Issue - meetings

To consider the report.

The Chairman of the Board for Dorset Centre of Excellence introduced the report, which set out the operational progress made and the successes of the school since the previous update in June 2023.

Officers responded to Members’ comments and requests for clarification, details included:

• The “Schools within schools” principle was not a new concept. The aim was to divide the school up to three within one campus into manageable units, which in turn would provide the optimal support for children that are on site. It was a method that allowed groups of children with particular needs or those of particular age groups to be focussed upon, whilst delivering a curriculum that worked for them, without any compromise to the quality of teaching as the school increased in size.
• The school was currently operating on a hybrid two schools arrangement as it wasn’t yet at capacity, but there was a very clear pathway to the three schools model as capital investment came and classrooms were handed over.

The Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing and Children, Education, Skills and Early Help thanked the school, its directors and indeed commissioning officers of the council for the work that had been undertaken in working with the local community to open up facilities for community use. This was echoed by the Chairman of the Committee.

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