Issue - meetings
Sufficiency of School Places (Primary); Outcome of Options Appraisals from 2014 Review of School Organisation Plan
Meeting: 13/01/2015 - Cabinet (Item 7)
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Background:
The annual review of the School Organisation Plan 2011-16, presented to Cabinet on 30 September 2014, outlined the areas of emerging need in relation to the supply of school places across Medway. The Cabinet approved an appraisal of the options to provide sufficient additional primary school places in Strood and Gillingham and this report outlined the findings and made recommendations to ensure the Council met its statutory obligation to provide school places.
This report detailed the findings of the options appraisal for the nine different primary schools in Strood and Gillingham approved at the meeting and it was noted that strategic discussions had taken place with the respective schools, dioceses and Trusts; with their views included in section 4 of the report. Wider statutory consultation was required for all approved options and Cabinet was requested to grant authority to commence these at the appropriate times.
It was noted that a Diversity Impact Assessments (DIA) had not been completed as part of the options appraisal. However, a DIA would be completed and included in any future reports around specific proposals going forward.
The financial implications were set out in the report and it was noted that the proposals would only be delivered through available funding.
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Decision number: |
Decision: |
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Strood |
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4/2015 |
The Cabinet approved the expansion by 1 Form of Entry (FE) at Elaine Primary Academy, in partnership with the Williamson Trust and utilising the vacant Elaine Centre to provide additional places for September 2016. |
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5/2015 |
The Cabinet approved that the second FE in Strood be provided at Bligh Infant and Junior Schools. However, should Elaine Primary Academy’s Ofsted rating improve to ‘good’ prior to any costs being incurred at Bligh Infant and Junior Schools, then consideration, via a report back to Cabinet, should be given as to whether to expand Elaine Primary Academy further. |
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6/2015 |
The Cabinet approved the immediate commencement of the detailed design process for the initial 1FE at Elaine within the Elaine Centre for September 2016 and then for the next preferred option (Bligh Infant and Junior Schools) to be expanded at the appropriate time. |
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Gillingham |
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7/2015 |
The Cabinet approved the expansion by 1FE at Woodlands Primary Academy, utilising the Woodlands Place buildings to provide some of the additional places needed by September 2015. |
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8/2015 |
The Cabinet approved St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School as the preferred second option in Gillingham, and approved the commencement of the detailed design for this option at the appropriate time. |
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9/2015 |
The Cabinet agreed to give authority to the Director of Children and Adults Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member) to commence, at the appropriate time, the statutory processes required for each of the maintained schools to expand. Where an academy is approved as suitable for expansion it will be for the Academy Trust to effect their own consultation. However, the local authority would be expected to support these processes where necessary and as requested. |
Reasons:
By approving the progression of the recommendations ... view the full minutes text for item 7