Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval of the final version of the School Place Planning Strategy 2014-18 following consultation.  The draft version was approved by the Council’s Executive in March 2014 as a basis for consultation.  This covering report also draws out a number of key issues for decision by the Cabinet which relate to specific schools and sites.

(i)         that the School Place Planning Strategy 2014-18 be approved, circulated to all schools and relevant stakeholders and made available on the council’s website;

(ii)        that approval be given to progress development of the following schemes proposed for adoption within the council’s school expansion programme as set out in paragraph 4.0, and that a subsequent report be submitted to Cabinet for approval of fully detailed and costed schemes.

·         Byron Court Primary School– 2 form of entry expansion

·         Leopold Primary School – 2 form of entry expansion using the Gwenneth Rickus Building

·         Oakington Manor Primary – 1 form of entry expansion

The subsequent report to include an updated cashflow position for the School Expansions Programme to take account of the strategy’s approach to providing school places in Brent;

(iii)    that the following school amalgamations be agreed in principle, subject to formal agreement by governing bodies and formal consultation and decision-making processes as set out in paragraph 5.1:

• Lyon Park Infants and Juniors Schools
• Carlton Vale Infants School and Kilburn Park Juniors School

·        Malorees Infants and Juniors Schools.

(iv)       that the council seeks to retain the designation of The Avenue site for education purposes as set out in paragraph 6.1. 

Councillor Moher (Lead Member, Children and Young People) introduced the report which sought approval of the final version of the School Place Planning Strategy 2014-18 following consultation.  The draft version was approved by the council’s Executive in March 2014 as a basis for consultation.  The covering report also drew out a number of key issues for decision by the Cabinet which related to specific schools and sites.  Councillor Moher referred to the council’s obligations to improve outcomes for children and drew attention to the proposals for expansion and amalgamation and the continued designation for education use of The Avenue site in Brondesbury. The costs were considered to be affordable in the current levels of secured funding however a further report would follow.

The Strategic Director Children and Young People responded to the concerns expressed earlier in the meeting by Martin Francis and assured that the council would be seeking to work with  free schools and academies with a good or outstanding track record. The Free school model was the current policy but this would be kept under review and the principles were sufficiently robust to be able to withstand change. She also assured that the council was working with the Brent Schools Partnership to set up Federation to further cooperation between schools.

Members welcomed the report, agreed that the council had to take a long term approach, explain the advantages of larger schools and do all possible to have school places available given the demographic forecasts. It was noted that full consultation on the individual proposals would be carried out in the usual way and heard that the schools involved were broadly in support.

 RESOLVED:

(i)         that the School Place Planning Strategy 2014-18 be approved, circulated to all schools and relevant stakeholders and made available on the council’s website;

(ii)        that approval be given to progress development of the following schemes proposed for adoption within the council’s school expansion programme as set out in paragraph 4.0, and that a subsequent report be submitted to Cabinet for approval of fully detailed and costed schemes:

·     Byron Court Primary School– 2 form of entry expansion

·     Leopold Primary School – 2 form of entry expansion using the Gwenneth Rickus Building

·     Oakington Manor Primary – 1 form of entry expansion

The subsequent report to include an updated cashflow position for the School Expansions Programme to take account of the strategy’s approach to providing school places in Brent;

(iii)       that the following school amalgamations be agreed in principle, subject to formal agreement by governing bodies and formal consultation and decision-making processes as set out in paragraph 5.1 of the Director’s report:

·         Lyon Park Infants and Juniors Schools

·         Carlton Vale Infants School and Kilburn Park Juniors School

·         Malorees Infants and Juniors Schools.

(iv)      that the council seek to retain the designation of The Avenue site for education purposes as set out in paragraph 6.1 of the Director’s report.