Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.     Considers the proposal to reduce the Published Admission Number for Whitehall Infant School from 120 to 90 and Whitehall Junior School from 120 to 90 and authorises officers to undertake a full consultation exercise in relation to it.

2.     Agrees to receive a further report at its 15th February 2024 meeting for the purpose of considering the consultation responses for a new Published Admissions Number for Whitehall Infant School and Whitehall Junior School which is set to take effect from 1 September 2025.

Reasons for decision

To provide stability of pupil numbers and school budgets, Cabinet agreed to consult on proposals for reducing the Published Admission Number for Whitehall Infant School and Whitehall Junior School, both from 120 to 90.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education noted the small window to make such changes and the Council’s statutory responsibility to secure sufficient school places where over the past few years there had been a reduction in the number of young people and had thereby reduced funding for certain schools, which needed to be addressed.

The Leader of the Council remarked how the housing supply issue across London had driven a reduction in the number of younger families which required the Council to manage the situation of reducing pupil numbers in some schools.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as Cabinet’s proposal would enable consultation on school place planning to support the schools to focus their budget and resources for pupils.