Agenda item

The Primary and Secondary School Organisation Plan 2015 – 2019 outlines the current level of primary and secondary provision in the Authority, detailed projected pupil numbers over the next four years up to admissions in September 2019 based on births and resident population data and outline pupil numbers up to 2029 as a consequence of the future planned housing development in the Authority.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if it was anticipated that the Council would continue to have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient school places in the area.

The School Organisation Manager replied that there is no indication at present that this will be changed.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what information does the Council have about proposals for Free Schools.

The School Organisation Manager replied that we know that one has been proposed – Norton Hill Primary School. She added that the site proposed is south of our border, but would provide places for B&NES children.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if it would be funded via CIL or Section 106 agreement.

The School Organisation Manager replied that it would be funded by central government.

The Chair asked does the Council have sufficient evidence and capacity to commission new academies to be built.

The School Organisation Manager replied that we forecast pupil numbers expected to be generated from new housing and due to population growth and determine if new school places are required. If so, these could be delivered via expansions to existing schools or by building new schools. She added that if a new school is required this could be built by the developer in some cases and in others by the Council.

Councillor Karen Warrington asked are the Councils spatial strategies sufficiently well documented, clear, appropriate and linked to the School Organisational Plan (SOP).

The School Organisation Manager replied that Planning Policy consult with us to establish the requirement for school infrastructure as a consequence of new housing development and this is referenced in their documents. She said that we also consult with Planning Policy when drafting the SOP. She added that the Infrastructure Delivery Programme which is a part of the Core Strategy is linked to the SOP and will refer to the same school infrastructure projects and the SOP is referred to in the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulation 123 List.

Councillor Mark Shelford asked if school playing fields are protected and does the development of new sites include the provision of playing fields.

The School Organisation Manager replied that school sport pitches were protected and that the Council was a consultee of Sport England. She added that new school sites do include plans for recreational and sports space provision.

Councillor Liz Hardman commented that where there are areas of expansion, but schools are at full capacity and without room to expand, some pupils in those areas may need to attend schools that are further away and travelling will incur additional costs to parents. She asked, in that event, what action will be taken to reduce the financial inequality burden placed upon some parents, but not others.

The School Organisation Manager replied that support for home to school transport costs exists if the distance is above the statutory level and if certain other criteria apply. She added that the current plans are designed to provide sufficient places in the areas they are needed and therefore do not show that this scenario will occur to any significant extent.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if the Council were prepared for all eventualities, such as a sudden surge in population.

The School Organisation Manager replied that whilst the SOP is intended to do this and does flag up increasing rolls, there can always be unexpected demand. She added that we retain some capital funding for this eventuality, in the event that we need to provide additional accommodation unexpectedly. She said that we continuously monitor child population data with a view to obtaining an early indication of unexpected demand as soon as possible.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if the Council has a strategy for dealing with surplus places and falling rolls.

The School Organisation Manager replied that due to higher birth rates and population increases from new housing, this is not expected to be an issue for the foreseeable future.

The Chair asked what will happen if academies choose a different admissions policy, therefore not allocating places on the basis of a straight line distance from school.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that he understood the anxiety expressed, but that it is the ethos of the school that is important and that the majority of schools do behave appropriately. He added that if any concern regarding admissions were raised they would be scrutinised by the Council and reported to the Schools’ Adjudicator.

The Chair asked what understanding of the SEN strategy exists within the schools organisation planning process.

The School Organisation Manager replied that Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision is subject to a separate place planning process due to the more complex and demand led nature of the provision. She said that unlike planning mainstream school places, it was not just an issue of numbers of places required but type of provision required by individual children based on their specific needs, which can change by the day. She added that Local Authorities (LAs) do not include projected SEN pupils and places in the School Places Return submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) which is used to allocate Basic Need capital to LAs to provide school places.

Councillor Rob Appleyard asked if the design of a new school was carried out by an area of the Council other than Children’s Services.

The School Organisation Manager replied that it was their role to identify the need for a new school. She added that discussions would then take place between Major Projects, Property Services or an individual developer relating to the design.

Councillor Rob Appleyard asked if the school on the Bath Western Riverside site was due to open in 2022 or 2023.

The School Organisation Manager replied that the current build programme indicated that it was likely to open in 2022.

The Panel RESOLVED to approve the following recommendations:

(i)  Note the proposed strategy for the provision of school places within the 2015 – 2019 plan period.

(ii)  Note the proposed strategy for the provision of school places over the longer term within the Core Strategy Plan Period.