In February 2015 the Council agreed that Brunel Academy (formerly known as Torbay School) needed to be relocated for the benefit of the school. As previously proposed sites have not been deliverable, Children Services are reviewing proposals for the future of the academy this includes further relocation options as well as the development of their existing site.

(i)         that the development and improvement of the existing Brunel Academy site proceeds, incorporating the Brookfield site and that £1.5m of the remaining Torbay School Relocation budget be allocated to the project; and

(ii)        that the Director of Children Services be given a mandate to work in partnership with Catch 22 to continue to look for a solution for Burton Academy.

To enable the existing Brunel Academy site to be improved.

A full options appraisal was set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report but not discussed at the meeting.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 27 April 2018 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

Brunel Academy (formerly known as Torbay School) is a 60 place Special School for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH).  In February, 2015 Council determined that Brunel Academy needed to be relocated for the benefit of the school and its pupils.  The decision acknowledged the limitations of the existing site in meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable pupils in Torbay.

It had previously been proposed to relocate Brunel Academy to the Parkfield site, however, the decision of Council not to approve the relevant planning application means this could not take place.  As a consequence, Officers have been reviewing alternative options for relocation or alternatively improving the existing site.

Following that decision, the Director of Children’s Services and Head of Education, Learning and Skills, met with Catch 22 and the Trust Chief Executive in order to review the current position.  Whilst welcoming the Council’s intention to explore options for Torquay Road, their strong view was that any emerging plan should encompass the sites at Polsham and Hillside which also form part of the SEMH Multi Academy Trust.  Their assessment was that the problems on these sites are as significant, if not more so, than Torquay Road and that investment in the latter, in isolation, would not provide a sustainable solution that meets the longer term needs of SEMH pupils in Torbay.

As a result, in December 2017, Council agreed that the options appraisal for Brunel Academy should be extended to encompass the Polsham Key Stage 3 and Hillside Key Stage 4 alternative provision sites. These sites make up Burton Academy which together with Brunel Academy forms the Catch 22 Multi Academy Trust (MAT).  The submitted exempt report set out the findings of that options appraisal.

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendations of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) made on 16 April 2018 and his decision is set out above.

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