Consultation on Proposals for The Partnership Learning Trust to set up a new Primary Free school provision on Barking Riverside
Introduction
Following a successful application to the Department for Education to set up a new primary Free school on Barking Riverside, Partnership Learning proposes to open Riverside Primary School in September 2015, co-located on a combined campus with Riverside School (an existing secondary Free school run by the Trust) and Riverside Bridge School (a special Free school run by the Trust opening in September 2015).
This document sets out the opportunities for interested parties to give their views on the proposals outlined above.
The Partnership Learning
Partnership Learning brings together a range of local partners, including parents from the local community, local primary, secondary and special school headteachers, Barking and Dagenham College of Further Education, the University of East London and the voluntary sector training provider Lifeline.
Partnership Learning already runs a mainstream, secondary 11-18 free school – Riverside School – on Barking Riverside. Riverside School is currently housed in a primary school building on the former City Farm site on Thames Road, but is expected to move to purpose-built new accommodation off Renwick Road in September 2016. It is planned that the proposed Free primary school – Riverside Primary School – will be co-located on the same new site. A co-located special school – Riverside Bridge School – will also be developed to form a unified learning campus.
In its work in Barking and Dagenham, Partnership Learning is:
• Focused on improving the educational opportunities and life chances of the young people of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
• Committed to working as a full member of Barking and Dagenham’s existing family of schools and in partnership with the Local Authority
• Committed to providing a high quality range of flagship educational provisions to enable families to access mainstream and special education for all ages in their own local community.
Background
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has one of the fastest-growing school-age populations in the country: overall pupil numbers in the Borough are set to rise by 50% between 2014 and 2020. Based on student numbers already in primary schools, there will be a need for the equivalent of four new 10 form-entry secondary schools in the Borough within the next seven years.
For some years, parents of pupils with complex special needs living in the borough have had difficulty securing places at Trinity School, the existing over-subscribed special school in the Borough. This difficulty is being further exacerbated by the rapidly growing population.
The Partnership Learning Trust responded to this local need by submitting an application to the Department for Education in January 2013 to establish a special Free school – Riverside Special School – on Barking Riverside, offering families an inclusive, accessible, all-through learning pathway for children growing up in Thames View, Riverside and the wider area of Barking & Dagenham.
The proposed school will cater for 180 pupils aged 4-16 years and offer targeted support for pupils where there is an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) and needs arising from severe/profound learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties with autistic spectrum disorder. There will be extended opportunities for lifelong learning and personal development through wide-ranging community provision, dual use of facilities and direct links to enhanced opportunities in further and higher education and employment.
Our Proposals for Riverside Primary School
Our motto “Excellence for All” sums up our aims. Riverside Primary School will deliver outcomes significantly above the national average for pupils on all key measures, will support development of the personal qualities of confidence and resilience essential for a successful life, and support development of the skills and strategies for lifelong learning.
Riverside Primary School will make full use of the freedoms its status will bring to be innovative and develop a personalised curriculum that suits the needs of all its pupils. The school’s governance arrangements will enable fast, flexible decision-making at school level, enabling resources to be used efficiently and effectively to continually raise achievement.
We believe in provision of the same high quality learning opportunities, teaching and facilities for all, whilst rigorously tailoring learning to meet the distinctive needs of different groups of pupils. Our unified learning campus will ensure pupils are able to achieve their full potential and experience a wide range of appropriate challenges.
The Curriculum
In order to meet the key needs identified above we will focus relentlessly on achievement in the core subjects of Maths and English, both to ensure that all children meet expected levels by the end of Key Stage 2, and that those with the potential to do so reach Levels 5 and 6.
Our curriculum at Riverside Primary School will have at its core for Key Stages 1 and 2 the subjects and content set out in the 2014 National Curriculum, and for Reception the areas of learning and early learning goals set out in the Statutory Framework for the EYFS.
However, we will take full advantage of the freedoms accorded by our Free School status and the slimmed-down national curriculum to provide significant extension and enrichment activities (see Section D 1.6 below). In particular we intend to introduce a modern foreign language (Spanish – the main language taught at our secondary school) from Early Years onwards and Classical Studies from Key Stage 2.
