Agenda item

This report provides Cabinet with an update to the School Place Planning Strategy 2014-18.  The strategy was approved by the Cabinet in October 2014.  The report updates Cabinet with regard to pupil projections and asks Cabinet to approve a number of amendments to the Strategy. 

(i)         that approval be given to the refresh of the Brent Pupil Place Planning Strategy provided as Appendix 1 of the report from the Strategic Director of Children and Young People;

(ii)        that approval be given to the amendments to five of the sixteen operating principles which underpin the strategy outlined in section 3 of the report;

(iii)       that it be noted that whilst Primary School place projections indicate that demand for Reception places will slow down from 2016, recent changes in the birth rate mean that future projections are likely to be revised upwards. There will be a continued growth in demand for places in primary years other than Reception. All current planned expansions remain necessary;

(iv)       that it be noted that the demand for secondary places will increase from September 2016 with demand outstripping supply from 2018. Depending on the size of sites, the equivalent of two or three additional secondary schools will be needed by the 2022/23 academic year;

(v)        that approval be given to officers working with the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to secure sites for new secondary schools to meeting the anticipated growth in demand for additional secondary places;

(vi)       that the need to provide an additional 140 Special Educational Needs (SEND) specialist places be noted;

(vii)      that approval be given to the strategy of meeting the need for SEND places by providing 40 Additional Resources Provision (ARP) places in mainstream schools together with 100 places at new specialist Free School provision at the site of the former Avenue School in NW6;

.

(viii)     that approval be given to the the revised financial profile;

(ix)       that authority for the allocation of capital funding for future projects and programmes be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Members for Regeneration and Growth and Children and Young People.

Councillor Moher (Lead Member, Children and Young People) introduced the report which provided an update to the School Place Planning Strategy 2014-18, approved by the Cabinet in October 2014.  The report updated Cabinet with regard to pupil projections and sought approval for a number of amendments to the Strategy.   Councillor Moher stated that the demand for primary places continued to increase, although at a slower rate than previously and the additional places would help to achieve the recommended 5% surplus. Demand for secondary school places was expected to increase in 2016 and to exceed supply by 2018.  Demand for Special Educational Need places was also expected to increase and 140 SEN specialist places would need to be provided to reduce reliance on out borough placement. The Cabinet noted that the borough’s secondary schools all had Academy status and hence were outside of local authority control. Councillor Moher drew attention to the proposed changes to the strategy.

With the Chair’s consent, Councillor Warren referred to concerns raised at a recent Teachers’ JCC meeting by the Teachers’ Panel over the council’s stance on the government policy on Academies and Free Schools and asked if the Cabinet was in support. Councillor Moher responded that the council had duty to comply with government policy and to provide school places. The Chair (Councillor Butt, Leader of the Council) drew attention to the council’s duty to work with statutory partners including Free Schools and Academies.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the refresh of the Brent Pupil Place Planning Strategy provided as Appendix 1 of the report from the Strategic Director of Children and Young People;

(ii)        that approval be given to the amendments to five of the sixteen operating principles which underpin the strategy outlined in section 3 of the report;

(iii)       that it be noted that whilst primary school place projections indicate that demand for reception places would slow down from 2016, recent changes in the birth rate meant that future projections were likely to be revised upwards. There would be a continued growth in demand for places in primary years other than Reception. All current planned expansions remain necessary;

(iv)       that it be noted that the demand for secondary places would increase from September 2016 with demand outstripping supply from 2018. Depending on the size of sites, the equivalent of two or three additional secondary schools would be needed by the 2022/23 academic year;

(v)        that approval be given to officers working with the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to secure sites for new secondary schools to meeting the anticipated growth in demand for additional secondary places;

(vi)       that the need to provide an additional 140 Special Educational Needs specialist places be noted;

(vii)      that approval be given to the strategy of meeting the need for Special Educational Needs places by providing 40 Additional Resources Provision (ARP) places in mainstream schools together with 100 places at new specialist Free School provision at the site of the former Avenue School in NW6;

(viii)     that approval be given to the revised financial profile;

(ix)       that authority for the allocation of capital funding for future projects and programmes be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Members for Regeneration and Growth and Children and Young People.