This report outlines seven projects within the New School Places Programme 2013/14 – 2017/18 where local pressures of demographic growth require new school places to be provided from September 2015.

1.      That the commencement of informal consultation and the publication of statutory notices for the proposal to expand Russell Lower School, Ampthill from its current capacity of 300 places to provide a total of 450 places with an implementation date of September 2015 be supported.  That the school be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in its final determination in December 2013.

2.      That the commencement of informal consultation and the publication of statutory notices by the School’s Governing Body for the proposal to expand St Andrews CofE VC Lower, Biggleswade from its current capacity of 450 places to provide a total of 750 places across two sites  with an implementation date of September 2015 be supported.  That the school be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in its final determination in December 2013.

3.      That the Academy of Holywell Middle School be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in December 2013 and to undertake consultation and approval processes required as an Academy by the Education Funding Agency to expand from its current capacity of 544 places to provide 720 places with an implementation date of September 2015.

4.      That the Academy of Cranfield Lower School be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in December 2013 and to undertake consultation and approval processes required as an Academy by the Education Funding Agency to expand from its current capacity of 300 places to provide 450 places across two sites with an implementation date of September 2015.

5.      That the academy of St Marys Lower School be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in December 2013 for commencement of the proposed expenditure as outlined in the New School Places Programme, attached at Appendix A to the report, to expand from its current capacity of 225 places to provide 300 places with an implementation date of September 2015.

6.      That the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix B to the report and the proposals of Bedfordshire East Multi Academy Trust to:

(a)    expand the Academy of Robert Bloomfield Middle School to provide 840 permanent places with an implementation date of September 2015; and

(b)    expand Etonbury Academy from its current capacity of 480 places to provide a total of 600 middle schools places and a further 300 places to serve the upper school age range with an implementation date of September 2014 be approved.

         Thereby approving the commencement of the projects and related expenditure, subject to Education Funding Agency approval of the Etonbury Academy proposal and the granting of relevant Planning permissions.

7.      That the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix C to the report,  ...  view the full decision text for item 11

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that outlined seven projects within the New School Places Programme 2013/14 – 2017/18 where local pressures of demographic growth required new school places to be provided from September 2015 and one project within the New School Places Programme with a target completion date of September 2014.

Reason for decision:  To ensure the Council continues to meet its statutory obligations to provide sufficient school places and also to meet the legal requirements placed on the Council by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 regarding proposals to expand maintained schools.  Commitment to expenditure and final approval of the proposals set out in recommendations 1-5 would be determined by the Council’s Executive in December 2013, informed by the outcome of the consultation exercises, Education Funding Agency approvals where relevant, and business cases which would be prepared by each School or Academy.

RESOLVED

1.      that the commencement of informal consultation and the publication of statutory notices for the proposal to expand Russell Lower School, Ampthill from its current capacity of 300 places to provide a total of 450 places with an implementation date of September 2015.  The school would also be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which would be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in its final determination in December 2013;

2.      that the commencement of informal consultation and the publication of statutory notices by the School’s Governing Body for the proposal to expand St Andrews CofE VC Lower, Biggleswade from its current capacity of 450 places to provide a total of 750 places across two sites  with an implementation date of September 2015 be supported.  The school would also be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which would be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in its final determination in December 2013;

3.      that the Academy of Holywell Middle School be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which would be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in December 2013 and to undertake consultation and approval processes required as an Academy by the Education Funding Agency to expand from its current capacity of 544 places to provide 720 places with an implementation date of September 2015;

4.      that the Academy of Cranfield Lower School be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which would be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in December 2013 and to undertake consultation and approval processes required as an Academy by the Education Funding Agency to expand from its current capacity of 300 places to provide 450 places across two sites with an implementation date of September 2015;

5.      that the academy of St Marys Lower School be invited to prepare a business case, the outcome of which would be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in December 2013 for commencement of the proposed expenditure as outlined in the New School Places Programme, attached at Appendix A to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11