Expansion of the age range criteria at Rise Carr College
Background
The Department for Education Statutory Guidance for School Organisation regulations: ‘Making significant changes (‘prescribed alterations’) to maintained schools’ and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 requires that when the Local Authority is proposing a significant alteration including a change to the age range, it must consult upon the proposal and make a formal decision to make the alteration permanent.
Purpose of the consultation
Darlington Borough Council is consulting regarding a change to age range for Rise Carr College from children aged 11 to 16 to children aged 5 to 16.
What is the proposal?
That effective from the end of January 2025 the age range at Rise Carr College will be expanded to 5 (Year 1) to 16 (Year 11).
Why change the age range?
The needs of Darlington children have changed and there is a gap in provision for a very small cohort of primary school age children who require personalised time limited support and intervention from staff with a particular skillset (Rise Carr staff) in order to be reintegrated into a primary school placement. Rise Carr staff will work closely and in conjunction with Darlington primary schools to deliver this support.
Will the change in age range change the admission criteria for the school?
No, the admissions criteria will remain unchanged. The change is an expansion of remit to enable targeted and time limited education support to be provided to a small and specifically identified cohort of primary school age children.
Will Rise Carr be operating a primary school if the age range changes?
No, there are no plans for Rise Carr to operate a primary school. The change is to enable Rise Carr staff to work in partnership with local primary schools to deliver targeted and time limited individual support.
How will the children be identified?
The children who would be suitable to benefit from this time limited educational support will be identified through the existing Vulnerable Pupil Panel which comprises a number of school representatives and key stakeholders across health, social care and education.
What will the benefit be?
Children who are identified by the Vulnerable Pupil Panel as requiring this specific support service will:
- Receive timely and tailored individual support.
- Have continuity of education through a quality curriculum with maths and English skills development as a core component.
- Be supported to successfully reintegrate into a longer-term primary school arrangement.
What will this mean for the Rise Carr school building and outdoor area?
There will be no change to the Rise Carr school building and no cross over between pupils in years 1 to 6 and those in years 7 to 11. There will be no change in the education arrangements for any existing pupil at Rise Carr College.
The small cohort of children in years 1 to 6 supported by Rise Carr staff will not be taught on the Rise Carr College site. Appropriate arrangements for each child will be made with one or more local primary school/s providing a physical space for a designated satellite base for Rise Carr staff.
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/RC24SC12 [external link]
or via the following QR code
How long will the consultation run?
The consultation will be open for a 6-week period starting 13 December 2024 and ending 24 January 2025.
What happens after the consultation?
All consultation responses will be collated, reviewed and a determination made as to whether the age range change can take place.
When will the change happen?
Subject to the outcome of the consultation it is expected that the change will take effect by the end of January 2025.