This report seeks approval to commence three projects within the Council’s New School Places Programme 2013/14 – 2017/18 where local pressures of demographic growth require new school places to be provided from September 2014.

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 2007 as amended by The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 and The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2009, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposal to expand Church End Lower School, Marston as outlined in this report.

      (ii)        That the representations received in respect of the Church End Lower School proposal to the statutory notice as set out in Appendix B to the report, issued on the 17 June 2013 under Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be noted following consideration.        

      (iii)       That the statutory proposal to expand Church End Foundation Lower School from a 270 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 to a 450 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 be approved through the creation of a new second campus on a new site with an implementation date of September 2014.  The school would have an admission number of 60 for the Church Walk site and an admission number of 30 at the new Marston Park site;

(iv)              That the detailed business case attached at Appendix C to the report 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 February 2014.

2.         That the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix D to the report to expand the Academy of Redborne Upper School from its current capacity of 1450 places to provide 1649 places with an implementation date of September 2014 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 February 2014.

3.         That the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix E to the report to expand the Academy of Alameda Middle School from its current capacity of 600 places to provide 720 places with an implementation date of September 2014 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 February 2014.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that sought approval to commence three projects within the Council’s New School Places Programme 2013/14 – 2017/18, where demographic growth required new school places to be provided from September 2014.  These were at the following schools:

• Church End Lower School, Marston
• Academy of Redborne Upper School; and
• Academy of Alameda Middle School.

Church End Lower School was a Council maintained school and required the decision of the Executive following consideration of the representations received, whereas Redborne Upper School and Alameda Middle School Academies could only be invited to expand, as their proposals would need to be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. 

Members noted that the proposal for Stratton Upper School had been withdrawn to enable the Academy sufficient time to respond to recent Ofsted recommendations.

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.

RESOLVED

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 2007 as amended by The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 and The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2009, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposal to expand Church End Lower School, Marston as outlined in this report;

(ii)         that the representations received in respect of the Church End Lower School proposal to the statutory notice as set out in Appendix B to the report, issued on the 17 June 2013 under Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be noted following consideration;

(iii)       that the statutory proposal to expand Church End Foundation Lower School from a 270 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 to a 450 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 be approved through the creation of a new second campus on a new site with an implementation date of September 2014.  The school would have an admission number of 60 for the Church Walk site and an admission number of 30 at the new Marston Park site;

(iii)       that the detailed business case attached at Appendix C to the report 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 February 2014.

2.      that the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix D to the report to expand the Academy of Redborne Upper School from its current capacity of 1450 places to provide 1649 places with an implementation date of September 2014 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37