Agenda item

The Corporate Director for Planning, Environment, Education and Community Services and the School Place Planning Project Manager introduced the reports on the Proposed Changes to Admissions Criteria and PAN for Community Schools and Quarterly School Place Planning Update. These reports were considered together as they involved matters closely connected however Members made resolutions on each report separately.

It was reported that the census demonstrated a snapshot of every school and there had been a slight decline in primary school places and a continuing increase in secondary school places. The pandemic had led to greater pupil movements in all year groups and specific schools adding uncertainty to forecasting the need for school places. The Committee heard about how unfilled school places had impacted school financial plans, staffing and caused disruption to class sizes. Some schools had consulted on reducing the Published Admissions Number (PAN) to take effect from 2023 and schools, governing bodies, and parents had all been asked to take part in the consultation process. The consultation responses had been analysed and summarised for the Committee and Members were asked for their comments. The comments would be incorporated in the report that was due to go to Cabinet in February 2022.

The unprecedent levels of new applications for school places in all year groups was noted. In terms of how this demand was being managed, it was explained that every child that applied for a school place was offered a school place. Although there had been a stress on upper school places, schools were managing and received support and advice from the Council where it was necessary.

The Committee agreed that the Council needed to support schools and their governing bodies with the need to reduce PAN as there was a concern regarding unfilled places.

In response to questions around bulge classes and building repairs, it was explained recommendations were made based on forecasts for the next five – ten years and data collated. The recommendations for permanent buildings rather than bulge classes were made on the basis that there had been a much longer term demand. This demand had changed due to factors such as Brexit and the pandemic and it was therefore necessary to adapt the admission numbers to ensure that capacity was available to meet the demand, without incurring extra costs for schools. Officers had worked with schools in cases where there has been predicted increased demands to put in places mechanisms such as budge classes without the need for extra accommodation.

It was noted that Hillside Infant School had a poor state of building and needed replacing. Both Hillside Infant School and Harlington School had a number of pupils that travelled from a distance and there were spaces to manage any overflow. 

The Committee considered that a good consultation had been conducted and asked for some further context around the five different responses. It was explained that schools had already discussed the reduction in PAN informally with families over years. Letters had been sent to parents and information was placed on the school and Council website. There had also been a wider consultation with other schools in Hillingdon and neighbouring local authorities and these were all the responses received.

Members were informed that in the future it was hoped that the only pupils travelling out of borough were those that were need of a very specialist provision. Long term plans and discussions on how to reach this were taking place. The DfE had agreed that there was a need and demand for special school places.

It was confirmed that the DfE was managing the free secondary school in West Ruislip and there was currently ongoing testing of the site. A planning application was due to be put before the Planning Committees in Summer 2022.

Members noted that the number of parents making first choices out of the Borough was over 25% and this was a significant figure. It was explained that the situation was being monitored as not all parents received their first and second out of Borough preference and this impacted school places planning forecasts. 

Members thanked officers for the good and comprehensive report. It was acknowledged that it was difficult to look ahead in the current circumstances.

The Committee agreed the following comments for Cabinet:

The Committee recognises the challenges associated with school place planning, and the necessity for periodic reviews of admissions criteria and PAN numbers, to keep schools viable and on a sustainable financial footing. It therefore endorses the recommendations coming before cabinet. The committee believes it is important to take every opportunity to build flexibility into the school estates to help cater for fluctuating cyclical demand, and endorses officers' approach to this as well as the collaborative work undertaken with schools throughout this process and on an ongoing basis.

Resolved: That the Committee:

1.    Reviewed the proposed changes to Hillingdon’s Admissions Arrangements detailed in the Cabinet report.

2.    Reviewed the responses from the consultation on PAN changes to four community primary phase schools provided in the report.

3.    Provided comments to be included in the Cabinet report which will be presented in February.