Relocation of the sixth form provision provided by Beaumont Hill Academy
Statutory Consultation
Proposal to relocate the sixth form provision offered by Beaumont Hill Academy (Part of the Education Village Academy Trust (EVAT)) from its existing base within Beaumont Hill to a designated building (satellite site) immediately opposite.
Introduction
Working in partnership with Darlington Borough Council Beaumont Hill Academy is seeking to maximise the capacity of Special School provision in Darlington. An opportunity has arisen to relocate the sixth form provision from the Beaumont Hill school site to its own self-contained provision (building previously known as Haughton Children’s Centre) opposite the existing Beaumont Hill school.
The new sixth form centre will have 30 places in total for young people aged between 16 and 19 years.
Why relocate?
There are significant pressures on special school capacity. There is an opportunity to relocate the school’s sixth form provision into its own designated centre. This has two distinct advantages:
- It provides a symbolic demarcation of progression to post 16.
- It will facilitate the creation of 30 additional places within Beaumont Hill Academy. The local demand for places at Beaumont Hill Academy is growing each year.
Will the building require much adaptation/work to become a sixth form centre?
Works will be required internally and externally. All applicable planning requirements will be fulfilled (planning processes will run concurrently with this consultation).
The sixth form centre will provide learners with a suite of light, bright learning environments, including a mix of open teaching spaces, classrooms and areas to practice cooking and life skills alongside an outdoor horticultural area.
Who will access the sixth form centre?
Arrangements will remain as per the current process; the change is the location of the sixth form provision. There will naturally be young people who have attended Beaumont Hill Academy in Year 11 for whom the most appropriate option for their educational journey is to progress through to the next stage of their learning and development.
There may be other young people who have attended a different Special Schools, and the new Beaumont Hill Academy sixth form centre presents an opportunity for their educational journey to be progressed in their home locality.
What will happen when young people leave the sixth form centre?
Everyone’s journey will be different, the most appropriate progression route will continue to form part of existing review processes.
What will the benefit of the sixth form centre be?
It will
- Create capacity within Beaumont Hill Academy.
- Ensure Darlington continues to respond to the changing needs and requirements of Darlington young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
- Increase the opportunity for Darlington young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to continue their educational journey in Darlington.
- Support the further diversification of the education offer for Darlington young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Who is being consulted about this change?
There will be an open community consultation available which can be accessed via the following link
https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/24BHA6THFA
or
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Focused consultation will also take place with current parents, future parents, key stakeholders via a drop a drop-in session
On Monday 14 October 2024.
From 16.00PM to 18.00PM
How long will the consultation run?
The consultation forms part of the DFE place change processes and therefore will be open for a 6-week period starting 30 September 2024 and ending 11 November 2024.
What happens after the consultation?
All consultation responses will be collated, and due planning processes concluded. Following which, a Significant Change application is submitted by EVAT to the Department for Education (DfE). This is required by the DFE through their expansion onto a satellite site criteria. DfE will then make a determination if the requested changes can take place.