According to the minutes of the meeting, the proposal by STEP to amalgamate Burfield and Phoenix schools has been declined by the Department for Education (DfE) Regional Director in consultation with the DfE South East Advisory Board.
The DfE Advisory Board decision (contained in the October 17th meeting minutes, see below at the bottom of this piece) clearly reflected the concern that STEP had not put sufficient effort into finding a solution to the ‘kiss and drop’ at the Burfield site. It was felt that they needed to do further work with parents, including on the school travel plan, and reengage with the County planning authority. A point that I emphasised at the original County Planning Committee meeting.
I’ve worked with residents and engaged with many concerned parents on this issue now for over 2 years.
My survey of well over 250 residents in and around Oaklands, Sandbanks & Ingrams Way revealed very substantial opposition to the STEP Academy planning application to overturn the Burfield School planning condition requiring a Kiss-and-Drop. The planning committee meeting which rejected the application was covered by Hailsham News here
I subsequently lobbied the Education team at County to oppose the STEP proposal to merge the two schools onto the Phoenix site.
I've tried to help the Town Council to frame a response to DfE as a non-consultee stakeholder to the proposed merger. You can see my letter to the Town Council here.
I’ve been grateful for the support of Cllr Standley, the Conservative Cabinet Lead Member for Education, who declined to support the merger proposal in his submission to DfE, and for his help in seeking to resolve these problems in the best interests of our residents, parents and school children.
I’m relieved to see common sense beginning to prevail.
However, the Trust’s response in saying that they will bring the merger application back to DfE seems a bit tone deaf.
Cllr Standley’s response to the Regional Director decision was as follows:
“I have noted and welcomed the decision of the Advisory Board to decline the proposed merger of Phoenix and Burfield Academies. The County Council did not support the proposal.”
Advisory Board Minutes:
Project: To discuss the proposal for Burfield and Phoenix academies, STEP Academy Trust, East Sussex, to make the following change/s:
- Amalgamating 2 or more academies.
Advisory Board discussion:
• The board were notified of the representations which were received for the project.
• The board discussed the application and proposal from Burfield and Phoenix academies.
• The board probed the building, planning arrangements and impact on drop-off for pupils.
• The board recommended that STEP Academy Trust engaged with the Local Authority on planning.
Regional Director decision: Decline.
Conflicts: None.
Further actions required: Inform the school, trust, and local authority of the Regional Director decision.
