People in Numbers

Council Guiding Principle:

‘primary schools should normally have a minimum intake of 10 pupils per annum in order to minimise the number of pupils from different year groups being taught together’

Our understanding is that:

• total pupil numbers have remained relatively constant since 2000, with predictions of future years remaining (on average) the same. 
• the average number of pupils in each year at Northchapel over the 10 year period from 2000-2012 is expected to be 12, a number falling well within the figure stated by the Council
• From Council figures of 16 primary schools in the Rother Valley Area, 5 are forecasted to increase in pupil numbers from 2008-2012, 3 (including Northchapel) to maintain numbers and 8 are expecting a fall.  Northchapel is not a failing school with falling pupil numbers
• West Sussex County Council (WSCC) predicts child numbers falling in the area and remaining low for the foreseeable future yet Northchapel is still predicted to maintain numbers
• WSCC also states that 40% of children living in the Northchapel catchment currently do not attend the school. This percentage is made up of:
• 15 children who attend other schools in West Sussex
• 25 children attending ‘other’ schools, including Surrey and the independent sector.  

We believe that Northchapel is a very successful school given the pressures of:

• Northchapel having the largest catchment area in the Rother Valley, with Surrey on its northern border and schools for the Weald to the east
• The attraction of a two-tier school system in Surrey and the Weald
• historic issues of results and special measures at Midhurst Grammar persuading parents to enter the Surrey stream earlier
• 81% of Northchapel School children come from within the catchment area, the third largest percentage in the Rother Valley area

If the Proposal is successful
A parent survey of pre-school aged children (below) suggests that change to an infant school could largely be the reason for further drift of pupils to other schools.  We believe that this will lead to the rapid decline in school numbers.  There is further evidence to this through local schools in the area. Plaistow and St Barts have received an immediate interest from parents of Northchapel pupils because of the proposals.

If Northchapel Succeeds at Gaining Year 6
We believe that improvements of a two-tier system in the school and Midhurst performance will compete with Surrey schools and further improve the prospects of increased numbers

Pre-School Prevision and Extended Services

Council Guiding Principle:

‘we should develop accessible extended services including early years and childcare provision and support for families’
Our understanding is that:

• at the 3rd March Petworth School consultation meeting, opportunities for pre-school provision was given as one of several reasons for the Council’s proposal of change at Northchapel School 
• Northchapel currently has successful pre-school provision run in-school and there are concerns that this has not been taken in to account by WSCC when reviewing the allocation of school resources
• pre-school provision has ensured that Northchapel does not have idle buildings and space due to unfilled pupil numbers
• Northchapel School runs extra activities such as judo and football.  Netball will also shortly be starting.  We believe that the proposals will kill off such activities, thus hindering rather than developing extra-curricular activities at Northchapel

Since the proposal, parents undertook a survey of families with pre-school children in the area (taken from pool of 30).  The results were:

Council Guiding Principle:

‘we should provide sufficient places in schools to support parental preference whilst avoiding an excess of surplus capacity’

We believe that:

• Parental preference is clearly not that of the Council proposals
• Surplus capacity at Northchapel has been filled with  excellent pre-school provision for the wider community