Pre-Publication Consultation on future primary school provision Tuesday 10 March 2020 http://www.eani.org.uk
• The Education Authority (EA) has authorised Officers to consult on future primary provision in Straid Primary School. • Associated Proposals include consultation on the future provision in Upper Ballyboley Primary School and an increase in admissions and enrolment numbers in Ballynure Primary School as part of an area solution. • Officers will present relevant information and facilitate Governors, parents and staff in responding to the consultation.
• Consistent with the Education Authority’s (EA) 2019/21 Area Planning Annual Action Plan with a commitment that the Managing Authority (EA) would consult on options for future provision of Straid PS by February 2020. The requirement is to address school provision where sustainability is an issue. • The objectives of this presentation are to: 1. provide an overview of the Sustainable Schools Policy; 2. provide an overview of current provision at Straid PS within the context of this policy; 3. outline the options and proposal for future provision and the development proposal process; and 4. provide stakeholders with sufficient information to comment on the proposal.
Department of Education Policy/Decision Maker • Capital Investment Decision Maker • Education Authority Implement DE Policy • Proposer but not Decision Maker •
• Planning a network of sustainable schools to ensure that all children and young people have access to educational choices which best meet their individual talents and abilities • To maximise the chances of each child/young person to reach his/her potential • To provide equitable access to curriculum and Entitlement Framework
Parity of access to pathways • • Choice for all children and young people • Promoting co-operation, collaboration, sharing • Maximising resources and sustainability • Informing infrastructure planning
• Number of available places • Location of available places • Schools facing sustainability challenges • Equitable access to Entitlement Framework pathways • Potential for Irish Medium and Integrated school development • Potential opportunities for shared education • Need to establish learning support provision in mainstream schools
• Ensure that school places are located as required; • Address school provision where sustainability is an issue (primary and post-primary) - (reviews will take account of all 6 Sustainable Schools criteria); • Establish additional learning support and autism specific provision within primary and post-primary schools; • Ensure equitable access to the Entitlement Framework pathways at Key Stage 4; • Reconfigure post-16 provision to give pupils equitable access to the Entitlement Framework pathways in collaboration with the Further Education sector; • Encourage and facilitate the development of sustainable Irish Medium and Integrated schools; and • Promote shared education solutions which provide sustainable schools.
Area – Antrim and Newtownabbey Key Issue – Address school provision where sustainability is an issue Action – Managing Authorities to consult on options for future provision of Straid PS by February 2020
The 6 criteria of the Sustainable Schools Policy are : • quality educational experience; • stable enrolment trends; • sound financial position; • strong leadership and management by Board of Governors and Principals; • accessibility; and • strong links with the community.
Straid PS is a Controlled Primary School situated in a rural community of approximately 3.7 miles from the town of Ballyclare. The majority of the children attending the school come from the surrounding area. The school enrolment has experienced a decline in pupil numbers over the past number of years. An ETI inspection was undertaken in October 2011 with the overall findings of the inspection as ‘very good’. The ETI report indicated: “In the areas inspected, the quality of education provided by this school is very good. The school is meeting very effectively the educational and pastoral needs of the children, and has demonstrated its capacity for sustained self-improvement.” (Pg3)
• No more than two composite year groups in a single classroom at primary level. • No fewer than four teachers in a primary school.
