To seek approval of additional middle and upper school places in the Ward of Leighton Buzzard North through the expansion of Gilbert Inglefield Academy and Vandyke Upper School (academy) for September 2020.

1.         That the new school places required in Leighton Buzzard be approved to meet the Council’s statutory duty under The Education and Inspections Act 2006, by noting the positive responses received to the consultation by the governing bodies of Gilbert Inglefield Academy and Vandyke Upper School to the expansion of each school by 2 forms of entry (60 places in each year group) by September 2020.

2.         That the Director of Children’s Services be authorised, in consultation with the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, to approve the capital expenditure as set out in the report.  This is subject to approval of the proposals by the Department for Education, and subject to the granting of planning permissions under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act.