Agenda item

Officers introduced the School Organisation Plan.

Officers advised that the School Organisation Plan had first been presented to the Committee two years prior, with the expectation that annual updates would be provided.

Members welcomed the existence of a School Organisation Plan but expressed concern about the reported reduction of 28.7% in nursery?age children, highlighting that this cohort would progress through infant, junior, and secondary phases in future years. Members noted that falling rolls were already placing pressure on primary schools and asked whether there was evidence of improvement through late admissions into the cohort. Officers acknowledged that birth rates and pupil numbers had been declining and that this had been known for some time. The projections were monitored closely and actual numbers broadly aligned with projected figures. However, officers continued to monitor sufficiency closely and were placing increased emphasis on the importance of the School Organisation Plan as a strategic planning tool. Officers outlined proposals to run workshops with schools to support them in understanding projections and using them for forward planning, and when preparing three?year budgets. It was noted that falling rolls created significant financial challenges for schools and that this issue linked closely to proposals such as amalgamation. Officers also confirmed that the School Organisation Plan was updated annually and that work was underway to strengthen its coverage of early years and SEND, with the intention of developing a broader sufficiency plan across education settings.

Members raised a further concern regarding the planning of secondary school places, particularly the proportion of pupils travelling from the south of the borough to the north, which was reported as 23%. Members noted that this was compounded by housing pressures, and asked whether more strategic planning could be undertaken to address this pattern. Officers responded that this issue had recently been discussed at a high?needs group meeting and acknowledged that a number of families chose to travel to schools outside their immediate area, despite the availability of strong local schools. Officers explained that parental preference played a significant role, particularly in a context of falling pupil numbers where choice was greater. There was also a challenge of changing parental perceptions where, for example, schools had previously received poor Ofsted judgements, noting that reputational recovery could take time. While officers were engaging with schools on these issues, it was recognised as a complex area where change was difficult to implement quickly.

Members referred to the report’s description of the borough as a net exporter of pupils and asked for clarification as to why families were choosing schools outside the borough. Officers advised that the absence of grammar schools within the borough was a contributing factor, as was the location of some schools near borough boundaries, where the nearest school for some families was outside Hillingdon. Officers highlighted a new school recently built just beyond the borough boundary which could draw pupils who would otherwise have attended schools within Hillingdon.

Members sought clarification on the reported decline in nursery numbers, questioning whether the figures reflected a drop in birth rates or whether they were influenced by parental choices about sending their children to nursery. Officers explained that it was a combination of both factors. While falling birth rates were a significant contributor, officers were also working to increase take?up of nursery places, particularly in light of expanded childcare entitlements. There was an early years and childcare sufficiency document, separate from the SOP. Officers also highlighted work underway to expand school?based nursery provision, including provision for two?year?olds, while acknowledging competition from private, voluntary and independent providers offering longer hours and holiday provision.

Members noted that the headline figure of a 28% reduction could be misleading if it did not solely reflect birth rate changes and cautioned that it could give the impression of a more severe future capacity issue in primary schools. Officers confirmed that the figures presented were based on the school census, and agreed that further contextual information would be helpful. It was proposed that additional early years data could be incorporated into the next annual update of the School Organisation Plan.

Members raised a question regarding sixth?form capacity, noting a significantly higher level of spare capacity compared to lower secondary year groups, and asked whether this suggested a need to encourage more pupils to remain in borough for post?16 education. Officers advised that they would review the relevant data and provide a fuller response outside the meeting.

Members raised a point regarding spare capacity in primary schools, noting that falling rolls were expected to continue, and asked whether officers had considered undertaking a detailed assessment of capacity across primary schools and education planning areas to support future planning, including inclusive provision. Officers confirmed that work was already underway to assess school capacity and that schools had been asked to provide information on available space. Officers explained that they were exploring creative uses of spare capacity, including alternative provision, tuition services, SEND provision, and other potentially income?generating activities. However, they advised that further clarity on SEND reforms was awaited, particularly regarding expectations around inclusion bases in secondary schools, before final decisions could be made. Officers emphasised that making use of existing space, rather than constructing new provision, would be preferable where possible, and confirmed that this work would continue to develop.

RESOLVED: That the Children, Families & Education Select Committee:

1. Considered the updated School Organisation Plan with the latest data and forecasts; and

2. Delegated comments to be included in the Cabinet Member report to the Democratic Services Officer in conjunction with the Chair and in consultation with the Opposition Lead