Newshire School Closure Topic: Public Sector, Decision Making. Background The local residents in Newshire have started a campaign to try and stop the closure of local schools. Councillors claim that their hands are tied and next year there will have to be cuts in the education and social services budgets. School closure All of the schools included in this case study are rural schools. Newbridge Primary and Oldbridge Primary were originally 1 form entry schools admitting 33-35 pupils a year with a school roll of approximately 260 pupils. The decision to expand to 1.5 forms of entry was to meet increasing demand for places. As 1.5 form entry schools the maximum class size was reduced to 30 with 45 pupils in each year group. With 1.5 forms of entry the school roll for each school increased to approximately 350 pupils. Blackbridge Primary has always been a 2 form entry school. Newbridge Primary and Oldbridge Primary report that with fewer applications for places at the schools the headteachers estimate that they will need fewer classes and teachers next year. Blackbridge Primary does not have any concerns over the number of applications next year. A report has been prepared to discuss the possible closure of one of the schools and the following options are to be considered. (1) (ii) (iii) Pupils Newbridge Primary will be closed. (Oldbridge Primary will become 2 form entry and Blackbridge Primary will not change.) Oldbridge Primary will be closed (Newbridge Primary will become 2 form entry and Blackbridge Primary will not change) Blackbridge Primary will be closed. (Newbridge Primary and Oldbridge Primary will become 2 form entry) Forecast school numbers are as follows: Current Capacity Currently on roll (2002-3) Estimated (2003-4) Newbridge 350 280 230 Primary Oldbridge 350 255 230 Primary Blackbridge 500 470 480 Primary Existing staffing Head Deputy head Assistant teachers Part-time staff Newbridge Primary 1 1 11 5 Oldbridge Primary 1 1 11 6 Blackbridge Primary 1 2 16 6 One head is on long term sick leave and she has indicated that her health will not improve and therefore is expected to seek early retirement. Two of the deputy headteachers have applied for posts outside the borough. The headteachers estimate that with a relatively high number of teachers applying for posts elsewhere or seeking early retirements there will be a need to recruit more staff after any of the options are implemented. Example of possible organisation for schools. The council has collected examples of typical staffing levels for schools of different sizes. Head Deputy head Assistant teachers Numbers of pupils 1 form entry 1 1 7 250 1.5 form entry 1 2 9 350 2 form entry 1 2 15 500 No information is available on the effect of the possible savings from reducing the numbers of full-time staff under the above options. The schools will have to consider the age of the staff and the length of service before any estimates can be prepared. The initial appraisal of the alternatives will not include full-time staff costs. Expenditure required on schools The necessary capital would be borrowed with total charges of 100 p.a. per 1,000 borrowed Cost of providing additional classroom accommodation. (for 150 pupils - from 350 pupil capacity to 500 pupil capacity) Newbridge Primary | 200,000 Oldbridge Primary 250,000 Other expenditure Newbridge Primary Major refurbishment 400,000 Oldbridge Primary Blackbridge Primary New heating system 150,000 Roof and minor repairs 80,000 At Newbridge Primary playground space is at a premium. The car park can be utilised and, or a system of split play times might have to be introduced. Extra toilets have not been included in the above costs and may have to be considered. Educational factors/ staff views The Education Committee has noted that schools with 1.5 form entry are more likely to face opposition from parents who do not understand how the system operates. Most school heads at 1.5 form entry schools want to move to 2 forms of entry to avoid the problems of having a mixed year group class. Newbridge Primary has recently received a very good OFSTED report. Oldbridge and Blackbridge will be inspected in the near future. Staff at the schools have indicated that they are not very enthusiastic about increasing the size of schools. Particular concerns are that the size of the halls at Newbridge Primary and Oldbridge Primary are too small. Planning for the mixed age group was obviously very difficult at the beginning but staff feel that they can cope with the system better now. Cost of relocation for pupils and staff Any relocated pupils will be able to claim for travel costs. It has been estimated that the average cost will be 300 p.a. per pupil. The travel costs will be available to all pupils at the schools in the future. Teachers will also be allowed to claim for additional travel costs if their school is closed. The costs have been estimated as follows: Travel costs for teachers Close 15,000 Newbridge Primary Close 18,000 Oldbridge Primary Close 32,000 Blackbridge Primary Capital receipts from the sale of closed schools To date no estimates have been prepared. School budgets (based on current capacity) The following excludes full-time teaching costs: Newbridge Primary Expenditure Peripatetic teachers Supply teachers Administrative and manual 80,000 staff Other Oldbridge Blackbridge Primary Primary 9,000 9,900 14,000 8,000 9,000 18,000 75,000 111,000 6,000 7,000 9,000 Premises Expenses Non-domestic rate 3,000 3,000 4,000 Contents insurance 3,000 3,000 4,000 Supplies and services Advertising 2,000 2,000 2,000 Travel 1,500 1,000 1,900 Maintenance contracts 4,000 4,000 5,000 Building insurance 2,800 2,900 3,800 Direct costs Educational supplies 18,000 17,900 20,000 Gas / electric 7,000 7,100 9,100 Cleaning supplies 1,100 1,200 1,900 Repairs 4,500 3,300 6,500 Question 1 Compare the cost of keeping all of the schools open and the relevant costs and savings of closing each school and discuss the problems of making a clear recommendation on financial grounds. You should include all workings and assumptions in your answer and identify any other financial information you require. Question 2 Discuss the importance of non-financial information to decision making in the public sector generally and to the decision to close schools