Issue - meetings

The Panel will receive a presentation on this item.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item, a brief summary is set out below.

Introduction

The Local Authority has an ongoing statutory duty (s14 Ed Act 1996) to ensure sufficient school places when and where needed.

Population growth and housing developments require a substantial programme of school expansions and creation of new schools.

Place Planning

School Organisation Plan details current and projected pupil numbers in each area.

Uses current pupil numbers/trends, birth data, knowledge of planned housing developments formulae for pupil yield.

Consider feasibility of expanding intake of local schools by remodelling/building.

Use ‘bulge’ classes where appropriate.

Funding

Revenue:

-  Direct Schools Grant (formula)

-  Short-term support

Capital:

-  DfE Basic Need Grant

-  Developer contributions

  -  Section 106

  -  Community Infrastructure Levy

Working with developers

eg Somerdale, Foxhill/Mulberry Park – Single developer builds school.

eg Ensleigh – Multiple developers plus underlying growth, LA builds school.

Free School route – can gain approval independently and identify premises or seek DfE capital.

Who will run the new schools?

Free Schools, with prescribed process for appointment of new school operators/sponsors.

Local Authority invites expressions of interest and may identify a preferred bidder to DfE.

Secretary of State for Education decides and informs successful bidder.

Applicants must demonstrate

•  an ambitious vision of educational excellence for all children

•  high quality leadership and management

•  strong, effective and dynamic governance

•  leadership capacity and high quality professional standards to sustain improvement

•  welfare and safeguarding of children are paramount

•  robust and effective financial management

Timeline

Launch of process:  10 July

Open event:  18 Sept

Closing date:  16 Oct

Interviews:  Nov

DfE decision  Feb 16?

School open  Sep 17

Councillor Dine Romero asked if the potential for expandability was considered when developing new schools.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning replied that they would look to futureproof sites where possible.

Councillor Dine Romero asked who pays for the running of the Free School competition.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning replied that it is a statutory process that the Council must pay for.

Councillor Karen Warrington asked how accurate the formula that we use regarding place planning is.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning replied that it is as good as we can get it and that we do compare our previous analysis.

Councillor Karen Warrington asked if any plans were in place to accept any refugee children.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning replied that there were no plans in place at the current time.

The Chair thanked him for the presentation on behalf of the Panel.