A proposal to make further changes to Alternative Provision in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire’s Alternative Provision Development Project was launched in June 2020 and is part of the Joint High Needs Transformation Programme. Linked to this we are seeking to further improve the arrangements that are in place for the children and young people in Gloucestershire who have been, or are at risk of being, excluded from school.

Following the coming together of The Stroud and Cotswold Alternative Provision School (SCAPS) and The Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Alternative Provision School (CTAPS) in January 2022 (which resulted in the closure of CTAPS and the expansion of SCAPS) as a single Pupil Referral Unit called Severn Valley School, there are now two local authority maintained Pupil Referral Units in Gloucestershire who work with children and young people who have been, or are at risk of being, excluded from school.

• The Gloucester and Forest Alternative Provision School (GFAPS)
• Severn Valley School

These Pupil Referral Units operate from a number of sites across the county

The Gloucester and Forest Alternative Provision School (GFAPS):

• Russet House, Russet Close, Gloucester, GL4 0RQ
• The Raikes Centre, Horton Road, Gloucester, GL1 3PX
• Rutherford House, Olympus Park, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4NF

Severn Valley School: 

• St George’s Centre, Alstone Lane, Cheltenham, GL51 8HH
• The Ryeleaze Centre, Ryeleaze Road, Stroud, GL5 1JR
• Belle Vue Centre, Belle Vue Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 1JP

In addition to the six formal centres listed above, the Pupil Referral Units work with a range of other education providers to offer outreach and partnership services based on mainstream school sites and other venues.

Figure 1 Location of the Pupil Referral Unit centres within Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Council has worked in partnership with the Management Committees of these two Pupil Referral Units to develop a joint proposal to bring these two Pupil Referral Units together to form a single institution with effect from September 2023. We believe this will better enable them to continue to provide high quality education for pupils at the right time and in the right way as well as create a greater consistency of offer to Gloucestershire’s schools and the vulnerable children and young people we serve, so that they can achieve the best possible outcomes.

We now invite comments on this proposal from all stakeholders and this opportunity is extended to parents and carers, pupils, staff, all members of the management committees, and other interested parties. This includes the relevant trade unions. Gloucestershire County Council will consider all views put forward during the engagement period before a final decision is made by Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport in 2023.

In addition to comments on the specific proposal to bring the two schools together, we would like to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute more widely, at the earliest stage, towards the process of considering future options for structures, organisation, use of the sites and services offered. This will help inform future work that the management committees will lead around shaping the vision for the school from September 2023. This future work and planning will involve considerable consultation and liaison later in the year and into 2023.

What happens next?

This engagement period starts on Wednesday 7 September 2022 and ends on Friday 7 October 2022. This is the opportunity for anyone to give their views to the County Council on the specific proposal to bring the two PRUs together and how this is to be achieved.

Following the engagement period, the Gloucestershire County Council Cabinet Member Education, Skills and Bus Transport will consider the comments received and decide whether to progress to the next stage of the process and publish statutory notices. After that, there is a further statutory representation period to consider any implications before a final decision is made in the spring of 2023.

How do I give you my views?

You can give us your comments by completing the attached questionnaire which can be sent to:

Alternative Provision Proposals

Nathan Roe, Universal Commissioning Team

FREEPOST NAT10062

Shire Hall

Gloucester, GL1 2BR

You can also give us your comments through the dedicated e-mail address:

alternativeprovisionproposals@gloucestershire.gov.uk

or by contacting: Nathan Roe, Education Planning Manager (GCC):

01452 427262 or Nathan.Roe@gloucestershire.gov.uk

The questionnaire is also available online at:

www.haveyoursaygloucestershire.uk.engagementhq.com/a-proposal-to-make-further-changes-to-alternative-provision-in-gloucestershire with the facility to submit your responses via a web form.

Your views and comments must reach us by 12.00 noon on Friday 7 October 2022 to be considered. Parents and staff are also invited to raise any questions with the Headteacher and/or the following members of the management committees.

• Michelle Stone, Interim Headteacher, Severn Valley School – 01453 767293 / 01242 581519
• Dave Alexander or Colin Belford, Management Committee members, Severn Valley School - 01453 767293/ 01242 581519
• Lyn Dance, Management Committee Chair, GFAPS – 01452 782050

The e-mail address alternativeprovisionproposals@gloucestershire.gov.uk can also be used to reached any of those listed above.