Information on Loughborough

Support for transforming education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow

Posted on 21/07/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Cabinet Office

21 July 2009

Support for transforming education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow

The results of a major consultation exercise on the future of education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow show clear support for the transformation of learning in the area.

Responses show the preference is to develop through secondary schools (for ages 11-19 or ages 11-16 with separate Post-16 provision) so that pupils do not have to transfer school at age 14.  This is a transition which pupils can find difficult, reflected in lower than expected achievement at Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16) compared with Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14).

If approved by the County Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on July 28th, work will start on developing the options for the future of secondary and special education based on the key messages that emerged from the consultation.  No decisions have been made at this stage about how the schools could be organised.

Consultation booklets were distributed to schools, governors, parents, pupils and others with an interest in schools in early June to seek views on how £80 million of Government Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding could be used to transform secondary education in the area.

As yet the Government has not allocated the funding or indicated exactly when this might happen.  However, they have said that the County Council needs to have a clear vision and be able to demonstrate that it has captured the views of the public in the area before it is awarded the money.

In anticipation of being awarded the funding, the County Council will soon start work on a Readiness to Deliver (RTD) document which would set out the vision for transforming education in the Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow upon Soar areas.

Once this is done, a further report detailing the options for schools would be brought to Cabinet and local people would be consulted again on a proposed solution for the area.

Ivan Ould, Cabinet Member for the Children and Young People’s Service,  said: “Beginning to develop options based on what we’ve heard will demonstrate the Council’s commitment to listening to the views of parents, pupils, governors, staff, local residents and others with an interest in education in the area and acting upon them.

“The funding would provide a unique and exciting opportunity to transform secondary and special education in the area, improve pupils’ achievement, provide 21st century facilities in our schools and develop wider community benefits.”

For more information, visit: www.leics.gov.uk/loughboroughbsf

Notes to editors

County Council officers held 34 consultation meetings at secondary and primary schools and at Ashmount Special School which were attended by more than 750 parents, pupils, local residents and other stakeholders.

242 responses to the consultation have been received through the post or online.  The majority of respondents (92%) support a change to schools.