Issue - meetings

Dean Fenton to present

Consideration was given to a report presented by Dean Fenton, Principal Officer, School Organisation and Risk Management, which provided an update in relation to School Place Planning activity and outcomes.

Further information was provided on the number of applications received for both R/FS and Year 7, their allocation of preferences, the schools that could not accommodate some catchment or sibling and some on distance.

It was also pointed out that the Department for Education had introduced a Local Authority Scorecard on School Place Planning and the use of Basic Need Funding and the current allocation outlined.

Further information was also provided on the number of schools which had been expanded since January, 2011 up to July, 2014, how many places and how this had been funded.  In total 140 R/FS2 and 940 through-school places have been created.

There was a programme for future school places from 2014 to 2017 at the new Central Primary, Cortonwood Infant, Ellis Junior and Wickersley School and Sports College.  Discussions were also ongoing at Rawmarsh Thorogate and Sandhill Primary to accommodate a R/FS2 bulge year for 2016/17.

Future projects and potential new schools would also be determined by the outcome of the Local Plan and confirmed sites for development, Section 106 agreements alongside future pupil number projections.

In terms of admission appeals it was noted that staff arranged a very successful group appeal for the first time to accommodate a large number of appeals for Wath Comprehensive.  This was the first of its kind in Rotherham and feedback from the all those involved in the process was that the group appeal process was extremely positive. The group appeal reduced the staffing implications from four full days of appeals to two full days’ equivalent.

Discussion ensued on the use of school buildings, funding streams for new schools, the use of Section 106 monies for capital costs for education and the merits in conducting group appeals for large numbers in the future.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report and current position in relation to School Place Planning be noted.

(2)  That staff involved in the arrangements and processing of the first group appeal be commended for their efforts.