Approval to commence statutory consultation of proposal for commissioning new lower school places in Stotfold for implementation from September 2015.
Determination of proposals for commissioning new middle and upper school places in Biggleswade and new lower school places in Silsoe, for implementation in September 2016.

1.    (i)      That the procedures established by The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposals to expand Edward Peake Church of England (C of E) Voluntary Controlled (VC) Middle School, Biggleswade and Silsoe C of E VC Lower School as outlined in the report be confirmed.

       (ii)     That receipt of a representation in respect of the proposal to expand Silsoe C of E VC Lower School and the statutory notice as set out in Appendix A to the report, issued on the 2 June 2014 under Section 19(1), of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be confirmed.  No representations were received in respect of the proposal to expand Edward Peake C of E VC Middle School and the statutory notice as set out in Appendix B to the report, issued on the 2 June 2014 under Section 19(1), of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

       (iii)    That the statutory proposal to expand Edward Peake C of E VC Middle School, Biggleswade from its current capacity of 480 places to provide a total of 600 places with an implementation date of September 2016 be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 September 2015.

       (iv)    That the statutory proposal to expand Silsoe C of E VC Lower, Silsoe from its current capacity of 135 places to provide a total of 225 places, an 8 place SEN provision for children with behavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties and a 45 place pre school with an implementation date of 1 September 2016 be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 September 2015.

2.         That the proposal to expand the Academy of Stratton Upper School in Biggleswade from its current capacity of 1250 places to provide 1650 places with a phased implementation date of 1 September 2016 be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the approval of the Education Funding Agency and the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 September 2015.

3.         That the commencement of consultation and the publication of statutory notices for the proposal to permanently expand Roecroft Lower School, Stotfold from its current capacity of 300 places to provide a total of 450 places with an implementation date of September 2015 be approved.  The school will also be invited to prepare a business case which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in its final determination of the proposal in December 2014.

4.         That the capital expenditure from the Council’s New School Places Programme, as indicated in Appendix D to the report, to relocate Pippin Pre School within the boundary of Roecroft Lower School, Stotfold to enable existing and future pressures on Roecroft Lower School’s accommodation to be managed be approved.