argos vouchers:

All completed and returned questionnaires will be entered into our prize draw, which will take place shortly after the

closing date, the rst questionnaire drawn will win 50 worth of Argos vouchers and there will be a second prize of

15 of Marks and Spencer vouchers for the second questionnaire drawn. If you would like to be entered into the prize

draw please complete address details at the end of the questionnaire.

Completing the questionnaire:

Each question rst asks you to indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, neither agree or disagree, disagree, or

strongly disagree with a certain proposal, please tick the option that best represents your view on that proposal. In

addition to the tick box selection each question has a space for comments, this space should be used to list any views

you may have relating to that particular proposal. At the end of the questionnaire is a space for any other additional

comments you may have about the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Returning the questionnaire:

The closing date for returns is Monday 27 August

Completed questionnaire should be sent to the below freepost address, no stamp is required:

Freepost RRJA-YGKY-GJEC

BWDBC-BSF

The Exchange

Ainsworth Street

Blackburn

BB1 6AD


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Part 1: The BSF Vision

1. In general do you agree with what the council is trying to achieve through building schools for the future? (For each statement please tick one option)

Strongly Agree Agree Neither Agree ordisagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

1.1 Giving all children access to core curriculum as

well as the chance to specialise in a particular subject

such as engineering, arts or sport, either at their own

school or at other schools across the Borough

1.2 Developing personalised learning through

improved IT facilities, better learning spaces and

new, vocational subjects to meet childrens individual

needs

1.3 Providing extended services such as out of schoolactivities, sports facilities, adult learning and health

services in schools

1.4 Schools sharing facilities, resources, staff,

information and knowledge to offer better learning

opportunities for pupils

1.5 Schools working together to make sure children

from all faiths and social backgrounds can learn and

socialise together

1.6 Improving facilities and resources in mainstream

schools to make them more accessible to children

with special educational needs

1.7 Creating a network of learning and leisure

facilities in state of the art, environmentally friendly

building that will inspire all who use them

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Part 2: Future Education Provision (see pages 8 - 10)

Do you agree with the proposals for future education provision? (please tick)

Strongly Agree Agree Neither Agree ordisagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

2.1 Faith school proposals:

Your comments:

2.2 Special school proposals

Your comments:

2.3 Proposals for Schools in Darwen

Your comments:

2.4 Proposals for Community Schools in Blackburn

Your comments:



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3. Site Proposals East Blackburn Community School/ Blakewater College (see page 10)




3.1 The new school facility for east Blackburn should

be built on the current site of Blakewater College

Your comments:

3.2 The new school facility for east Blackburn should

be built on a new site - proposed as the current site of

the golf driving range on Haslingden Road

Your comments:

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4. Site Proposals Tauheedal Islamic Girls Schools (see page 8)




4.1 Tauheedal Islamic Girls Schools should be

developed on the current Beardwood School site

(subject to Beardwood School closing)

Your comments:



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5. Challenging Issues (see pages 13 - 14)

Please outline below your views on specic proposals to close or co-locate some schools?

5.1 Views on the closure of Beardwood:

Your comments:

5.2 Views on the closure of Crosshill or co-location of the school on the site of a mainstream high school:

Your comments:

5.3 Views on the closure of Fernhurst Special School:

Your comments:

5.4. Do you have any concerns regarding the impact of Building Schools for the Future development on education in the Borough?

Your comments:

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7. Additional Comments

Please use the space below to list any comments you may have on what the council is trying to achieve through the Building Schools for the Future programme:

Your comments:

If you would like to be entered into the prize draw, please complete the below, these details will only be used to notify the winner and runner up.

Name: _______________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking the time to complete and return this questionnaire.



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14 19 agenda: Introduction of vocational

diplomas. Providing students with the option to gain

qualications in areas like construction, healthcare

and sports

Autistic spectrum disorder: A disorder with symptoms

that include impairments in imagination, social

communication and social interaction, plus a strong

tendency towards repetitive behaviour

Cohesive: Together, united

Collaboration: Working together

Community access: Open to the public

Community cohesion: Communities with a common

vision and a sense of belonging, where different

backgrounds are appreciated and valued and where all

residents have access to the same life opportunities

Community schools: Schools maintained by the Local

Authority

Core curriculum: Key subjects e.g. maths, English and

information technology

Co-located schools: Schools that share the same site,

can also share facilities and resources

Extended services: Provide community/public access

to a wide range of social, educational and health

services, at or near school sites

Facilities: Buildings, equipment, services on offer

Flexible curriculum support: Flexible and adaptable

education support, to meet the needs of the individual

pupil e.g. dif fering durations, intensities, subject

options

Inclusive: For all, open to all, belonging

Information communication technology (ICT):

Computing and communications facilities and features

that in relation to Building Schools for Future (BSF) will

support teaching, learning and a range of education

activities

Level of attainment: What has been gained, or

achieved e.g. qualications, skills

Mainstream schools: Schools that cater for all pupils

Network approach: A joined up approach to working,

working together; supporting each other

Neighbourhood level: Based in a community; meeting

that communitys needs

Personalised learning: Learning and development

opportunities tailored to an individuals needs, ability

and preferred learning style

Social segregation: Living apart, not belonging, a

separation of people based on race, faith or other

characteristic such as social or economic differences

Transforming learning, communities and lives |


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Special educational needs (SEN): Learning difculties

or disabilities which make it harder to learn or access

education

Specialist resourced centres: Schools with specialist

teachers and resources in them. Children are

supported in class and/or in a base. They are full

members of the school but can access specialist

teaching alongside the ordinary curriculum

Specialist status: Any maintained secondary

school can apply for specialist status in one of

ten specialisms: arts, business and enterprise,

engineering, humanities, languages, mathematics and

computing, music, science, sports and technology.

Schools can also combine two specialisms. In addition

to a special focus on their chosen specialism, schools

must still meet national curriculum requirements and

deliver a broad and balanced education.

Specifc specialist provision: See specialist status

Stakeholders: An individual or group of people with

an interest, or stake, in the success of a programme or

project

Sustainable schools: Schools need to be built in the

right locations to match the demand for current and

future pupil places

Transformation: Change

Under-achieving: Failing, not reaching their full

potential

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Contact details

BSF Team

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Floor West 3AThe Exchange

Ainsworth Street

Blackburn

BB1 6AD

Tel: (01254) 666760

Email: [email protected]

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