To determine the proposals for commissioning of new lower school places in Stotfold and Leighton Buzzard for implementation from September 2015.  To set out the implications arising from the 2014/15 refresh of the Council’s School Organisation Plan and New School Places programme and the new areas guidelines published by the Education Funding Agency for mainstream school buildings and grounds for all age ranges from 4 to 19, and also advice on the Council’s School’s Sustainable Design Brief.

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 proposal to expand Roecroft Community Lower School, Stotfold as outlined in paragraph 17 in the report and in the legal implications section of the report.

(ii)          That no representations were received in respect of the proposal to expand Roecroft Community Lower School and the statutory notice as set out in Appendix A to the report, issued on the 13 October 2014 under Section 19(1), of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be confirmed.

(iii)         That the statutory proposal to expand Roecroft Community Lower School, Stotfold from its current capacity of 300 places to provide a total of 450 places with an implementation date of 1 September 2015 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 July 2015.

2.      That the proposed commencement of consultations by the Governing Bodies of Leedon Community Lower School and Clipstone Brook Community Lower School to permanently expand each school from 1 September 2015 be approved.  Each school will also be invited to prepare a business case which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in its decision to approve the proposals in March 2015.

3.      That the implications for the Council’s Capital Programme arising from the 2014/15 refresh of the Council’s School Organisation Plan and New School Places programme be taken into account.

4.      That the use of EFA Building Bulletin 103 Area Guidelines for Mainstream Schools and the Council’s School’s Sustainable Design Brief as guidance in creating future design briefs for new school buildings, school refurbishment or conversion projects, be noted.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that considered new school places in Stotfold and Leighton Linslade  and set out the implications arising from the 2014/15 refresh of the Council’s School Organisation Plan and New School Places programme.  The report also provided advice on the new area guidelines for mainstream school buildings and the Council’s School’s Sustainable Design Brief.

On a point of clarification, the housing trajectory figures published in April 2014 suggested an average of approximately 1,500 homes would be completed each year over the next five years in Central Bedfordshire, rather than 1,800 as set out in the report. 

In response to questions, the Executive Member for Children’s Services explained that the Schools Organisation Team worked closely with the Local Development Framework Team and took account of the Council’s Policy Principles for Pupil Place Planning when considering new school places.  All children, where possible, would be encouraged to walk to school.  The minimum gross area now recommended for buildings was on average 15% lower for secondary schools and 6% lower for primary schools but this should be regarded as a minimum. 

The Executive Member confirmed that to expand Vandyke Upper School by 500 places for implementation in September 2017 was feasible and would benefit the school.

Reason for decision:  To ensure the Council continued 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.  To also ensure that the Council would continue to develop appropriate design briefs for new school buildings, school refurbishment or conversion projects.

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 2013, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposal to expand Roecroft Community Lower School, Stotfold as outlined in paragraph 17 and in the legal implications section of the report;

(ii)     that no representations were received in respect of the proposal to expand Roecroft Community Lower School and the statutory notice as set out in Appendix A to the report, issued on the 13 October 2014 under Section 19(1), of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be confirmed; and

(iii)    that the statutory proposal to expand Roecroft Community Lower School, Stotfold from its current capacity of 300 places to provide a total of 450 places with an implementation date of 1 September 2015 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 July 2015.

2.      that the proposed commencement of consultations by the Governing Bodies of Leedon Community Lower School and Clipstone Brook Community Lower School to permanently expand each school from 1 September 2015 be approved.  Each school will also be invited to prepare a business case which will be subject to approval by the Council’s Executive in its decision to approve the proposals in March 2015;

3.      that the implications for the Council’s Capital Programme arising from the 2014/15 refresh of the Council’s School Organisation Plan and New School Places programme be taken into account;

4.      that the use of EFA Building Bulletin 103 Area Guidelines for Mainstream Schools and the Council’s School’s Sustainable Design Brief as guidance in creating future design briefs for new school buildings, school refurbishment or conversion projects, be noted.