DRAFT SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLAN 2003/04 - 2007/08

1. The Executive Member has approved the draft School Organisation Plan for the period 2003/04 to 2007/08. The document will now be the subject of consultation with schools, dioceses, adjoining Local Education Authorities and other interested parties with the results being submitted to the School Organisation Committee in December for final approval.

2. The most noteworthy trends are demographic, in particular a further 10% drop in number of primary school pupils over the next six years, followed by a drop of 7% in the number of secondary school pupils after the peak is reached next year. This trend of falling school rolls inevitably means that proposals for rationalisation, removal of surplus capacity and improvements to provide specialist facilities such as early years will continue to be brought forward in order to remove or re-use surplus accommodation, and to make best use of available resources. In summary the plan seeks to match supply and demand for school places over the five year period covered, and the present draft builds upon the three previous School Organisation Plans already produced by the County Council and approved by the School Organisation Committee.

3. As well as seeking to match supply and demand for school places throughout Hampshire, the plan seeks to show how the County Council will raise standards and improve outcomes for all pupils, increase diversity, encourage collaboration between schools and promote community cohesion.

4. The draft Plan goes into great detail and copies of the document have been placed in the Members' Rooms.

8FR54803