Decision details

The Plan shows projected pupil numbers up to September 2015 and outlines numbers of pupils expected to be generated by new housing developments and a strategy for the provision of the additional school places that will be required

(1) To APPROVE the Primary and Secondary School Organisation Plan 2011-2015; and

(2) To APPROVE the proposed strategy for the provision of school places within the plan period up to 2015 and over the longer term within the Core Strategy Plan period.

Despite significant recent changes to the provision of school places with some schools becoming Academies and the Local Authority moving to becoming a commissioner of school places rather than a direct provider via maintained Community schools, the Local Authority still retains the legal responsibility for pupil place planning in its area.

In order to do this effectively the Local Authority must identify where new school places will be required as a result of underlying population growth or pupils generated from new housing development, how much additional provision is required and when. This additional provision might be provided via Basic Need funding from the Government or Developer Contributions as a result of new housing developments.

There is currently already pressure on primary school places in some parts of the Authority and also projected to be a shortfall in places in some areas in the future and the Authority must plan for the additional provision that is needed. The Plan will serve as a useful planning tool to identify areas and levels of need, when investment in places will be needed and also to inform discussions with Developers

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