Agenda item

8.1

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services seeking agreement to proceed with secondary school expansion plans in Planning Area 5 in the east of the city, to address the forecast deficit of places in 2023/24 due to new housing and population growth.

Arising from consideration of the proposals in the report, the Director of Children’s Services agreed to:-

·       Arrange for school and early years’ provision maps to be published on the Council’s website; and

·       Ensure that details of the planning work being undertaken with adjacent local authorities be included within the report to be submitted to the December meeting of the Committee on mainstream sufficiency, which will provide an overview of the 3 year strategy to ensure sufficient provision across early years, childcare, primary, secondary and post-16 provision.

8.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:-

(a) agrees the proposed secondary school expansion plans in Planning Area 5, which will enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duty and ensure sufficient secondary places are available to meet the forecast demand in 2023/24; and

(b) agrees for up to £5.5m of the remaining balance of Basic Need funding to be utilised to fund the proposed expansions.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

The proposed expansions in Planning Area 5 will contribute to:-

·       Need for places: without additional places in the area, the impact on families of not getting a local place will be significant as well as the impact on neighbouring schools.

·       Children’s outcomes: the standard of education that are provided at the two schools is of a good quality – both schools are rated by Ofsted as “Good.”

·       Equality: the catchment area is characterised by deprivation and a higher proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic population. By increasing places at these two schools the needs of all children are met, in particular the needs of more vulnerable children and families located in the city.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

A detailed Options Appraisal was undertaken to consider alternative options to help address the secondary deficits from 2023/24 onwards. This is set out in Annex 1 of the report.

7.1

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services seeking agreement to proceed with secondary school expansion plans in Planning Area 5 in the east of the city, to address the forecast deficit of places in 2023/24 due to new housing and population growth.

Arising from consideration of the proposals in the report, the Director of Children’s Services agreed to:-

·        Arrange for school and early years’ provision maps to be published on the Council’s website; and

·        Ensure that details of the planning work being undertaken with adjacent local authorities be included within the report to be submitted to the December meeting of the Committee on mainstream sufficiency, which will provide an overview of the 3 year strategy to ensure sufficient provision across early years, childcare, primary, secondary and post-16 provision.

7.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:-

(a)      agrees the proposed secondary school expansion plans in Planning Area 5, which will enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duty and ensure sufficient secondary places are available to meet the forecast demand in 2023/24; and

(b)      agrees for up to £5.5m of the remaining balance of Basic Need funding to be utilised to fund the proposed expansions.

7.3

Reasons for Decision

7.3.1

The proposed expansions in Planning Area 5 will contribute to:-

·        Need for places: without additional places in the area, the impact on families of not getting a local place will be significant as well as the impact on neighbouring schools.

·        Children’s outcomes: the standard of education that are provided at the two schools is of a good quality – both schools are rated by Ofsted as “Good.”

·        Equality: the catchment area is characterised by deprivation and a higher proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic population. By increasing places at these two schools the needs of all children are met, in particular the needs of more vulnerable children and families located in the city.

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.4.1

A detailed Options Appraisal was undertaken to consider alternative options to help address the secondary deficits from 2023/24 onwards. This is set out in Annex 1 of the report.