Agenda item

To consider proposals for the expansion of Monks Coppenhall Community Primary School, Hungerford Primary Academy and the Wistaston Academy Trust.

1.    That support be given to the proposal made by the Monks Coppenhall Community Primary School Governing Body to expand the school from 420 places (2FE) to 630 (3FE) places providing an additional 210 pupil places to commence during the academic year 2017-2018.

2.    That support be given to the proposal made by Hungerford Primary Academy to expand the school from 420 places (2FE) to 630 (3FE) places providing an additional 210 pupil places to commence during the academic year 2017-2018.

3.    That the Wistaston Academy Trust be informed that their proposal to expand the school from 420 places (2FE) to 630 (3FE) places cannot be supported on this occasion and they be informed of the reasons for this decision.

The Cabinet Member considered a report seeking permission to support the proposals made by governing bodies/academy trusts to expand their schools from 420 to 630 places for implementation in 2017 in response to an identified forecast shortfall in Crewe.

A consultation exercise had taken place between 25 February and 25 March 2016 on proposals to expand three schools to which a 183 responses were received. The responses were attached to the report as Appendix 1. 

Consideration had been given to the consultation responses and the issues raised, the impact of expansion on the future viability of schools with vacancies and the proximity of Crewe schools to planned housing development and this had informed the proposal that to meet the forecast need for school places in Crewe two schools located in the north of the town – Monks Coppenhall Community Primary School and Hungerford Primary Academy, should be expanded  to 630 places.  This would ensure that there was sufficient capacity to mitigate the impact of approved new housing development in this area of the town and allow schools with vacancies forecast over the planning period to meet the demand for school places in the south of the town.

RESOLVED:

1          That support be given to the proposal made by the Monks Coppenhall Community Primary School Governing Body to expand the school from 420 places (2FE) to 630 (3FE) places providing an additional 210 pupil places to commence during the academic year 2017-2018.

2          That support be given to the proposal made by Hungerford Primary Academy to expand the school from 420 places (2FE) to 630 (3FE) places providing an additional 210 pupil places to commence during the academic year 2017-2018.

3          That the Wistaston Academy Trust be informed that their proposal to expand the school from 420 places (2FE) to 630 (3FE) places cannot be supported on this occasion and they be informed of the reasons for this decision.