Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from the following

Councillor Paula Brookfield

Councillor Lorna McGregor

Councillor Mark Evans

Cyril Randles

Leanne Dack

Tanya Kasinganeti 

There were no declarations of interest received.

[Bill Hague, Service Manager – School Places and Transport, to present a review of the outcome of consultation on relevant schemes proposed for inclusion in the 2015 Primary School Expansion Programme.]

Bill Hague presented a report detailing the outcome of consultation with primary school communities regarding the 2015 Primary School Expansion Programme for pre-decision scrutiny by the panel.

Bill explained that there is proposal for a 10^th scheme but details about the scheme will not be available till 17.11.14.

Bill commented on the overall aims of the programme and the responsibilities of local authorities to ensure that they have sufficient school places to meet demand. Bill explained that the Council had invested in increasing school places to meet rising levels of demand for extra primary school places.

Bill gave a brief summary of the comments, both positive and negative, received from schools about the proposals. Bill highlighted a number of common themes in the responses to the proposal, for example, increased parking problem, reduction in the quality of teaching, changes to the existing school ethos. Bill commented that while accepting these concerns there was a responsibility on the authority to minimise the disruption to the children’s education during the expansion programme. Bill explained that the Council is not able to address all the issues highlighted in the responses to the consultation, but highlighted a range of potential mitigation strategies.

Bill commented on the recent press report about the level of parental support for the planned increases in school places. Bill explained that majority of negative responses were from one school and therefore not representative of the other schools where a smaller number of responses was received.

The panel made the following general comments and queries about the proposals:

·         The panel queried the position of the authority in a situation where a school governing body was not in favour of a proposed expansion. Bill explained that a final decision about the proposed expansions will be the decision of Cabinet. Bill explained that while accepting the concerns, their priority is the meeting the needs of the children and if the school is capable of coping with change of increased demand for places.

·         The panel queried if there was a risk that a school governing body which was against a proposed expansion would consider moving to academy status, in response. Bill explained that a lot will depend on the relationship with the school. The current guidance relating to schools stresses the importance of parental choice and legislation offers schools the option to move out of local authority control.

·         The panel queried whether the local authority would be expected to fund the expansion if a school decided to change to academy or free school status. Bill explained that the local authority would have to fund the expansion regardless of the status of the school.

·         The panel queried the impact of the expansion on the pupil/teacher ratio. Bill Hague clarified that it was the size of the schools that was increasing, not the individual class sizes. Bill Hague explained that the schools would be expected to act in accordance with the School Admissions Code and Infant Class Size Regulations.

·         Panel noted that the increased  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.