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This autumn, Southampton City Council will be launching two major projects to improve education for children and young people across the city. The reviews of primary schools and education for pupils with special needs will focus investing in standards and learning environments. Tonight (Monday June 30), the Cabinet approved three reports that will form the basis of these school projects. They follow on from a major review of secondary education competed in 2007 and more recent work to set a city-wide vision for primary education. Councillor Peter Baillie, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "Over the past few months and years we have been preparing Southampton's schools for major investment from the government in the form of Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital Programme. Our reviews of primary and Special Educational Needs schools are the next step. They present an exciting opportunity to set out how we are going to use this funding to make improvements to both educational standards and the places where children are taught. "We are being given money to rebuild and improve school buildings and we want to make sure we are doing this in the best places. We are keen to work with headteachers, governors and pupils to make sure we get this right." Work has already happened to involve schools in planning for the government's education investment programmes. In March, the city council approved a vision for primary education, which was put together with the help of headteachers and governors. And last night, the Cabinet approved a plan that has been submitted to the Department for Children, Schools and Families to demonstrate how Southampton is planning to use its share of the national funding. The primary review will focus on clusters of schools around the city. One of the main areas identified for work is the city centre, where pupil numbers are rising so more places are needed. There are also long-term plans carried over from the secondary school review to create a Learning Campus for all ages on the St Mark's Junior School site in Shirley. Other areas to be looked at during the primary review are Millbrook, where Newlands Primary is set to be rebuilt, and Lordshill, where Sinclair Primary and Nursery School has more places than pupils. Council officers will be meeting with headteachers and governors at the relevant schools in September to discuss how each area could benefit from investment and remodelling. A consultation with the wider community will then follow in October. Other primary schools have also been carrying out their own work to see how they can form partnerships with neighbouring schools. They will be receiving support from the council as necessary. Meanwhile, the council also plans to carry out a review of SEN education. The city provides a range of education for young people with physical, learning and behavioural difficulties, both in dedicated and in mainstream schools. During recent years, the number of SEN pupils has increased. When added to the funding opportunities presented by the Primary Capital Programme and Building Schools for the Future, now is the time to start planning for investment. Some SEN schools could be rebuilt using this money, while other provision could be changed to best meet the needs of the young people involved. The SEN review will begin in September with consultation taking place across the school communities.
For more information visit Southampton City Council
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