Agenda item

The Corporate Director for Planning, Environment, Education and Community Services and the School Place Planning Project Manager introduced the report and provided an overview of the latest quarterly update on school places.

It was reported that since August 2021, the Council had experienced unprecedented levels of new applications for school places in all year groups. Some schools had begun consulting on reducing the Published Admissions Number (PAN) to take effect from 2023, however this was subject to parental demand. After the consultation responses had been analysed, a report would be presented to the Committee in January 2022 and then to Cabinet to decide if the proposals should go ahead.  

It was noted that the results from the October consensus were still outstanding. A more detailed report would be presented in Spring 2022 as the information would all be available then. A significant change noted since the last update was the unprecedent number of late applications (at least 100) in every year group. There were several planning and feasibility projects underway and more expansion in Special Educational Needs (SEN).

In response to Member questions about new applications and how this impacted the SEN provision and children with Education Healthcare Plans, it was reported that procedures had been established. Some children started in mainstream schools and undertook assessments at a later stage, adding to the demand for SEN places. The figures on this were requested at the next meeting.

Information on primary, secondary and SEN places and safety valves was requested in future reporting. There should be at least a 5% margin in schools, and it was questioned whether this was being worked towards in secondary schools. It was confirmed that the application deadline for secondary places was on 31 October 2021 and work was being done towards national offer day. Although the projections had been made, the process involved a number of stages including sharing information with boroughs before figures and places were settled and the demand could accurately be confirmed.

In relation to the cumulative effect of PAN reductions, it was confirmed that officers were confident of the cumulative effect and the overall picture had been considered. The changes would be a more efficient way of working as overstaffing schools could increase financial deficit. Plans had been developed in partnership and close liaison with schools.

In terms of the need for a new school in the north of the Borough, it was noted that this would become clearer when the results from the October census had been obtained. A crucial factor indicating that a new secondary school may be needed was the number of primary school applications.

Questions were raised regarding Hillside Infants school proposed PAN reduction when it had just recently developed its buildings. It was explained that Hillside Infants school was located at the far north of the Borough and the increased demand for places had been mainly from out-borough. This demand had now changed following Brexit and it was therefore sensible to review the school’s operating figures. It was also emphasised that population was fluid and always changing so there was a need to be flexible to meet different demands.

The Committee commended officers for their work in this challenging area. The additional information in relation to the census results was welcomed at the next meeting to provide a fuller picture.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the update and actions underway to support parents and schools and questioned officers about the update.