Purpose

To delegate authority to the Director of Education, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport;

1. To publish a statutory notice on a proposal to permanently extend the age range of Hopebrook C of E Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 years with effect from 1st September 2024

2. If no materially significant representations are received to the statutory consultation set out in Recommendation 1, to determine the proposal to permanently extend the age range for the school from 4-11 to 3-11 with effect from 1st September 2024 subject to the Department for Education (DfE):

• issuing an Academy Order for the School and
• agreeing the date on which the school converts to academy status

Decision

In coming to this decision I have given due and full regard to the requirements of the public sector equality duty contained in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) by reference to the law itself and also the relevant Equality Impact Assessment, which was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to:

Delegate authority to the Director of Education, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport:

1. 1.     To publish a statutory notice on the proposal to permanently extend the age range of Hopebrook C of E Primary School from 4- 11 to 3-11 years with effect from 1st September 2024; and
2. 2.     If no materially significant representations are received to the statutory consultation set out in Recommendation 1, to determine the proposal to permanently extend the age range for the school from 4-11 years to 3-11 years with effect from 1st September 2024, subject to the Department for Education (DfE):

·       Issuing an academy order for the school; and

·       Agreeing the date on which the school converts to academy status.

The decision to consider such representations shall be determined by the Cabinet Member if materially significant objections are received to the consultation exercises set out in Recommendation 1.

For the reasons set out in the report.