The Shareholder Committee for the Dorset Centre of Excellence (DCOE) met on Monday 15 September 2025, to consider the Dorset Council Commissioner's Report, and the report from the Chair of the Board. The committee was also scheduled to note any decisions taken under delegation, and to review the forward plan. Public participation and councillor questions were also on the agenda.

Dorset Centre of Excellence (DCOE) and Coombe House School Updates

The Shareholder Committee for the Dorset Centre of Excellence (DCOE) was scheduled to receive updates on the current situation at the Dorset Centre of Excellence and Coombe House School.

Ian Comfort, Director and Chair of Dorset Centre of Excellence Ltd, prepared a report for the committee. The report noted that the company was performing well against its business plan, with growth in pupil numbers at Coombe House School, improvements in quality, and development of its commercial and community offerings.

According to the report, Coombe House School had a successful summer term, with positive feedback from stakeholders on the sports day and parent/carer open evening. The school also saw a significant increase in the number of pupils sitting and passing external examinations, including GCSEs.

The school received an Ofsted inspection towards the end of the summer term, and the verbal feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The report was expected to be published early in the new academic year. Dorset Council and Wiltshire Council also completed their annual quality assurance and safeguarding review visits, with positive reports praising the school's safeguarding and governance practices.

The report also noted the commencement of a partnership with a new swim school provider, as well as the popularity of community swimming. The company is engaging with Dorset Council regarding the next steps in implementing the approved business plan, with work underway to ensure that the next phases of development will facilitate the company's planned growth and represent value for money for all stakeholders.

The company has continued to have strong recruitment processes and sector-typical turnover for the school at the end of the 2024/25 academic year. The company's accounts for 2024/25 were given an unqualified report following a financial audit.

The company has prioritised work on its natural environment, climate and ecology projects, including maximising energy generation from solar panels and improving the reliability of the biomass boiler. Work to develop Coombe House Farm has led to a positive impact beyond the boundaries of the farm, with the company looking to improve the biodiversity of its woodlands and grasslands. The company has also successfully sought external grant funding to aid its investment into a number of regeneration projects.

Dorset Council Commissioner's Report

Ross Bowell, Head of Service – Health, Education and SEND Commissioning, prepared a report providing an overview of the current position in relation to delivery by the Dorset Centre of Excellence (DCOE) against the commissioning agreement.

The report noted that Coombe House School had an OFSTED inspection at the end of June/start of July, with the final report due for publication in early September.

We expect that publication will be before the Shareholder Committee which will allow a discussion of performance in the meeting which is informed by the OFSTED outcome.

The commissioning relationship between Dorset Council and DCOE continues to develop and strengthen, with regular contract review meetings and the Head of Service – Health, Education & SEND Commissioning attending DCOE Board meetings. Performance indicators inform the meetings, and there were no operational concerns to report. Performance reporting arrangements for the Shareholder Committee will be reviewed in the current academic year.

Notable areas of performance in recent contract reviews include strong development of reading and phonics delivery, improving trend in attendance, reduction in unauthorised absence, and compliant engagement with local authority SEND practitioners. There were 131 pupils on roll in the summer term, with a commissioned capacity of 152.

The Dorset Centre of Excellence Commissioning Group, which includes senior officers from Corporate Development, Place as well as Children's Services, continues to oversee Council activity in relation to DCOE, including taking forward the action from the June Shareholder Committee for a report on the longer-term intentions for the site.

Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the Forward Plan, which contains future items to be considered by the Shareholder Committee for the Dorset Centre of Excellence. The plan includes items for the meeting including key decisions, and indicates whether each item is 'open' to the public or to be considered in a private part of the meeting.

The Forward Plan included the following items:

• Dorset Council Delegated Decisions (if required)
• Dorset Council Commissioner's Report
• DCoE - Report of the Chair of the Board

The Forward Plan also indicated that the committee would review the terms of reference in June and consider the Coombe House Annual Performance Report in December.