The expenditure exceeds the income generated, creating an annual shortfall of around 17,447 per annum.

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Amos Poole
5 years ago
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Dear Parents, 24th January 2018 It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that the swimming pool, based at Mundesley Infant school will close at the end of this term (March 28th 2018).

1 Dear Parents, 24th January 2018 It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that the swimming pool, based at Mundesley Infant school will close at the end of this term (March 28th 2018). Throughout last year the Governing Body have committed a significant amount of time during our meetings; commissioning work from the senior leadership team - which has involved detailed financial analysis, research throughout Norfolk of school pools, grant and fundraising opportunities, analysis of curriculum need, development of a swimming curriculum and consultation with Norfolk County Council. The Pool The swimming pool based at Mundesley Infants was first opened in 1967, originally an open-air pool. Since then, the pool has gained a cover and a heating system etc. The pool is classed as a training pool and has a depth of 1 metre and is approximately 15 metres in length. The pool is 182m2. The pool is currently used by the three schools in the Federation and seven other schools. We employ a swimming instructor who teaches for 25 hours a week. The pool is also hired out to the community for swimming lessons. As this was such an important decision for the Governors to make, we wanted to explain, in detail, the rationale for closure, which can be categorised into two main areas; financial viability, as the pool currently runs at a substantial yearly loss and curriculum opportunities, as the pool s structure limits the children s ability to meet the national curriculum requirements due to its 15m length and 1m depth. Financial Viability Day to Day Running Costs The expenditure exceeds the income generated, creating an annual shortfall of around 17,447 per annum. At present, if we stopped all of the children swimming from the Coastal Federation and only hired the pool to other schools it would not cover the costs - in effect the budget of The Coastal Federation would be subsidising the other schools to swim.

Historic revenue funding: Up until 2013 The Department for education covered all of the running costs of school swimming pools 2013-2016 Schools charged other schools a small fee for using their

2 Historic revenue funding: Up until 2013 The Department for education covered all of the running costs of school swimming pools Schools charged other schools a small fee for using their swimming pools and Norfolk County Council topped up with a Minimum funding Guarantee From 2016 schools are expected to cover ALL of the running costs of the pool and there is no funding from The Department of Education. (Payments from other schools is based on 4 sessions a day 5 days a week 38 weeks a year) INCOME Summer Autumn Spring Hire of swimming pool to outside hirers 948 Parents contribution to after school swim club Total 30,643 EXPENDITURE Overall staffing costs 24,907 Pool cleaning and holiday readings (5 hrs a wk) 2,600 Pool Chemicals etc (net cost) 940 BMP (regular maintenance contract) approx 3,000 Water, gas electric approx 16,000 Total 47,447 In summary, the day to day running costs of the pool are not sustainable. In addition to the reduced amount of funding coming into schools from the local authority, means that money is being diverted from other important curriculum areas. In effect we subsidise other schools to use our pool, therefore giving money away which should be spent on our children at the Coastal Federation. This cannot continue.

Capital All school s budgets are split into two - revenue and capital. Capital (in general) is money that can only be spent on Health and Safety, building improvement and improving IT/Computing.

3 Capital All school s budgets are split into two - revenue and capital. Capital (in general) is money that can only be spent on Health and Safety, building improvement and improving IT/Computing. The amount of money which schools receive has significantly dropped. Over the last few years, all of Mundesley Infant Schools allocated capital has been spent on the swimming pool - which means that the main school has only been improved (with regard to Health and Safety) through carefully planned work, carried out internally by our Site Manager and joint projects using Mundesley Junior schools capital money, i.e. external safety fencing Recent Capital Expenditure Item Purchased Approx cost Expected life Average yearly cost New pool liner Aug-01 11, years 1,183 New hand rail round pool Aug years 84 Replacement lighting in the pool area Oct-12 2, years 280 Niche unit air heater Apr-10 28, years 1,430 Pool flooring Jun-12 8, years 898 Painting Jun-12 2, years 546 New showers Jun-12 8, years 810 Cover and reel Jun-12 10, years 1,014 Total 74,014 6,245 In addition to the above, the total school s capital funding has decreased considerably and is less than the annual average capital cost of the pool.