“ Teachers in small schools face problems of having less scope for professional interaction and mutual support. The school is unlikely to provide a wide programme of extra-curricular activities and will have a smaller range of teacher specialisms e.g. music. The smaller numbers of children in each year group limit the opportunities for working alongside peers, social interaction and challenge, and participation in extra-curricular activities including team-based experiences.” Schools for the Future – A Policy for Sustainable Schools (DENI 2009) “ When the composite class spans more than two year groups, ensuring adequate progression in learning and planning to meet individual needs across a wider range of abilities and stages of development can be more challenging for the teacher. It may also limit opportunities for the children to develop socially and emotionally with those of a similar age and stage.” ETI Chief Inspector’s Report 2014 - 2016
Table 1: Enrolment Statistics – Straid PS Places Available Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Total 79 2013/14 9 13 7 12 13 15 10 40 81 2014/15 11 9 13 7 12 14 15 38 74 2015/16 9 11 9 12 7 13 13 45 66 2016/17 10 9 10 9 9 7 12 53 43 2017/18 7 8 7 6 6 3 6 76 41 2018/19 9 6 8 6 5 3 4 78 45 2019/20* 6 9 6 8 6 5 3 74 * Based on 2019/20 P1 admissions at October Census 2019
Primary - Averages Pupil Number Average Number of Expenditure per Average Staff Pupil Teacher Range Number of Schools Pupil (£) Cost per Pupil Ratio Pupils 0-75 50 127 5,088 4,615 15.6 75-150 107 212 3,482 3,168 20.0 150-225 187 164 3,194 2,923 22.0 225-300 259 75 3,115 2,858 22.4 300-375 341 57 2,962 2,706 22.9 375-450 410 69 2,850 2,609 24.2 450-525 480 31 3,053 2,778 22.7 525 764 46 2,828 2,257 24.1 Overall 220 781 3,501 3,192 20.9
Table 2: Local Schools – Distance from Straid Primary School Distance (miles) Sector Enrolment Approved Enrolment Available From Straid PS 2018/19 Number 2018/19 Places 2018/19 Straid Primary School - Controlled 41 119 78 Ballynure Primary School* 1.9 Controlled 157 154 -3 Upper Ballyboley Primary 5.0 Controlled 41 100 59 School** Toreagh Primary School 4.7 Controlled 97 105 8 Mossley Primary School 4.9 Controlled 620 610 -10 Ballyclare Primary School 3.7 Controlled 555 572 17 Fairview Primary School 4.1 Controlled 518 525 7 St Macnissi’s Primary School 5.2 Maintained 187 210 23 Woodburn Primary School 4.2 Controlled 185 193 8 Woodlawn Primary School 5.4 Controlled 237 310 73 Earlview Primary School 5.5 Controlled 224 221 -3 Doagh Primary School 5.7 Controlled 93 138 45 * associated proposal to increase the Ballynure PS’s admission and enrolment number ** proposal to discontinue Upper Ballyboley Primary School is being brought forward by the Education Authority
Table 4 – Live Births (Source: NISRA) % Change from Ward Name 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2010 to 2017 Ballynure* 33 27 27 29 34 34 40 35 +6% Kilwaughter 87 93 93 95 88 93 60 74 -15% Glenwhirry 37 28 36 22 36 36 40 29 -22% Doagh 51 46 51 39 52 46 42 53 +4% Ballyclare Nth 51 60 49 44 52 68 49 44 -26% Ballyclare Sth 71 42 63 64 42 47 41 34 -52% Glynn 20 12 20 18 9 16 18 15 -25% Woodburn 32 22 31 23 23 25 24 15 -53% 382 330 370 334 336 365 314 299 Total Year 1 - Year 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 *Straid PS is located in the Ballynure Electoral Ward
The Sustainable Schools Policy notes the following in relation to ‘Sound Financial Position’. • The school’s annual finances should indicate that it can live within its delegated budget. • The school’s financial trends should indicate that it will continue to be able to live within its annually delegated budget. • The school’s three year financial plan, based upon realistic assumptions, should indicate that where there is a deficit, this can be substantially reduced or recovered.
Primary Schools - Deficits and Surpluses 2018/19 2018/19 2014/15 Primary Schools (before Savings*) (after Savings*) No. £m No. £m No. £m Schools in Surplus 622 33.3 371 19.1 455 27.6 Schools in Deficit 180 -6.3 411 -24.7 327 -13.2 Net Surplus (Deficit) 802 27.0 782 -5.6 782 6.3 * One off savings in 2018/19 of £11.9m related to stock held by primary schools.
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