PARK STREET INFANT SCHOOL

PROPOSAL TO SEEK A CHANGE TO VOLUNTARY AIDED STATUS

CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Published by the Governing Body ~ June 2003

INTRODUCTION

The governing body has considered the future of the school which at present is under threat of closure in July 2006. Many parents expressed a view during the consultation period of Monmouthshire County Council’s Strategic Review that they would have preferred their children to have gone to a church school. The governing body therefore concluded that in serving the best interests of the community, pupils, parents, and the school the governing body would seek to change the schools category to that of a Church in Wales voluntary aided school under the regulations in the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.

This document provides all those who are interested, concerned or affected by this proposal with the facts and seeks their views.

At a meeting of the governing body on 12th June 2003, proposals for changing the status of the school were debated and the governors decided unanimously to support the change to Voluntary Aided status.

We would like to hear from all interested parties and we will hold consultative meetings with teaching staff and non-teaching staff employed at the school. Meetings will also be held with parents to discuss the proposals. A public meeting will be held at Holy Trinity Church for members of the community and people of the town. A list of all those to be consulted is provided as an appendix to this document.

The period of consultation is for 1 month starting from 1st July 2003 and ends on 31st July 2003.

Please send your written views on these proposals to:

Chair of Governors

Park Street Infants School

Park Street

Abergavenny

Monmouthshire

NP7 5YB

or

Email ~ parkstreetinfants@monmouthshire.gov.uk

BACKGROUND

Park Street Infants School was founded by the church in 1894. It was named Christchurch and was built as a replacement for the wooden schoolroom to the rear of Christchurch in North Street, Abergavenny where local children had received schooling since the 1870’s. The school was taken over by the Abergavenny School Board in 1904 and the school name was changed to Park Street Infant School and eventually became the responsibility of the LEA.

The school has always had strong links with the local churches and clergy in the town since its foundation in 1894 as can be seen in the school log books right up to the present day. Within the school pupils and staff celebrate the main Christian festivals throughout the year with visiting clergy. Pupils make visits to Holy Trinity Church and local clergy continue to make visits to the school.

FUTURE

Projected numbers for pupils attending the school published by the Local Education Authority's School Organisation Plan up to the year 2007 are over 100. There is therefore clearly a need for a school in the southern part of the town. The current capacity of the school is 142 and we would aim to have a 2 class intake each year.

The school is an infant school at present and the majority of parents have clearly expressed the view that they wish it to remain an infant school. The governing body is fully supportive of the Welsh Assembly Government’s recent proposals which are at the consultation phase to provide a change of schooling to a Foundation Phase for children aged 3 years to 7 years. We would wish to become a Foundation Phase school by September 2008 if that becomes the policy of the Welsh Assembly Government. If the school is offered the opportunity to participate in a pilot project we would welcome it.

We are aware that many parents have work commitments and we would consider the possibility of establishing breakfast, as well as after school clubs and holiday play schemes. Such clubs and schemes do not exist at present in the community our school serves.

We will, if the category of the school is changed, seek funding for improvements and alteration to the school buildings as necessary. This funding would come from the Welsh Assembly allocation for capital projects in maintained schools. The main school building is of sound construction built to last many centuries and has many historical features.

We desire in these proposals to continue to improve the already good and very good standards of education at Park Street to help the school grow and develop in this century.

THE REASON FOR CHANGE

We believe that there is a need in Abergavenny Town for a Voluntary Aided school with a Christian ethos. Once the school has changed category it would be the only Church in Wales Voluntary Aided school in north Monmouthshire. We recognise our existing links to the Church in Wales and we are committed to developing and deepening our relationship with the community and the church.

A Key Stage 1 infant school would meet the needs of the community as expressed by the overwhelming majority of parents and community. This became clear during research for the Strategic Review. This view was endorsed by a free vote of the full council of Monmouthshire County Council 25th July 2002.

CHANGES

Staff

The governing body would become the employer of all the staff working in the school. All existing staff would have a guarantee of employment and job security during the period of transition. In future the governing body will require new teaching staff to be fully committed in support of the Christian ethos of our church school.

Governing Body

At first most of the existing governors would continue to serve on the new body. A new instrument of government will come into force giving a majority of places to church nominees. There will still be elected parent representatives as well as representatives of the staff, the LEA, and Town Council. The foundation governors will be nominated by the local Parochial Church Council and the Monmouth Diocesan Board of Education.

Religious Education

The school will use the agreed Syllabus of the Church in Wales. This has the complete backing of the National Assembly in Wales. The syllabus will also include basic teaching about Judaism and Islam.

Collective Worship

There will be a daily act of collective worship based on the Christian faith, however children of other faiths will have the right not to participate if their parents do not wish them to.

Admissions

At present Monmouthshire County Council is responsible for admissions to the school. Following the change of category the governing body will be responsible for admissions. We would first of all wish to be an infant school serving the community. Admissions will be the parish of Holy Trinity, the parish of St. Peter’s and the area surrounding Christchurch for the children of any faith. We would then extend to the rest of the parish of St. Mary’s for children of any faith. Children of any faith will be welcome as they always have been and that will not change. The school will continue to serve the community as it always has done.

Structural Repairs and Maintenance

The governing body is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the outside of the building and grants up to 85% of requirement are available from the Welsh Assembly Government. The governing body must pay for 15% of the costs of external maintenance, however the Church in Wales may contribute to the balance under their scheme for the support of Voluntary Aided schools.

New Building And Improvements

The same conditions apply as those with structural repairs and maintenance.

The Curriculum

All the requirements of the Welsh Assembly Government to key Stage 1 infants will still apply and we will continue to apply the same high standards as at present.

Inspection

Voluntary Aided schools are inspected by Estyn every 6 years. In addition the Church in Wales inspections will carry out denominational inspections.

APPENDIX

CONSULTATION PERIOD 1ST JULY-1ST AUGUST 2003.

Distribution List for Consultation Document:

Local Education Authority

National Assembly

Estyn

All School Governors, Headteachers and parents of schools within a 2 mile radius of Park Street Infants School:

Our Lady of St. Michaels Primary

Harold Road Junior

Llantilio Pertholey Primary

St. Davids Junior

Ysgol Cymraeg

Llanfoist Primary

Llwynu Infants

Croesonen Infants

Bryn-a-Cwm Area Committee Clerk

All Town and Community Councils Clerks:

Abergavenny Town

Llantilio Pertholey

Llanfoist Fawr

Teacher Trades Unions

Unison

Diocese of Monmouth

Archdiocese of Cardiff

Abergavenny Council of Churches, Parish Parochial Councils,ministers and congregations of independent churches:

St. Mary's

Holy Trinity

Abergavenny Baptist Church

Abergavenny Family Church

Christadelphian Hall

Our Lady of St. Michaels

Methodist Church

Salvation Army

United Reform Church

Whitfield Presbyterian

Member of Parliament Monmouth

Assembly Member Monmouth

Leader Monmouthshire County Council

Cabinet member Education

Meeting Dates:

1) Consultation meeting with teachers at Park Street Infant School .

7th July @ 3.30 pm

2) Consultation meeting with non teaching staff at Park Street Infant School.

3) Consultation meeting with parents of Park Street Infant School. 7th July @ 7.00 pm

4) A public meeting in Holy Trinity Church Hall 17th July @ 7.30 pm

Meetings 1 to 3 above will be held in Park Street Infant School.

Public Announcements:

Article and public notice in local newspapers.

Consultation document in Abergavenny Library and One Stop Shop.