Agenda item

School Expansion Programme

Report of the Corporate Director of Children and Families.

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the statutory proposals to expand permanently the following schools by one form of entry (30 pupils), to fill incrementally from the point of admission into the school, be approved:

Aylward Primary School from 1 September 2014

Belmont School from 1 September 2014

Grange Primary School from 1 September 2014

Norbury School from 1 September 2014

Pinner Wood School from 1 September 2014

Cannon Lane Primary School from 1 September 2015

Kenmore Park Infant and Nursery School from 1 September 2015

Newton Farm Nursery, Infant and Junior School from 1 September 2015

Priestmead Primary School and Nursery from 1 September 2015

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School from 1 September 2015

Whitchurch First School and Nursery from 1 September 2015

Kenmore Park Junior School from 1 September 2017

Whitchurch Junior School from 1 September 2017.

Reason for Decision: To enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duties to provide sufficient school places in its area.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted: None.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Schools introduced the report, which set out the statutory proposals to expand permanently 13 schools on eleven sites published on 9 January 2014 for a four week representation period. The report provided information, including recommendations, to enable Cabinet to determine the statutory proposals.

A Non-Voting Non-Executive Cabinet Member welcomed the report and praised the work carried out by officers and Members which was being conducted on a cross-party basis. He noted and welcomed the transfer of TBNP (Targeted Basic Need Programme) funding from the proposed expansion of St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School to Elmgrove Primary School and Nursery and enquired about the effect of such a move on Elmgrove Primary School. He was also concerned about the resultant follow of traffic in the vicinity of Elmgrove Primary School.

In response, the Portfolio Holders for Children and Schools and Planning, Development and Regeneration, together with the Corporate Director of Children and Families, stated that the money would enable Elmgrove Primary School to provide much needed additional school places. It should be noted that Elmgrove Primary School had been receptive towards the decision to re?allocate the funding to the school. The issue of traffic would continue to be a major challenge and the cross-departmental working was aiming to address all issues in relation to the expansion programme, such as planning, traffic and travel planning, simultaneously across all proposed school expansions. Members were also informed that regular stakeholder meetings were held to ensure that all parties were kept abreast of developments on the expansion programme. Additionally, Members of the Planning Committee had also been briefed on the various aspects of school expansion and the level of engagement with residents was good. Local resident engagement started at pre-planning stage, where the issue of traffic generation was also being captured at an early stage.

The Leader of the Council was pleased that money was being provided by the government to meet the demand in school places.