Proposals to expand Oak Grove College

Summary of proposals

To expand Oak Grove College, by creating a satellite provision at The Pines, a former Adult Services property. The satellite provision would create up to 60 additional specialist school places increasing the school’s planned places from 278 to 338, with the number increasing gradually over several years.

It is also proposed that this project includes for the replacement of a modular classroom which is currently used by Oak Grove but is placed on an adjacent County Council site.

Background

Oak Grove College is a Special School in Worthing offering SEND provision for children and young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The school offers generic SEND provision for those aged between 11 and 16, and complex needs provision for those aged between 16 and 19. The school size has increased over recent years with a new four class modular block added in 2022. Current planned places at Oak Grove are 278.

Need for Change

Notwithstanding the recent expansion in 2022, there is an ongoing shortfall of specialist places for secondary aged young people in West Sussex and an urgent requirement to provide additional places. The County Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all children who need a place.

In West Sussex there has been a significant growth in the number of children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The county currently maintains over 9000 EHCPs. Whilst we would expect most children and young people with an EHCP to be supported within a maintained mainstream school setting, there is increased demand for specialist provision and approved place numbers of all the Council’s maintained special schools have been exceeded.

Increasing provision for children and young people with SEND through the creation of additional places will assist with the aim of enabling children to attend school locally. Consequently, this will reduce the number of children and young people with SEND moving from maintained schools and academies into costly education provision in the Independent and Non-Maintained Special School sector.

The expansion of Oak Grove College has been prioritised by the Service to meet the key outcomes within the SEND Improvement Plan.

Staffing

The Local Authority does not envisage the school changing its ethos and mission. The school provides an outstanding education, with high-quality teaching and a nurturing school ethos that empowers each student to achieve their personal best. Staff are our most valuable resource, and it is important that should there be any need for changes these are dealt with fairly and sensitively. The County Council has a Code of Practice on school reorganisation, written with the support of the unions and professional associations, designed to support all staff through the process of change.

Staff will be based at The Pines and where appropriate they will transfer between sites accompanying pupils so they can access school events and therapy provision.

The proposal

The Pines site is owned by West Sussex County Council and was formerly used for Adults with Learning Difficulties. It is approximately 1 mile from Oak Grove College.

The satellite provision at the Pines will accommodate up to 60 pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities increasing the schools overall planned place numbers to 338 and will be managed by Oak Grove College.

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