Decision details

As the Strategic Commissioner of School Places, Cheshire East Council has a statutory duty to review provision within its area and to establish future demand.

Pupil forecasts indicate a shortfall in capacity in primary school places due to changing populations and increasing demand in some areas of the Borough.  Proposals are being made for the Sandbach area of the Borough to expand existing accommodation to meet this increasing demand and to ensure a level of operational surplus which is a level of spare capacity intended to accommodate reasonable journey times to school, some degree of parental choice, and flexibility to allow for mid-year entrants.

In making this recommendation officers have considered a number of issues including the number of pupils in each school’s catchment area, the number of first preferences received for each school, the current size of the school together with the school sites, those suitable for expansion and the likely cost of extension.  Suitable schools need to be central to the areas where the places are required.

The advice of the Council’s Legal and Finance Officers has been taken into account in producing the report presented to the Portfolio Holder.

1.    That approval be given to commence statutory consultation on the proposed expansion of Offley Primary School from 315 (1.5 forms of entry/FE) to 420 pupil places (2FE) for implementation from September 2015.

2.    That the need to expand Elworth CE Primary School from 280 to 315 pupil places be acknowledged, providing an additional 35 pupil places for implementation from September 2015, subject to the necessary funding and planning approvals.