Decision details

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member of Children’s Services and Learning seeking approval to add up to 160 year R places from 1 September 2011 and up to 195 year R places from 1 September 2012, to primary schools throughout Southampton.

The proposed places will be phased through each year group of primary education and would result in approximately 2500 primary school places being added by September 2018.  The extra places are required to accommodate an increase in the number of pupils in the City requiring a school place.  The increase is largely due to a rise in the birth rate and a greater amount of parents deciding to send their children to Southampton schools.

The extra places are to ensure that the Local Authority meets its statutory duty to provide every child who wants one with a school place.  The decision to take forward these proposals follows six weeks of pre-statutory consultation in September / October 2010 and 4-6 weeks statutory consultation in January / February 2011.

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Learning, Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To consider and take into account the outcome of statutory consultation as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

2.  To approve the implementation of the enlargement of the following 6 schools from 1 September 2011, creating 130 new places:

(i)  The enlargement by 15 places (0.5FE – forms of entry) per year group of Bassett Green Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2011, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1.5FE (45 places) to 2FE (60 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 315 to 420 by September 1 2017.

(ii)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Glenfield Infant School, with implementation from 1 September 2011, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 3 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 2FE (60 places) to 3FE (90 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 179 to 270 by 1 September 2013.

(iii)  The enlargement by 10 places (0.33FE – forms of entry) per year group of Highfield CE Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2011, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1.16FE (35 places) to 1.5FE (45 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 233 to 315 by 1 September 2017.  This enlargement would be carried out in conjunction with the CE diocese of Winchester.

(iv)  The enlargement by 15 places (0.5FE – forms of entry) per year group of Kanes Hill Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2011, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1.5FE (45 places) to 2FE (60 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 315 to 420 by 1 September 2017.

(v)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – forms of entry) per year group of Moorlands Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2011, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1FE (30 places) to 2FE (60 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 210 to 420 by 1 September 2017.

(vi)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – forms of entry) per year group of Shirley Warren Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2011, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1FE (30 places) to 2FE (60 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 210 to 420 by 1 September 2017.

3.  Subject to the condition that changes to the admission arrangements, including the PAN, for each school is approved by the relevant Admission Authority by the implementation date, to approve the implementation of the enlargement of the following 12 schools from 1 September 2012, creating 315 new places:

(i)  To revoke the proposals approved by Southampton City Council on 9th July 2009 to change Banister Infant School (Community School) Banister Gardens, Westrow Road, Southampton, SO15 2LX from an infant and nursery school to become an all through primary school by changing the age range of pupils to be admitted from 3-7 year olds to 3-11 year olds from September 2013 increasing the size of the school from 135 pupils to 315 pupils by September 2016.  Instead, the following alterations will be made to Banister Infant School (Community School) Banister Gardens, Westrow Road, Southampton, SO15 2LX from 1st September 2012. 

To increase admissions to Banister Infant School by admitting a further 15 pupils to Year R (age 4) from September 2012 and continuing each school year until all years have been expanded and from 1st September 2013 to change Banister Infant School from an infant and nursery school to become an all through primary school by changing the age range of pupils to be admitted from 3-7 year olds to 3-11 year olds. In order to achieve the change of age range up to 60 pupils will be permitted to transfer from Year 2 (age 6) to Year 3 (age 7) or be admitted as casual vacancies to Year 3 (age 7) from September 2013 and in subsequent school years. This will have the effect of enlarging the school from 162 places to 420 places by 1 September 2018. The current net capacity of the school is 162 (excluding the nursery) and the proposed net capacity will be 420 statutory school age places.  The current number of pupils registered at the school is 130 (excluding the nursery).  The current admissions number is 45 and the proposed admission number will be 60.

(ii)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Fairisle Infant & Nursery School, with implementation from 1 September 2012, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 3 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 3FE (90 places) to 4FE (120 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 270 to 360 by 1 September 2014.

(iii)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Fairisle Junior School, with implementation from 1 September 2015, beginning with Year 3 and continuing incrementally until all 4 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 3FE (90 places) to 4FE (120 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 360 to 480 by 1 September 2018.

Proposal 3(ii) and 3(iii) are linked.

(iv)  The enlargement by 15 places (0.5FE – forms of entry) per year group of Harefield Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2012, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1.5FE (45 places) to 2FE (60 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 315 to 420 by September 1 2017.

(v)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Tanners Brook Infant School, with implementation from 1 September 2012, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 3 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 3FE (90 places) to 4FE (120 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 270 to 360 by 1 September 2014.

(vi)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Tanners Brook Junior School, with implementation from 1 September 2015, beginning with Year 3 and continuing incrementally until all 4 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 3FE (90 places) to 4FE (120 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 360 to 480 by 1 September 2018.

Proposals 3(v) and 3(vi) are linked.

(vii)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Valentine Infant School, with implementation from 1 September 2012, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 3 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 3FE (90 places) to 4FE (120 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 270 to 360 by 1 September 2014.

(viii)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Heathfield Junior School, with implementation from 1 September 2015, beginning with Year 3 and continuing incrementally until all 4 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 3FE (90 places) to 4FE (120 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 359 to 480 by 1 September 2018. 

