Issue - meetings

Decision-maker:

Portfolio Holder for Children and Family Services

Decision taken on:

22 April 2013

Decision in the matter of:

Proposed School Expansions, Wilmslow and Macclesfield.

DECISION:

That approval be given to commence statutory consultation on the following proposed expansions for completion in September 2014:  

·         Wilmslow Grange Community Primary and Nursery School, Handforth - from 210 to 315 pupil places;

·         Dean Oaks Primary, Wilmslow - from 315 to 420  pupil places

·         Lacey Green Primary Academy* - from 300 to 420 pupils places;

·         Ash Grove Primary School and Nursery, Macclesfield – from   105 to 210 pupil places.

Background:

It should be noted that the Local Authority cannot propose the expansion of an Academy. This is the responsibility of the Academy Trust. The purpose of including the Lacey Green proposal in the Authority’s consultation exercise is to work in collaboration with the Academy and to provide clarity for all consultees on the plans for growth in the Wilmslow area. The headteacher and governing body support the Local Authority in this approach.

As the Strategic Commissioner of School Places, the Local Authority has a statutory duty to review provision within its area and to establish future demand.   Pupil forecasts for the Wilmslow area indicate a shortfall of 227 primary school places by 2018. Permission to consult on three expansion proposals is therefore being requested. These expansions would provide an additional 330 places (all year groups) for the Wilmslow area with these additional places being phased in at the normal point of entry to school (15 places per school per year).  This would deliver an additional 225 places by 2018 and would allow the reception admission to increase from 360 pupil places to 405 pupil places (+45) and therefore more in line with current and forecast demand.

The proposal to expand Ash Grove Primary School and Nursery, Macclesfield is to address the increasing demand for places from the school’s local community. This school previously had a higher intake of 47 pupils up until 2005 when it was reduced to a 25 intake following a review of surplus places implemented by the former Cheshire County Council. A further reduction was made in 2011 taking the school to a half form of entry primary school with an intake of 15 pupils at the normal point of entry and reducing the school’s overall capacity to 105 places.

In making these recommendations the Authority has given consideration to a number of issues including the number of pupils in each school’s catchment area and the community’s ability to sustain the school, the number of first preferences received for each school as an indication of popularity, the current size of the school and capacity to expand; the latter taking into account site suitability, and the latest Ofsted inspections.

Suitable schools also need to be central to the areas where the extra 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.

Background

Documents:

The background  ...  view the full decision text for item 12