Issue - meetings
School Organisation Plan Review 2015 (Incorporating Sufficiency of Secondary School Places: Outcomes of Options Appraisals from the 2014 Review of School Organisation Plan)
Meeting: 27/10/2015 - Cabinet (Item 6)
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Background:
This report provided details of an update on the progress made against the School Organisation Plan 2011-16 action plan, highlighting areas of emerging need and made recommendations to ensure that a sufficient supply of good quality school places would be maintained.
The report gave details of progress made on the action plan, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and that as a consequence, for the reception intake in September 2015, there were 289 more places available than in September 2012.
The report provided a detailed analysis of where additional primary school places were required for the future in Medway with particular regard to Halling, Chatham/Rochester and Gillingham.
The report also provided a detailed analysis of the outcome of the options appraisal for the sufficient supply of Secondary School places and Special Educational Needs provision.
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Decision number: |
Decision: |
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The Cabinet noted the positive progress made against the action plan. |
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135/2015 |
The Cabinet approved detailed feasibility studies of the options outlined in the report to provide sufficient additional primary accommodation in the area of Halling. |
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136/2015 |
The Cabinet approved the temporary expansion of a Chatham School to provide a reception bulge class within the current capacity, for September 2016, which will progress through the school and provide sufficient places in the Chatham and Rochester area to cater for the forecast spike in numbers, should the Delce Academy’s request to expand be refused by the Regional Schools Commissioner, and that the Director of Children and Adults Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, be granted delegated authority to finalise the arrangements for the temporary expansion of a Chatham School if necessary. |
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The Cabinet noted the temporary expansion initially of St Thomas of Canterbury to provide a reception bulge class within the current capacity, for September 2016, which will progress through the school and provide sufficient places in the Gillingham area to cater for a spike in numbers. The Cabinet further noted that it had formerly approved the expansion of St Thomas of Canterbury under decision 8/2015 and forecasts will be monitored to assess whether, and if so when, a permanent expansion here is required. |
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The Cabinet noted sections 5.7 and 5.8 of the report for the secondary sector and to approve the commencement of detailed design work to ascertain the extent of work and the indicative costings to ensure that sufficient places are available to meet demand, subject to the availability of sufficient funding. |
Reasons:
The Cabinet is ensuring that the Council meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficient good school places.