Proposal 3(vii) and 3(viii) are linked.

(ix)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Sholing Infant School, with implementation from 1 September 2012, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 3 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 2FE (60 places) to 3FE (90 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 174 to 270 by 1 September 2014.

(x)  Linked to this is the enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Sholing Junior School, with implementation from 1 September 2015, beginning with Year 3 and continuing incrementally until all 4 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 2FE (60 places) to 3FE (90 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 239 to 360 by 1 September 2018.

Proposals 3(ix) and 3(x) are linked.

(xi)  The enlargement by 15 places (0.5FE – forms of entry) per year group of St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2012, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1.5FE (45 places) to 2FE (60 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 315 to 420 by 1 September 2018.  This enlargement would be carried out in conjunction with the RC diocese of Portsmouth.

(xii)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – forms of entry) per year group of St Mark’s CE Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2012, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 2FE (60 places) to 3FE (90 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 459 to 630 by 1 September 2018.  This enlargement would be carried out in conjunction with the CE diocese of Winchester.

NOTE:

All the proposals in section 3 are conditional upon the Admissions Authority for each school, the Local Authority for community and Voluntary Community Schools, altering their admissions arrangements and increasing the relevant PAN’s (published admission numbers) either through the relevant annual admissions process or by individual in-year application to the Schools Adjudicator. This includes proposals for St Patrick’s which, as a Voluntary Aided School are their own admission authority, and would need to apply to the schools adjudicator to increase their PAN from 45 to 60, if/when they are happy with the expansion scheme that the Local Authority are formulating.  If the relevant PANs are not increased, the condition required to expand will not be met and the proposals cannot be implemented. In such circumstances the LA will seek to revoke any proposal that cannot be implemented by the relevant implementation date.

4.  To note enlargements to the following two schools, creating 60 places, which do not need statutory proposals, but will be implemented through the annual admissions process.

(i)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – form of entry) per year group of Beechwood Junior School, with implementation from 1 September 2014, beginning with Year 3 and continuing incrementally until all 4 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 2FE (60 places) to 3FE (90 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 311 to 360 by 1 September 2017.

(ii)  The enlargement by 30 places (1FE – forms of entry) per year group of Mansel Park Primary School, with implementation from 1 September 2011, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all 7 years have been expanded.  This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 1FE (30 places) to 2FE (60 places) per year group, and increasing the net capacity from 358 to 420 by 1 September 2017.

5.  Subject to complying with Financial and Contract Procedure Rules, to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services & Learning, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services & Learning to do anything necessary to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

6.  To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Children’s Services & Learning in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council to take any action necessary to comply with the requirements of the Schools Standards & Frameworks Act 1998 and associated legislation, including but not limited to alterations to catchment areas, transport provision and other ancillary matters.

7.  To add in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules a sum of £4,735,000 to the Children’s Services & Learning Capital Programme, for Primary Review Phase 2, funded from Basic Need grant.

8.  To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital expenditure of £4,735,000 in 2012/13 from the Children’s Services & Learning Capital Programme for Primary Review Phase 2.

9.  To vire, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules a sum of £574,000 from the Banister Infant Primary Review Phase 1 budget to the Primary Review Phase 2 scheme.

1.  The rapid rise in the number of pupils requiring a school place over the lasting the last two or three years, has meant that severe pressure has been brought to bear on the school estate.  Forecasts indicate that this pressure is not likely to recede in the foreseeable future.

2.  Extra places are already being put in schools in the City Centre and Freemantle areas of the city as a result of the Primary Review Phase 1.

3.  The need for extra school places is not restricted to these two areas and is spread over a wide area of the city.  Consequently there is a need to expand a number of schools throughout the city by up to 30 places in each year group.  This enables demand for school places to be met locally, and reduces the likelihood of young people needing to travel long distances to go to school.

4.  If we are to maintain and improve the school experience we offer to our children we must ensure that their learning environment is conducive to a quality education.

5.  As a local authority we have a statutory obligation to provide every child who wants one with quality school place.  Failure to do so would mean we would be failing in one of our basic duties.

1.  Under the Regulations Cabinet may either:

a) approve the recommendations, or

b) reject the recommendations, or

c) approve the recommendations subject to one of a number of limited statutory conditions, or

d) approve the recommendations with modifications (minor modifications only)

2.  SCC could take no action, but if so the local authority would not fulfil its statutory obligation to provide every child who wants one with quality school place.  Failure to do this would mean we would be failing in one of our basic duties.

3.  Initial thought was given to using spare capacity that may be available in secondary schools to accommodate primary school children.  However this was discounted due to legal and logistical issues.

4.  Pre-statutory consultation consulted on different options for expanding schools in the Millbrook area of the city from September 2012.  The options were to increase Oakwood Infant and Oakwood Junior, Fairisle Infant and Fairisle Junior or Mansel Park Primary (this would have been in addition to this school expanding in September 2011).  After considering responses to the consultation and re-evaluating internal and external space at these schools, it was decided that the proposal to expand Fairisle Infant and Fairisle Junior would be taken forward to statutory consultation along with all other proposals.