Agenda item

To consider the long-term viability of schools in West Berkshire in the context of declining birth rates.

Councillor Heather Codling and Fiona Simmonds (Education Place Planning Team Leader) presented the item on School Viability Review with a focus on Primary School Places (Agenda Item 8).

During the debate, the following points were discussed:

·       Members asked if the Council had started looking at the issue early enough. It was explained that 170 school places had already been removed from the over a number of years, but the point had been reached where a strategic approach was required. Various surplus place management tools had been used, and remaining options would involve more difficult decisions. It was becoming challenging to provide high quality education in very small schools. There was a need for robust evidence and consultation prior to any future decisions.

·       It was noted that urban areas were the focus for new housing developments and affordable housing, which had a higher proportion of younger families. This explained why the bulk of the surplus in school places was in rural areas.

·       It was stresses that a significant amount of new housing would be needed to make a dent in the surplus of school places and counteract the downward trend in the birth rate. Reassurance was provided that officers were taking a cautious approach and that any unforeseen increase in birth rates would take place over a long period of time.

·       Members queried why the maps of school planning catchments appeared not to show Purley-on-Thames. Assurance was provided that all schools had been considered and this was an error in the presentation.

·       It was noted that there could be significant annual fluctuations in pupil numbers. Officers explained that they looked at trends over three year periods and sought to understand reasons for changes.

·       Members supported the 10% target for surplus school places, acknowledging that that this would support parental choice.

·       Concern was expressed about local media coverage naming schools at risk of closure. It was felt that this could cause anxiety amongst local families, and that closures would become self-perpetuating by deterring applications. It was suggested that councillors had a role in helping to reassure communities that the process was cautious, evidence-based and consultative.

·       Members expressed surprise at the surplus of places predicted for Theale given the new development of 400 homes there. It was confirmed that this had been factored into the forecasts.

·       In the event of school closures, Members wondered if buildings could be repurposed. Officers indicated that the Assets strand of the GPAW (Growth, Prevention, Assets, and We Can) Boards were considering possible alternative uses, but that in the event of closures, buildings may need to be sold to alleviate financial pressures facing the Council.

·       It was noted that schools in Tilehurst attracted significant numbers of pupils from Reading. Officers confirmed that this was factored into forecasts and regular conversations were held with officers in Reading Borough Council.

·       Members asked about mixed age classes. It was suggested that these were unpopular with parents and were difficult for teachers to manage, as they needed to design a rolling two year programme of teaching. The review would not comment on the effectiveness of combined classes, but officers undertook to investigate current research in this area.

·       It was suggested that other local authorities may already be achieving the optimum surplus of 5% of places, and that West Berkshire Council could learn lessons from them. Officers indicated that conversations had taken place across their networks. Issues were more acute in places such as London, and it was recognised that there may be lessons that could be learned about how they had responded.

·       In carrying out the review, it was stressed that officers would seek to understand local needs and the knock-on impacts of any decisions.

·       Members indicated that in rural areas, schools could be important community assets and asked what weighting was being given to this aspect. Officers stated that regulations required consideration of community need and they would look at each school individually.

Action: Officers to look at current research on the effectiveness of combined classes.

RESOLVED to note the report.