Agenda item

Report of the Interim Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services

Recommendations:-

1.    That, subject to a successful planning application and receipt of satisfactory procurement evidence, approval be granted to allocate £0.9m capital to the Wickersley Partnership Trust to increase capacity by 150 places at Rawmarsh Community School, to be achieved by the installation of additional classroom space as part of a larger Trust led building replacement programme to accommodate future pupil numbers. 

Consideration was given to a report which sought approval to fund an increase in capacity at Rawmarsh Community School to accommodate the current and future demand for places within catchment area, subject to a successful planning application.

It was reported that the school had experienced a significant increase in pupil numbers from within its own catchment area, was currently oversubscribed in lower year groups and the trend was set to continue in future years. This wouold be further impacted upon by the higher cohort number of pupils applying for Secondary education in future years following the expansion of Sandhill Primary School as a feeder school and the increased cohort numbers within the other catchment area feeder primary schools.

As a result of the additional pupils being allocated places and, the expected future increase in pupil numbers, there was a requirement for additional classrooms to be installed by September 2020 at the Academy. With the installation of the additional classrooms, the school capacity would increase by 150 places. The additional capacity would allow for sufficient space for all pupils and also allow the Governing Body to set a Published Admission Number in future years in line with increased demand for places and within the additional space available.

Resolved:-

That, subject to a successful planning application and receipt of satisfactory procurement evidence, approval be granted to allocate £0.9m capital to the Wickersley Partnership Trust to increase capacity by 150 places at Rawmarsh Community School, to be achieved by the installation of additional classroom space as part of a larger Trust led building replacement programme to accommodate future pupil numbers.