Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies received from Cllr Dominic Gilham and Cllr Allan Kauffman with Cllr Brian Stead substituting.

Apologies received from Cllr John Oswell and Cllr Kanwal Dheer, with Cllr Peter Money and Cllr Tony Eginton substituting.

There were no declarations of interest.

None.

It was confirmed that all items were in Part I and would be heard in public.

Members requested further information on bulge classes. This information would be provided to the Committee at the next meeting.

RESOLVED - That the minutes from the 8 February 2018 be approved as an accurate record.

Prior to the meeting, the Chairman agreed to defer this item to allow a full and proper report to be prepared.

Officers introduced the report and updated the Committee on the demand for school places in the Borough. In summary, the following key points were noted:

·         School places was monitored throughout the year. A number of factors including birth rates, residential developments and families moving into the Borough drove school places. It was acknowledged that there was pressure in the Hayes/ West Drayton areas due to housing development and there was a clear need for school places.

·         Overall, there was an appropriate level of capacity in the system to manage demand.

·         The number of year seven places was the same as previously forecasted and was within the margins of tolerance, allowing for changes and in year admissions. Reception vacancies had reduced as forecasted.

·         There were variations in capacity between place planning areas and that the capacity was not evenly spread, reflecting the relative popularity of individual schools.

·         The demand for secondary school places was rising.

·         Fair Access mechanisms were effective in ensuring that pupils were offered school places.

·         The School Placement and Admissions Team worked collaboratively with schools, especially where pupil numbers were lower than anticipated, taking into account the needs of the child and those of the school.

·         Work on the expansions of Vyners and Ruislip High School was proceeding. However, delivery dates for new free school provisions were still subject to confirmation - sites had not yet been confirmed.

During Member discussions, it was reported that the 6.2 percentage of capacity remaining in October 2017 from the October Census Data – year 7 was likely to be filled up. Over the course of the year there had been approximately 150 late applications that needed to be processed which may have contributed to this figure. Also, it was explained that many parents held on to state funded places until waiting confirmation from independent schools and families moved out of the Borough.

It was noted that school capacity was affected by decisions made by own admission authority schools. Four of these schools (Bishop Winnington Ingram, Pinkwell Primary, Uxbridge High and Haydon) had now determined reduced admission numbers from 2019/20. Officers confirmed that this was currently being evaluation and options were being explored. The local authority would be seeking further advice regarding these changes.

Members noted that the matter of churn was a significant issue. Other matters such as families moving in out of the Borough and temporary accommodation measures were reasons for school churns.

Members requested further information on the exact pressure on primary school places, information on special schools and bulge classes.

RESOLVED –

1)    That officers be thanked for their attendance;

2)    that the report be noted: and

3)    that the further information be presented to Committee.

Members asked for clarification on what “DEF” meant on the forward plan. Officers confirmed that “DEF” most likely signified deferred however, clarification would be sent to Members in due course.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

RESOLVED – That the work programme be noted.