School Organisation Review Next Steps

Introduction On 10 May, Cabinet agreed the following: The grouping of schools How the next stages of the review would be taken forward Arrangements for the review

Cabinet’s Decision Grouping of Schools Based on deprivation and attainment data Group 1: Haverhill and Lowestoft (starts 2007) Group 2 : Beccles, Bungay and Leiston, Mildenhall and Newmarket (starts 2008) Group 3: Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury, Thurston and Stowmarket (starts 2009)

Cabinet’s Decision Next Stages Stage 2 Consultation and Decision-Making e.g. Group 1 ( ) Stage 3 Implementation e.g. Group 1 (2008-onwards) teresasg:

Cabinet’s Decision Stage 2: Consultation and Decision-making Summer Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Informal Local Discussions (1) Formal Consultations (2) Statutory Process (4) Begin Process Of Implementation (7) CabinetSchools Adjudicator Business as usual Communication Scrutiny (8) (3)(5)(6) e.g. Group 1*

Cabinet’s Decision Stage 3: Implementation 2008 / / / / 2012 Plan for changes to school organisation: Communicate decision Year groups stay as normal Curriculum planning Governance, finance implications Capital planning Logistics of the change (1) First changes: Year 5 remain in primary school (2) Second changes: Year 6 remain in primary school Middle schools part of high Schools (3) Business as usual Communication Scrutiny e.g. Group 1

Project Plan - Overview Summer / Autumn term 2007 AMJJASONAMJJASON Initial Evaluation Initial Ideas Consultation on options Heads / Chairs 1 Heads / Chairs 2 Heads / Chairs 3 Heads / Chairs 4 Local Forum 1 Local Forum 2 e.g.Group 1 (1) (2)

STAGE 2 ARRANGEMENTS

CABINET County Strategy Group (5) County Stakeholder Group (4) Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Stake- holder Group Haverhill Stake- holder Group Beccles, Bungay, Leiston Stake- holder Group Mildenhall Newmarket Stake- holder Group BSE Sudbury Stake- holder Group Thurston Stowmarket Stake- holder Group Nth & Sth Lowestoft 4x SOR Working Groups a)HR b)Support for Govs & HTs c)Vulnerable Children d)Workforce Development Reports will also be provided on the following: - Transport - Finance - Strategic Environmental Assessment (3) Director for Children and Young People’s Services (6) Core Group Scrutiny Committee (11) Trade Union Consultation (8) Local Scrutiny Working Party (10) Consultation with Schools SCHOOL ORGANISATION REVIEW STAGE 2 ARRANGEMENTS (2) (1) (9)

Governance Arrangements County Strategy Group Advisory group formed of the organisations with a statutory responsibility to education Cross party representation, LSC and Church of England and Roman Catholic Diocese County Stakeholder Group Advisors to the County Strategy Group on feasible options for the future pattern of schools in each areas of the county, the work of the four working parties and other matters as they emerge. Members drawn from local stakeholder forums and county wide groups or organisations Local Stakeholder Forums One per area in each group of schools Seeking nominations/expressions of interest now Membership includes: county, district, borough, town councillors as appropriate, headteachers, trade union and staff reps, governors, parents of school age and pre-school age children, other local community groups Chaired by County Councillor appointed by County Strategy Group 2 meetings this term for schools in Group 1

STAFFING

Staffing SOR Project Lead + Team 1 Lowestoft Team 2 Bury St Edmunds Project Officer

Four working groups have been set up to look at key areas of development as part of the review. The primary concern of all four groups is to ensure the best interests of children and young people and continuity of their education. Human resources working group: This group will focus on maintaining high standards of teaching and learning throughout any period of change, and includes headteachers, teachers, support staff and governors. They have examined how other authorities have managed similar processes, and will consider a range of strategies for recruiting and retaining middle school staff in the short-medium term in liaison with the Training and Development working group, and will draw up a protocol for managing appointments to two-tier schools. The County Secretaries of the teacher unions and Unison have met with the working group to agree the general approach to moving to a two-tier system. Workforce development and planning working group: This group aims to provide a high-quality programme of training and professional development to support staff through change, focusing on helping staff look at their future career, and training and development needs for middle school staff and existing school leaders. The first priority is to consult with staff to find out what support would be useful. The group represents all members of the school workforce and will examine how other authorities have managed similar processes.

Transitional support for vulnerable children working group: This group aims to keep parents and carers closely informed about the transition arrangements for children with additional needs, and specific work required for any proposed changes to schools with specialist units or children currently out of school or in Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). The group will be working to identify numbers of children and young people with Statements of Special Educational Need (SEN) attending mainstream schools, identify patterns of need and investigate good practice in transition. School improvement working group: This group will work to develop a strong commitment to joint working between schools in both two- and three-tier systems and promote a continuum of learning and teaching from birth to 19. A draft action plan is currently being created.