Agenda item

Members received a report which sought to inform the Executive Advisory Panel following a 30-day public consultation with regards to the Wilby CE VA Primary School Relocation to the Glenvale Park Development, Wellingborough.

It was noted that consultation was hosted on the Council’s Consultation and Engagement Hub and commenced 5^th September 2023 and concluded on 5^th October 2023. The public consultation was supported by the Council’s Consultation and Engagement Team. The structure and design of the consultation set out the proposal and enabled both online and non-digital

means of participation, in accordance with nationally recognised good practice. The consultation was published on the local BBC News website, sent to Councillors, Teaching and Support Staff Union Representatives, local members of parliament, town and parish Councils, partner organisations, members of the Council’s Consultation Register, and with members of the

North Northamptonshire Residents’ Panel who resided within the local area.

Members noted that in total, 202 respondents filled out a questionnaire either partially or fully and 2 respondents submitted a written response.

The Summary of responses were noted as follows:-

·       Respondents were asked to what extent they support or propose the proposal; there were 160 responses to this question, two thirds (63.1%) said they strongly support or tend to support the proposal and one third (33.8%) said they strongly oppose or tend to oppose the proposal.

·       When comparing the responses to this question to the different types of respondents; 66 respondents who identified themselves as either a pupil or parent/carer/guardian of a pupil of responded as follows: 58.2% supported the proposal and 40.0% opposed the proposal.

·       In summarising the responses from 18 members of staff of Wilby CE VA Primary and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a total of 92.3% supported the proposal. Of all the other respondents 61.2% supported the proposal and 33.7% opposed the proposal.

·       Respondents were invited to share their feedback on why they felt the proposal would have a positive impact; a total of 103 respondents responded and nearly three quarters expressed their general support. A small number shared feedback relating to concerns over transport/or safe routes to the new school, with one reference to an assurance being made regarding free school transport to the school for pupils.

·       Respondents were also invited to share whether they felt the proposal would have any negative impacts, there were 74 responses. Almost half of the responses were in relation to the heart of the village and the community life being taken away as a result of the relocation. A third of responses related to the additional travel and adding additional vehicles to the current traffic and alongside this was a quarter of responses with concerns regarding the environment with the additional traffic on the road/safety concerns for children with a perception of no safe walking routes to Glenvale Park from Wilby.

The Executive were to be invited at their meeting on the 16th November 2023 to reflect on the outcome of the formal consultation when considering the request for approval of the relocation of Wilby CE

VA Primary School to the Glenvale Park development. It was noted that the Executive decision must be made within a period of two months of the end of the formal consultation period.

Members heard that If the relocation of Wilby CE VA Primary School to the Glenvale Park development is approved then the DfE guidance ‘Making a Significant Change to an Academy or Maintained School’ process will continue at pace. Simultaneously, the necessary preparations and planning for the relocation were to begin immediately.