Transforming Our Primary Schools (TOPS)
Other FAQs
What are the implications of the new regulations about school competitions?
New regulations were introduced in 2007 that encourage a wide range of bodies to run schools, similar to the way the Church of England and the Catholic Church currently operates voluntary aided schools.
The new regulations require local authorities to open to competition the establishment of new schools through publishing “competition notices”.
This adds about 6 months to the legal process, before statutory closure and opening notices can be published.
The council decides which proposal should be selected, unless the council is one of the proposers, in which case the Schools Adjudicator makes the final decisions at the end of the statutory notice period, including the decision about which proposal should be selected.
Statutory proposals that involve stand-alone closures, and non-statutory proposals about schools reorganisation (for example to demolish or extend parts of buildings) are of course unaffected by the new regulations.
Who would decide on a name for the new school, the school logo, uniform etc.
The governing body decides.
Does the council want all schools to be the same size?
No. There are advantages for children staff and parents in all through primary schools of about 2 forms of entry, totalling about 420 children.
But, due regard needs to be paid to local issues and factors and there is no set rule.
South Tyneside does have a policy of moving gradually towards a system of all through primary schools but these may be of different sizes.
What’s wrong with small schools?
There is nothing necessarily wrong with a small school.
In some locations, schools can be small because of the size of buildings that cannot be expanded or because of population trends.
However, where possible schools should be of a sufficient size to have the best chance of raising standards and making effective provision.
For example, a larger school will have more staff and, generally, a greater range of staff experience and expertise to share.
Also, a larger school will have a bigger financial base to support specialist resources.
In a review, there is also a need to consider those schools which have small numbers of children, but which have significant numbers of surplus places.
