St Gabriels College Provision for the Future

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St Gabriels CollegeProvision for the Future
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Background

• Survey of provision undertaken due to concerns
• about the impact on the educational needs and
• entitlement of pupils and on staff of
• Declining enrolment
• Reducing curriculum capacity
• Projected increased funding pressures
• Possible further staff reductions

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Objectives of the Survey

• To measure what is offered at the moment
• 2. To assess the viability of the school
• 3. To look at options for the future
• 4. To make a recommendation about the course
  of action that will best meet the educational
  needs and entitlement of the pupils.

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What do we want for the pupils?

• Access to a broad, balanced, enjoyable and well
  resourced KS3 curriculum
• A broad choice of courses in KS4 and Post-16
  which are appropriate for their needs
• High quality Special Education Needs provision
  for those who need it
• A broad pupil base for pupils to grow and develop
  in
• A richness of extra-curricular provision which
  will allow them to develop their talents and
  aptitudes (sports, music, singing, acting, drama,
  after school clubs, various trips etc)

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If we take no action what will it mean for a
typical Year 8 pupil enrolled in September 2006?

• Going to school in a very small year group with a
  limited range of people to interact and learn
  with
• Reduced access to specialist teaching and SEN
  support when needed
• A possible lack of educational competitiveness
  among a very small group of pupils
• Possible inconsistency of teachers with annual
  pressures for redundancies
• A very limited choice of courses to choose from
  at age 14
• Having to go elsewhere for access to Post-16
  courses.

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Total Enrolment 2002-2006
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Year Group Profile 2006-07
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Projected profile 2007-08
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Enrolment Facts

• Share of P7 pupils from local schools has
• fallen by 60 since 2002, from 23 to 9 pupils
• In 2006 there were 112 boys available for
  transfer. Of these
• 8 (9) went to St Gabriels
• 38 (43) to St Patricks
• 30 (33) to St Malachys
• 13 (27) to Edmund Rice.

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More Enrolment Facts

• In the last 5 years there were 534 pupils
  transferring from the local primary schools. Of
  these
• 97 went to St Gabriels
• 111 to Edmund Rice
• 141 to St Malachys
• 185 to St Patricks.
• The primary school enrolments indicate that there
  will be no increase in available pupils for the
  foreseeable future.

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Financial Position

• Finances have been very well managed by
• Principal and BOG. However,
• March 2006 out-turn was a deficit of 11,451
• Falling pupil numbers and reductions in
• special funding (minus 20,000) will add
• considerably to budget pressures
• Projected out-turn for March 2007 is ???

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St Gabriels A Group One School

• Identified as needing additional financial and
  professional support to help the school raise the
  achievement of pupils
• Has received an additional 250,000 per year
• Staff have worked very hard for the pupils that
  have attended the school
• Enrolments continue to fall
• Majority of parents in the area indicate a
  preference for other schools.

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Curriculum

• The Key Stage 3 Curriculum is being delivered in
  the school
• Choice at KS4 is currently limited to 9 GCSE and
  2 Non-GCSE courses
• Choice at Post-16 is limited to 3 courses (for 7
  pupils)
• Pupils have an entitlement to a wider choice of
  courses that will meet their needs and improve
  their life chances
• The capacity to provide access to quality extra
  curricular programmes including music, drama and
  sport is reducing
• Potential difficulties for pupils fitting in to a
  larger educational or work environment at 16

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Curriculum

• A huge effort has, and is being made by staff,
  to meet the needs of the pupils of St Gabriels.
  However,
• Reducing resources will make it increasingly
  difficult to
• implement the new curriculum from Sept 2007
• provide access to entitlement at age 14 (24
  courses) and 16 (27 courses)
• provide for the pupils with Special Needs of
  which there are many
• retain current pupil/teacher ratios and staffing
  levels.
• H

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Options

• Leave things as they are
• Amalgamate with Our Lady of Mercy
• Amalgamate with St Gemmas
• Amalgamate with Our Lady of Mercy and St Gemmas
• Amalgamate with St Patricks
• Amalgamate with Edmund Rice
• Cease to use St Gabriels

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Recommendation

• Cease to use St Gabriels with effect from
• September 2008 or as soon as possible
• thereafter.

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Meeting the Needs of the Pupils

• While parents have the right to choose a
• school for their children, an arrangement
• will be made to find places for them in
• other schools in North Belfast.
• This is likely to be in St Patricks College
• and Edmund Rice College

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Meeting the Needs of the Pupils

• Continuity of courses for Year 12 Pupils has to
  be assured
• Transfer of information about the achievements
  and learning needs of pupils to the recipient
  schools will be vital
• Transitional support for pupils in the form of
  advance visits, discussion groups and follow-up
  meetings during settling in period will be
  provided.

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Practical Considerations for Parents

• Transport to school?
• New uniform?
• How will my child be feeling?
• Will his education be affected?
• Additional pastoral support in the new school

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What will happen now?

• Development Proposal to BELB for consultation
• Ministerial consideration and decision
• Implementation of Ministerial decision
• Timescales What are they?