Agenda item

Purpose: To consider the strategy for managing school organisation that ensures there are sufficient school places and in the right locations to meet demand.

The Commission received a report containing the Schools Place Strategy which was approved for consultation by the Executive on 9 May 2013.

Ian Pearson explained that the report set out how the Council planned for sufficient school places and identified where extra places might be required.

Caroline Corcoran explained that the strategy for forecasting school places was underpinned by an analytic model and overlaid with local intelligence to produce a five year forecast of required school places across the district. The model was updated three times each year and a strategic school place planning group assisted in identifying issues, challenges, and potential solutions.

Caroline Corcoran continued by stating that projected pupil numbers underpinned the model, but that these were based on national data sources which were often out of date and inaccurate. The system had been in development since October 2012 and had undergone strenuous testing using four years’ worth of past data, including the weighting of some factors. This year the accuracy of the model had proved to be within 0.6% of actual figures which provided confidence that the system was robust.

The system included a data dashboard which allowed the information to be manipulated, for example the inclusion or exclusion of planned housing developments. The overlay allowed local knowledge to be mapped to provide a more comprehensive projection which might highlight areas of concern.

The strategy had been developed alongside talks with schools, and was now due for consultation with stakeholders and the public. An updated version would be available in September 2013.

Following questioning, Caroline Corcoran and Ian Pearson were able to provide the following information:

·        In 2012, 95% of primary places offered matched parental preference, despite there being insufficient places when requests were made. In 2013 this rose to 98.6% for primary schools, and 99.2% for secondary schools;

·        A consultation plan had been developed which included the use of school newsletters to alert parents, and using Children’s Centre mailing lists to contact parents whose children were due to enter primary education;

·        The number of children attending private schools was reducing, resulting in a greater need for places in West Berkshire schools, however the number was not significant or of concern;

·        There was some fluctuation in the number of places required in different areas as parents changed their preference during the year, however the extensive testing and regular update of information had provided confidence in the new system;

·        Schools were recognised to have a great depth of knowledge about their local area and were able to provide a range of ideas which could be incorporated into the intelligence layer of the model;

·        The assumptions about the number of children who would be living in new developments had significantly increased over time and this had to be recognised within the model;

·        Secondary schools places were not a current priority as there was capacity at present, however the expected increase in the requirement for places would need to be addressed and the five year plan would assist this;

·        The most accurate data for modelling would be GP data, however this was not currently available within West Berkshire, and therefore child benefit data had been modelled which provided a very close match. Caroline Corcoran reported that the availability of GP data had been an ongoing concern, particularly as it had been available in East Berkshire until recently when Bracknell Forest Council had been prevented from receiving it. Nick Carter advised the Commission that the Strategic Director for Public Health (Lisa Llewellyn) was working to correct the issue, and as the data was now held within local authorities following the transition of Public Health to local authorities, it was expected to be rectified very soon;

·        Information specifying the number of children at Foundation Stage in January 2013 had not been prepared for the meeting but would be circulated;

·        A review of primary school catchment areas was in the early stages and consultation on this was expected to commence after the May half term. Any recommended changes resulting from this work would require further consultation, but could be in place for September 2014;

·        There had been an increasing requirement to provide early years places for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. The required provision was not consistent across the age groups. Provision could be made through nurseries, childminders, play groups etc and West Berkshire Council was encouraging an increase in providers to meet demand;

·        The Government had recognised the need for a greater number of school places nationally and had made available a pot of money that could be obtained through a bidding process for schools graded as ‘good’ or better. The improvement of schools was being addressed through the School Improvement Strategy and not the School Place Strategy;

·        There was a significant financial pressure on capital budgets associated with ensuring sufficient school places were available which might result in a decreased ability for the authority to make improvements in other schools. In addition, whilst the Government provided funding for school capital projects, the calculation for the cost per metre squared used did not reflect the actual cost, resulting in a shortfall.

Cross Border Movement

The Commission expressed particular concern about the number of children crossing local authority borders to attend school and raised the following points:

·        More children were entering West Berkshire from across the border, than were leaving to attend schools outside the area, in particular over 700 pupils were arriving from Reading. This was recognised as a significant risk to projections as the numbers were unknown. However conversations had been held with neighbouring authorities to improve the sharing of information;

·        Revenue funding was received in relation to the number of pupils in West Berkshire schools regardless of where they lived. Capital funding was not received for pupils coming in to West Berkshire however it was not anticipated that new schools would be required to accommodate children from elsewhere;

·        Reading Borough Council had been approached to address whether it should have a role in financially supporting the education of Reading children but so far this had not borne fruit;

·        Although S106 contributions from developers were shared across the border, they were allegedly not requested by Reading Borough Council for education and so could not be shared with West Berkshire. Councillor Webster suggested that it might be appropriate to raise with Reading that West Berkshire be consulted in relation to the amount of contribution for education that should be asked of developers;

·        There was no mention of children crossing the Wiltshire border for education.

Councillor Irene Neill requested that congratulations be given to Caroline Corcoran and Jason Teal who had given significant time to developing the model.

Resolved that:

·        Caroline Corcoran would confirm the number of children at Foundation Stage in January 2013;

·        Caroline Corcoran would confirm the number of children crossing the Wiltshire border for education;

·        The provision of GP data would be monitored by the Commission;

·        Recommendations be made to the Executive Member for Education that:

1.            A mechanism be established for the reporting and monitoring of the accuracy of the forecasting data;

2.            The required data held by General Practitioners be obtained;

3.            Financial contributions from Reading Borough Council be secured.