Issue - meetings

Emphasising South Cambridgeshire District Council’s principal interest in protecting and developing the community aspect of Gamlingay Village College, the New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the District Council’s response to consultation by Cambridgeshire County Council on the future of Gamlingay Village College should be as follows:

1.                  Retain the current three-tier structure of Gamlingay First School and Gamlingay Village College, feeding into Stratton Upper School, in Biggleswade.

2.                  Establish very close working links between the First School and the Village College for the primary year groups; and with Stratton Upper for the secondary year groups.

3.                  Develop formal federation proposals, aimed at improving educational performance and cost-effectiveness, including the possibility of a hard federation with Stratton Upper School.

Decision taken Thursday 19 May 2011 and published Tuesday 24 May 2011.  Call-in expires at 5 pm on Wednesday 1 June 2011.  Decision may be implemented from 2 June 2011.

Emphasising South Cambridgeshire District Council’s principal  interest in protecting and developing the community aspect of Gamlingay Village College, the New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the District Council’s response to consultation by Cambridgeshire County Council on the future of Gamlingay Village College should be as follows

1.     Retain the current three-tier structure of Gamlingay First School and Gamlingay Village College, feeding into Stratton Upper School, in Biggleswade.

2.     Establish very close working links between the First School and the Village College for the primary year groups; and with Stratton Upper for the secondary year groups. 

3.     Develop formal federation proposals, aimed at improving educational performance and cost-effectiveness, including the possibility of a hard federation with Stratton Upper School.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his formal response to Cambridgeshire County Council’s consultation on the future of Gamlingay Village College.

He stressed that South Cambridgeshire District Council’s principal concern related to the established dual-use policy, and the Village College’s value to the local community as a whole.  Educational matters were the responsibility of Cambridgeshire County Council as local Education Authority.

Councillor Bridget Smith (a local Member) outlined the factors giving rise to the current consultation exercise, and commented on the differences between the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire educational structures.  She urged the Portfolio Holder to support Cambridgeshire County Council.

Councillor Nick Wright also expressed concern and said the main consideration must be to develop facilities that would benefit those living in and around Gamlingay.

Those present discussed a number of alternative options for improving the situation.  The Planning Policy Manager said that the robustness of bus routes should be a major consideration.

Emphasising South Cambridgeshire District Council’s principal interest in protecting and developing the community aspect of Gamlingay Village College, the New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the District Council’s response to consultation by Cambridgeshire County Council on the future of Gamlingay Village College should be as follows

1.                  Retain the current three-tier structure of Gamlingay First School and Gamlingay Village College, feeding into Stratton Upper School, in Biggleswade.

2.                  Establish very close working links between the First School and the Village College for the primary year groups; and with Stratton Upper for the secondary year groups. 

3.                  Develop formal federation proposals, aimed at improving educational performance and cost-effectiveness, including the possibility of a hard federation with Stratton Upper School.