We will also take advantage of the primary school’s co-location with Riverside secondary and special schools to develop continuity and consistency based on the highest expectations of pupil achievement.
We will develop children’s physical as well as intellectual abilities by providing structured play and more formal sports and team games.
Children at Riverside Primary will also develop confidence in expressing themselves though a wide range of creative learning experiences including Art, Drama and Music.
We will extend and enrich children’s linguistic and cultural understanding through the introduction of Classical Studies and the early introduction of a modern foreign language.
The curriculum and styles of teaching and learning will also focus on developing the key character traits and skills of confidence, oracy and resilience (CORe) to enable our pupils to be secondary-ready, to lead successful lives and contribute positively to society.
Grouping by Needs & Aptitude
We believe in provision of the same high quality for all, but rigorously tailored to meet the distinctive needs of different groups of pupils.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage pupils will be placed in mixed ability classes, with differentiation on an individual or small group basis as appropriate.
However, from Key Stage 1 onwards Riverside Primary School will organise learning in a radically different way: class groups based on aptitude and ability. This will enable curriculum structure, pace and teaching styles to be appropriately targeted at pupils’ needs, so that all can make rapid progress towards challenging achievement targets.
Our innovative curriculum model for Key Stages 1 and 2 is based on the concept of three distinct pathways within the school, providing appropriately for pupils of differing aptitudes and needs:
Accelerated Pathway– Approximately 60% of each year group – Targeted to achieve significantly above national expected attainment levels. Pupils following this pathway are bright with high potential and will therefore benefit from following a fast-paced academic curriculum, with the expectation that they will achieve the very highest levels at the end of Key Stage 2– all 60% to achieve Level 5 or above and 15% to achieve Level 6.
Standard Pathway – Approximately 25% of the cohort – Targeted to achieve above national expected attainment levels. Pupils following this pathway are generally of average prior attainment but with significant potential and will therefore benefit from challenging expectations, a steady pace to enable consolidation of learning and phased development as independent learners, with the expectation that they will all achieve above national expected attainment levels at the end of Key Stage 2– all to achieve Level 4b or above
Supported Pathway – Approximately 15% of the cohort – Targeted to work towards national expected attainment levels, with at least half achieving Level 4 at the end of Key Stage 2.
A similar structure has been introduced at Riverside (Secondary) School and has operated successfully for many years at its Partner School, Sydney Russell. Implementing the structure in Riverside Primary School will provide a high degree of consistency and continuity on the Riverside Campus.
We believe this model will work particularly well for the Barking Riverside community because the widely spread prior attainment profile is best addressed with very clearly differentiated pathways and is very popular with parents and pupils.
We believe that delivering the curriculum at Riverside Primary School through differentiated pathways offers the best opportunities for:
- achievement to be maximised
- each pupil to have a personalised curriculum appropriate to their needs
- teachers to deliver lessons at an appropriate pace
- expectations and targets to be set and reinforced
- pupils to be challenged and supported at the right level
- a positive learning environment to be nurtured and maintained
- pupils to develop confidence and self-esteem, whilst competing with their peers
- allowing efficiently for smaller group sizes for those needing additional support
Pupil Allocation Pathways
On entry to Key Stage 1 pupils will be placed in one of three pathways, based on their EYFS Profile scores and our aspirational targets and expectations.
For the purposes of planning, the assumption will be made that on average approximately 60% of pupils will be placed in the Accelerated pathway, 25% in the Standard pathway and 15% in the Supported pathway.
However, these proportions are not fixed and can be adjusted each year according to the needs of the actual cohort.
We will take particular care over the placement of EAL pupils. A high ability pupil with limited English language would be placed in the Accelerated pathway. Lower ability pupils with EAL will be placed in the Supported pathway with a programme tailored to maximise their progress and achievement. Where appropriate, intensive one-to-one coaching will be provided for EAL pupils.
For pupils with specific barriers to learning we will base placement in a pathway on their underlying overall ability and ensure that they are provided with additional support to succeed.
For academically Gifted pupils there will be further opportunities for extension and enrichment within the Accelerated pathway.
