Last updated 15:53, Wednesday, 16 April 2008

EDUCATION leaders are drawing up radical plans to transform Cumbria’s primary schools.

John Swainston

Up to £150m will be invested over a 15-year period to upgrade buildings and shape education.

Council chiefs say the government’s push to have a strategy submitted by mid-June is an opportunity to think about how they want to improve on the good standards local children already reach.

The Strategy for Cumbria’s Primary Schools document suggests that all-age schools could be created and clusters of small schools would be expected to work more closely together, sharing resources and expertise.

But the National Association of Small Schools fears it is a threat to rural schools, particularly those with under 50 pupils or which have a high percentage of surplus places.

The head of one rural school that has less than 35 pupils says the strategy sends out mixed messages, after schools minister Jim Knight supported small schools in Parliament only last month.

Cumbria County Council’s head of schools and learning, John Swainston, could not rule out future closures, stating that detailed proposals for different areas had not been drawn up.

He said: “We have got a chance to look 10 to 15 years into the future and discuss what learning is going to be like, in terms of the curriculum, buildings and ICT and what we want to do.

“The government has committed some capital for developing primary schools but, unlike what has happened with secondary schools, it is going to be over a longer length of time and so it will come through as more of a trickle rather than all at once.”

He added: “This strategy is at a very early stage. We want a debate on this and I have no apologies about the radical thinking and ideas what this may contain. How often do we have the chance to shape the future?”

Issues that threaten to hamper children’s learning in the future will be addressed, including surplus places in a county where the number of empty desks in primary schools is predicted to almost double within five years.

Around 10 per cent of the places – 4,534 – at Cumbria’s 279 primaries are vacant, putting an added burden on school budgets.

This is set to rise to over 8,300 over the next five years as the current roll of 37,850 falls to 34,043.

Schools with high rates of surplus places could also be at risk because the government expects local authorities to draw up plans to ensure that no school has more than 25 per cent of surplus places.

There are currently 20 Cumbrian schools in that category, a figure which could rise to 35 within five years.

A £50m backlog of maintenance work that needs to be carried out on local primary schools could also influence future options.

The cost of the backlog, per square metre, varies between £34 to £383 or per pupil equivalent of £216-£6,445.The figures vary so much because the costs are much higher per pupil in the smallest schools.

Mervyn Benford, of the National Association of Small Schools, said: “Cumbria has some of the best small schools in the country.

“We need more schools like them but there is a strong negative hint (in the strategy), about schools that have under 50 pupils, that they might not be able to deliver the standards and curriculum. It is an agenda to close very small schools.”

He added: “But evidence as late as 2006 from the State of the Countryside report says that schools with under 100 children, including very small schools, are getting better academic results.”

Cumbria’s strategy seeks to create four main models for schools, based on eight principles, including boosting technology, having diversity and parental choice, serving the community, being efficient and viable and having buildings fit for purpose.

It states that all-through primary schools with the opportunity to provide extended services such as children’s centres could be the best option for urban areas. All-age schools could also be considered in some areas.

Semi-rural areas near small secondary schools also have the potential for all-age schools, creating a seamless transition for children.

The smallest primary schools, possibly six, in the most isolated places are seen as vital and must be retained.

But it is stressed that these schools should not stand alone and need to be supported by other schools.

A so-called hub and spoke approach is on the cards for Cumbria’s other rural schools, where they would work in groups to share experience and staff, improve the breadth of the curriculum, improve technology links and allow school buildings to be used more by the community.

Changes would also boost special needs provision.

Mr Swainston said: “The county’s drive is for localities and we want to bring communities together with schools. The county council’s wish is to return the school to the heart of some of the most isolated communities and build up services around it.

“Primary schools here have a very high standard. Key Stage 2 results are exceedingly good and we want to maintain that and improve them even further. We are not unhappy with that but the surplus places are building up.”

Cumbria is one of 150 local authorities due to submit primary school strategies to the Department for Children, Schools and Families by mid-June.

A vast number of local headteachers have already been involved in the plan but next week schools, governors, parent-governors and pupils will take part in a series of roadshows in Carlisle, Whitehaven and Grange as part of an initial consultation.

Their views will be collated before county councillors discuss the strategy in May and June and it is handed over to the DCSF.

Once the government agrees to back the strategy, more detailed proposals will be identified and put out to full consultation.