Agenda item

This report provides information on the following areas:

·         forecast accuracy

·         birth rates

·         primary, secondary and sixth form projections

·         options for expanding secondary places.

Rajesh Sinha (Department of Children & Families) introduced the report and answered questions from members on issues relating to long-term projections relating to school places in Brent. Rajesh Sinha reported that, in addition to receiving GLA projections, Brent now organised its own, partly in response to the recommendation from Partnership for Schools relating to the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project. A shortfall of around 22 primary and 26 secondary forms of entry was currently forecast for September 2018, and this would be monitored annually. Changes in migration and house-building would affect the accuracy of the projections. A total of 901 sixth-form places would be provided, as well as an additional 180 SEN places in the next 10 years.

Asked about the prospect of a new secondary school, Rajesh Sinha reported that the Council needed to balance the need for land for primary schools and the longer-term need of the secondary sector. Answering a question on how this related to the BSF project, Mustafa Salih (Assistant Director, Finance & Performance) reported that the first phase of the project was the expansion of four schools, but that the second phase might contain the option of a new school, assuming BSF continued. The Committee noted the need for a new secondary school in the centre and south of the borough. In response to a question about surplus capacity in Year 7, Mustafa Salih reported that, while the long-term plan was for expansion, an option could be investigated of adjusting the funding formula to provide transitional protection for any schools with surplus places.

Responding to a question about all-through primary and secondary schools, Mustafa Salih reported that these were favoured by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The advantages were believed to be the same ethos throughout and good preparation for transition. Brent did not have a set view on this, but would work with schools who favoured the model of all-through education. The ARK Academy and Alperton Community School were committed to this, and other schools were exploring the possibilities. The Committee agreed that all-though education was an issue worth discussing on a theoretical basis.

In response to a question on whether new buildings took account of the needs of hearing-impaired children, Mustafa Salih informed the Committee that the Council’s SEN strategy would inform and be incorporated into the BSF programme.

Asked about the process of expanding schools, Mustafa Salih reported that the Council worked with schools to explore the possibilities of expansion, inviting schools to consider this and commissioning feasibility studies. Currently nine schools had undergone such studies, and the options were being explored. As part of the BSF programme 14-19 provision was being explored in conjunction with the further education college, with joint provision being explored between some schools and the college.

Asked about the factors under review to provide flexibility in the methodology over a long period of time, Rajesh Sinha reported that the GLA was working on a pan-London scenario with a view to analysing demand in the longer term and identifying saturation points.

RESOLVED:

(i)    that the report be noted;

(ii)  that the possibility of a new secondary school in the centre or south of the borough be kept under consideration by this Committee.