Movement between Pathways
There will be ample flexibility for pupils to move between pathways as their needs and aptitudes develop and change.
Once a term pupils and their parents will receive a formal assessment of their progress against their targets. These progress reports will be analysed to identify any pupils who would benefit from a change of pathway, either because they are performing above the expected level for their current pathway or are showing signs of needing additional support. Movement between pathways will mainly take place at the start of a new academic year but may sometimes be appropriate at the start of a new term within the year.
Extended Provision: before and after school hours
It is envisaged that the school will operate as an ‘extended school’ for pupils both before and after the school day, with a wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer. It will also be available for wider community use at weekends and during school holidays.
Local groups and organisations will be encouraged to participate in the planning of activities and the wider aspects of the school’s life. It is intended that the new school will contribute to community cohesion through its work with local schools and community organisations
Pupil Numbers and Accommodation
It is proposed that Riverside Primary School will open on 1st September 2015, in the first instance using newly-built accommodation on the City Farm site on Thames Road, to be shared with Riverside (Secondary) School.
In September 2016 it is planned that Riverside primary School will move to its permanent home – new purpose-built accommodation adjacent to the Barking Riverside Ltd offices off Renwick Road at the heart of what will be the District Centre of Barking Riverside.
In September 2015, places for 30 Reception pupils will be available and the school will then grow year on year until it reaches capacity at 630 places in 2021.
The proposed accommodation arrangements are subject to final approval from the Department for Education.
Admissions
Our admissions process is administered and co-ordinated on the school’s behalf by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, using the Pan-London Coordinated Admissions scheme.
Pan-London Coordinated Admissions scheme Timetable for Admissions to Reception:
Thurs 15 Jan 2015 Statutory deadline for receipt of applications (closing date)
Thurs 16 April 2015 National offer day for on-time applicants
Thurs 30 April 2015 Deadline for receipt of acceptances
Number of children to be admitted (Pupil Admissions Number)
The number of pupils to be admitted to Reception in Riverside Primary School for the academic year 2015-2016 is 30.
How to apply for a school place
The admissions process is co-ordinated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) who electronically publish a copy of their admissions booklet ‘Starting school full time’ on their website www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/admissions
Parents or carers should apply for a place at Riverside Primary School by using an online Common Application Form (CAF) available online at www.eadmissions.org.uk; links are also available on www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/admissions
Children with statements of special educational need
The School Admissions Code makes clear that schools are required to admit children with statements of special educational need or Education, Health & Care Plans where the school concerned is named on the statement or care plan. As a result, the LBBD Special Educational Needs Team (SENART) allocate places first. The remaining places from the school’s published admission number (PAN) are offered by the Admissions Team in accordance with the published admission criteria as listed below.
Admissions/Over-subscription criteria for Riverside Primary School
Where the school is under-subscribed (less than 30 applications are received) all applicants will be admitted. When the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, places are allocated by applying the following criteria in priority order for deciding which applications to accept:
Priority 1 Children who are or were in the care of a local authority.
Priority 2 Children who have a sibling (brother or sister) attending the school where that child is due to start school.
Priority 3 Children who live closest to the school, measured in kilometres in a straight line (as the crow flies).
Riverside Primary School’s full admissions policy is available on the school’s website: www.riversidecampus.com
The Consultation Process
Key Dates for the Consultation
Consultation Period Starts: 15th December 2014
Drop-in Consultation Event:
Riverside School, 40 Thames Road, Barking, IG11 Wednesday 7th January 2015 4.00 – 7.00pm
Consultation Period Ends: 12 noon on Friday 16th January 2015
Actions following on from the Consultation
Partnership Learning will read and consider all responses received.
The Trust will produce summaries of the responses to the consultations, which will be published on their website: www.riversidecampus.com
The Trust hopes to be able to address comments received and will explain in the summary on their website how they have tried to do this and how they intend to take into account in their plans the comments received.
The summary will be submitted to the Secretary of State for Education in order to inform her decision on whether to enter into a funding agreement with Partnership Learning to set up Riverside Primary School on Barking Riverside in September 2015.