4 Currently the pool is leaking, due to a subsidence crack and the consequence of this is that the liner has a very limited life, therefore needs replacing, at a cost of around 12,000 - it is not feasible to just repair the leak. The physical structure of pool is made of fibreglass - not only is it highly energy inefficient, regarding its insulative value but is coming to the end of it usable life (many of the panels need replacing) We have had a number of quotes to reconstruct a cover for the pool and the cheapest is approximately 85,093. Summary We have investigated a number of sources for grants, including Sport England; Denise Freeman from Swim England and her advice regarding the sports England grant is below: You will see from the attached district data that according to Sport England there is an aquatic surplus in North Norfolk where Mundesley is located. This is marginally incorrect as you will notice that your school pool is not even included. This is because your pool is considered too small to be considered by them. Unfortunately this detail would only make the water surplus larger. The relevance of this figure is that Sport England dispenses the Community Asset Fund and based on their understanding of the current provision there is no requirement for your pool. I know you will disagree and so do I but the net result is that they are extremely unlikely to consider an application for a grant and this significantly narrows your opportunities for external funding The key to success is undoubtedly to increase income by changing the pools operating system, this can be done in several ways, here are two: 1. Hire the pool out, in after school hours to a single swim school who will be focussed on maximising income and therefore the school s percentage. 2. Lease the pool to a swim school to run 100%, thereby reducing all the costs to zero and leaving the swim school to operate profitably or fail Obviously this depends on two conditions: 1. Mundesley s catchment area and the demand for lessons of all types see the second part of the attached framework on community pools. 2. The location of the swimming pool on the school campus as it needs to be accessible to the public at all times and be capable of operating independently of the rest of the school campus (see guidance on the use of school pools). We have also had a number of organisations visit the pool to see if they would be interested in running private swim schools, but the amount of money generated would not cover the running costs of the pool and then with inherent plant failure (due to the age and condition of equipment) would inevitably lead to the pool needing to be closed and fixed, which would invalidate any money gained through hire agreement. Curriculum The National Curriculum states that by the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6) children need to be able to swim 25 continuous metres, using a competitive stroke and be able to lift themselves out of the pool safely.

There is no national requirement for Foundation (Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) to swim - therefore all swimming, currently happening for these children is taking time away from other

They swim for about 20 minutes, having taken around 40 minutes to get changed and then dressed again - practically a whole afternoon.

metres using a competitive stroke. The shallowness of the pool does not enable children to be out of their depth, which also limits their pool exiting technique - another Key Stage 2 requirement.

5 There is no national requirement for Foundation (Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) to swim - therefore all swimming, currently happening for these children is taking time away from other important curriculum areas, which are statutory requirements. Currently, taking Reception children swimming absorbs 6 staff, due to ratios. They swim for about 20 minutes, having taken around 40 minutes to get changed and then dressed again - practically a whole afternoon. Although the instruction of swimming is very good, the 15 metre length and 1 metre depth of the pool presents a number of challenges with regard to the national curriculum requirement of swimming 25 metres using a competitive stroke. The shallowness of the pool does not enable children to be out of their depth, which also limits their pool exiting technique - another Key Stage 2 requirement. The future of Swimming at The Coastal Federation Living by the coast can mean that children potentially have, on average, more contact with the water than children who live inland, although it is very difficult to find irrefutable evidence of this, so it is only anecdotal. However, we feel that equipping our young children with skills to keep themselves safe, and those around them, when close to water to be important. The pool at MIS does not give them the opportunity to do that, so we are developing a Swimming Curriculum unique to The Coastal Federation - which may look something like this; The following chart chronologically follows a child through school, starting at the summer term in Year 2. All current children in year groups above Year 3 will follow a programme based on need. PROPOSED CURRICULUM Age Range Entitlement and Extension No Swimming at Reception or Year 1 (as there is no National Curriculum requirement) Foundation and Key Stage 1 Key Stage 2 Parents encouraged to take their children swimming privately at local pools. The Federation may financially support families who are classed as having Pupil Premium children, by subsidising swim sessions. Spring Term of Year 2, parents will be issued with a Swimming Confidence and Competence Survey to fill-in to help support the grouping of children who will then take part in an assessment of their swimming needs based on their ability to swim 25 metres using a competent stroke. During the Summer Term they will take part in swimming lessons. Years (2),3,4 children placed in half-class groups (around children) and will swim according to their ability, working through the following programme; Competency swimming up to 25 metre using a recognised stroke Years 5 and 6 children swim according to ability and during the summer term only Completion of Rookie Lifeguard course for children who can swim 200 metres in water that is out of their standing depth (Swimming Pool Based) Summer Term - Life Saving Training for children (Sea Based) Gaining Confidence Learning to keep yourself safe Saving others...

6 Conclusions We have explored many different options, even charging all parents for their children to go swimming but this does not solve the capital costs, the ongoing running costs or the curriculum need or entitlement - it is not sustainable. This decision made by the Governor's, after over a year of discussions, is not one that we have taken lightly. We are fully aware of the emotional connection that children, families and the wider community have with the pool, in some cases spanning many, many years. We know it will be sadly missed but want to reassure you that your children will continue to swim, as part of their curriculum entitlement. We also want to extend their swimming capabilities through the teaching of personal water safety and life saving skills. We will inform you soon of the programme for swimming from Easter onwards. This is also very difficult for the staff teams and we would ask that you direct all of your questions or queries to one of us. Thank you Annie Edwards Chair of Governors chairofgovs@coastalfederation.com Simon Wakeman Executive Head exechead@coastalfederation.com

additional and sustainable

Schools must use the funding to make additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of PE and sport they offer. This means that you should use the Primary PE and Sport Premium to: develop or add