Agenda item

Dan Kennedy - Director, Housing, Environment, Education, Performance, Health & Wellbeing, and Sarah Phillips – School Place Planning Project Manager, updated the Committee on the Council’s School Places Planning.

The Committee was advised that officers had completed two admission rounds for primary and secondary places in September 2019. In Hillingdon, all pupils who had submitted timely applications had been offered a place on offer day, with 94.3% of residents receiving an offer for one of their preferred schools.

Figures received showed that Hillingdon was again best in west London for meeting parental first preferences, first-third, and first-sixth, for primary places. Hillingdon was better than the average of all 32 London boroughs.

Further forecasts for September suggested that demand for secondary places would increase, in line with increased demand seen across London. Regarding primary places, the number of places offered had reduced slightly, though approximately 100 applications had been received after the closing date, so figures would be more accurate once these applications had been processed.

Members asked a number of questions, including:

Regarding secondary places for Year 7, the figures showed that the majority of schools had very few places available. The government recommended that approximately 5% of places should be kept open. How were officers addressing this?

Officers recognised that places for Year 7 were tight. However, the government’s comments regarding 5% was guidance only, and officers did not expect further large numbers of applications to add to the remaining places. However, officers had agreed contingency plans with schools to provide extra places if necessary  in September or the next  year, if required. In addition, the construction of a proposed new free school, hopefully to open in 2021/22 would further help with capacity issues. Harlington School in particular was recognised as being very full, and there was an agreement in place in principle to expand the school, subject to the ongoing procurement process.

In light of comments made by the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, could the officers provide an update on the proposed new free schools?

Two new secondary schools for north of the A40 had been approved in principle by the DfE, with one school currently being considered, based on need. A suitable site for this school was being considered in line with planning requirements, and officers were reviewing options to bring the process forward, in conjunction with Members.

The report referenced planning for secondary places in September 2020. Could the officers comment on this planning?

The current Year 5 was larger than the current Year 6, and it was accepted that the current Year 6 was tight. Forecasts suggested that an additional 100 places or so would be required for 2020, though this could vary as families moved in and out of the Borough. Talks were ongoing with the schools in order to address this need.

Some extra classes were located in different schools than previously. Why was this?

Some schools had since expanded, but until their big intakes worked through, had some empty classrooms which could accommodate additional pupils. Some secondary schools had smaller 6th Forms than previously, which again provided additional class space for the next year or so.

The ‘other offers’ figures had doubled since 2015. Why was this?

Some secondary schools were more popular than others, and received very high parental ‘first preference’ applications. Conversely, several schools were not popular (for a variety of reasons including perception, location etc.) therefore some parents inevitably received offers for schools they had not chosen.  Until all schools were popular this would continue, but many of our schools have successfully turned around their popularity.  Officers were discussing ways to further address this with schools and governing bodies, included regular dialogue with Ofsted and the Regional Schools Director.

Could the officers elaborate on the number of vacant spaces required within Hillingdon Schools moving forward?

Numbers were difficult to provide, but it was likely that by 2021 there would be a need for to find places for around an additional 200 secondary pupils each year into Hillingdon schools.

The Schools Forum recently looked at the School Information Management System (SIMS System), which showed that children were leaving Hillingdon Schools. Why was this?

The reasons were varied, and included the comparatively high cost of renting.  Head reported  many families were choosing to leave London for cheaper homes or rents elsewhere in the UK, or to return to their home countries. Bigger population drops had been seen in other parts of London.

Could the officers comment on the impact of varying class sizes in primary years?

Infant classes were limited to 30 pupils or less, and if they recruited under their PAN  some schools had a range of class sizes, (e.g. 3 classes of 22 pupils) which was financially punishing.  Ultimately a few reductions in PAN were likely until numbers rise again.  Meanwhile schools were working to address this by adjusting class organisation and timetabling, etc.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.