How to contact us and find out more
You may find out more about the proposals of Partnership Learning by visiting their website www.riversidecampus.com – or by emailing Roger Leighton, Chief Executive of Partnership Learning, at:
rle@sydney-r.bardaglea.org.uk
You are also invited to attend an informal drop-in Consultation Event, to give your views or ask questions, at Riverside School, 40 Thames Road, Barking, IG11 on Wednesday 7th January 2015 at any time between 4.00 and 7.00pm.
Consultation Questions
The purpose of this consultation, carried out under the requirements of the Academies Act 2010, is to ascertain the views of interested persons on the proposal of Partnership Learning to set up Riverside Primary School.
You are therefore invited to give your views on the questions of:
1. Do you think it is a good idea that the proposed School – Riverside Primary School – should be set up?
2. What are your views on the proposed location of the school?
3. The Trust that will run Riverside Primary School is required to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State for Education, an example of which can be found on the DfE website http://education.gov.uk/b0074737/funding-agreement/single
Do you agree that Partnership Learning should sign a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State for Education to set up Riverside Primary School on Barking Riverside in September 2015?
4. Do you have any further comments on any of the proposals outlined in this consultation document?
You may send your views and comments at any time during the consultation period to the following email address:
rle@sydney-r.bardaglea.org.uk
or by post to:
Roger Leighton,
Chief Executive,
Partnership Learning,
c/o The Sydney Russell School,
Parsloes Avenue,
Dagenham, RM9 5QTYou may also give your views in person at a drop-in Consultation Event – at Riverside School, 40 Thames Road, Barking, IG11 on Wednesday 7th January 2015 at any time between 4.00 and 7.00pm.
Alternatively, or in addition, you may wish to respond by answering the questions in the Consultation Questionnaire below and sending your answers by email or post to the addresses above.
Consultation Summary
This is a summary – for full consultation document visit: www.riversidecampus.com
Consultation
A consultation is currently underway regarding proposals to set up new primary school provision on Barking Riverside, following an application to the Department for Education by Partnership Learning. Partnership Learning intends to establish Riverside Primary School, co-located with Riverside (Secondary) School and Riverside Bridge (Special) School, on Barking Riverside in September 2015. The school will be a co-educational primary Free school for 630 young people between the ages of 4 to 11 with three forms of entry to each year group, and an initial intake of 30 Reception pupils.
Background
Parents of primary-aged pupils living in the Thames View and Riverside areas are having increasing difficulty securing places at local primary schools and this difficulty is being further exacerbated by the rapidly growing population as new-build housing becomes available. Partnership Learning responded to this local need by submitting an application to the Department for Education to establish a primary Free school.
The Consultation Process
Consultation Period Starts: 15th December 2014 Ends: 12 noon on Friday 16th January 2015
Drop-in Consultation Event to give views in person or ask questions:
Riverside School, 40 Thames Road, Barking, IG11 Wednesday 7th January 2015 4.00-7.00pm
You may find out more about the proposal of Partnership Learning by visiting their website –www.riversidecampus.com – or by emailing Roger Leighton, Chief Executive of Partnership Learning, at: rle@sydney-r.bardaglea.org.uk
Consultation Questions
The purpose of this consultation, carried out under the requirements of the Academies Act 2010, is to ascertain the views of interested persons on the proposal of Partnership Learning to set up Riverside Primary School.
You are therefore invited to give your views on the questions of:
1. Do you think it is a good idea that the proposed School – Riverside Primary School – should be set up?
2. What are your views on the proposed location of the school?
3. The Trust that will run Riverside Primary School is required to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State for Education. Do you agree that Partnership Learning should sign a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State for Education to set up Riverside Primary School on Barking Riverside in September 2015?
4. Do you have any further comments on any of the proposals outlined in this consultation document?
You may send your views and comments at any time during the consultation period to the following email address: rle@sydney-r.bardaglea.org.uk
or by post to:
Roger Leighton,
Chief Executive, Partnership Learning,
c/o The Sydney Russell School,
Parsloes Avenue,
Dagenham, RM9 5QT
Alternatively, or in addition, you may wish to respond by answering the questions in the Consultation Questionnaire below.
[contact-form-7 id=”3406″ title=”Consultation Questionnaire”]