Archived decisions

Contact: Ian Lawson, Strategic Planning Officer (01962 846350)

1. Summary

1.1 It is proposed that the Executive Member for Education should approve publication of the draft School Organisation Plan 2002/03 - 2006/07, for consultation.

2. School Organisation Plan

2.1 It is a requirement of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 that the LEA should produce a School Organisation Plan each year, showing how it intends to match the supply and demand for school places, over a five year period. The third such plan, covering the period 2000/01 to 2005/06, was approved by the School Organisation Committee in September 2001.

2.2 The plan has now to be rolled forward and a draft is enclosed. In addition to updating the statistics to show actual numbers for January 2002 and (where applicable) forecasts for January 2007, the following are the main changes from the current plan:

a. Size of secondary schools (Pages 11 - 12). This now includes more discussion on optimum size.

b. Responding to parental preference (Pages 14 - 21). The plan includes the updated admissions policy for 2003/04.

c. Early Years (Page 28). This has been expanded to reflect the strategy agreed by the Executive Member on 22 March 2002.

d. Planning areas with more than 10% surplus (Pages 32 - 33). These are now listed, in order to show more clearly where the pressures to remove surplus places will lie.

e. Planning areas (Pages 40 - 67). Maps have been included to improve clarity on the areas covered, particularly where these are not co-terminus with district council boundaries.

3. Procedure

3.1 Subject to any observations by the Policy Review Committee, it is proposed that the Executive Member for Education will approve publication of the draft plan. To meet the timetable set out in Regulations, publication should take place at the beginning of June. Copies are placed in all public libraries and a press notice issued to advise the public that these are available for inspection. Copies are also sent to all adjoining local education authorities, all district councils, diocesan bodies, and the Learning and Skills Council. The draft plan is also published on Hantsweb so that schools, and their governing bodies, as well as the public generally, can access the document.

3.2 Following publication there is a two month period during which anyone can submit objections to the plan. At the end of that period the plan, any objections and the LEA's comments, are submitted to the School Organisation Committee for approval.

3.3 In the event that objections are received, it is proposed that the County Education Officer be authorised to formulate the LEA's observations, following consultation with the Executive Member.

Recommendation

That the draft School Organisation Plan 2002/03 - 2006/07 be commended to the Executive Member for Education, for publication and consultation.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works

2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

None