Contact: Ann Begley, Assistant County Education Officer (School and Community Branch), 01962 846518; [email protected]

Bob Eardley, Strategic Planning Manager; 01962 846275; [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

(a) That an in principle decision is taken to provide a new one form entry primary school in Whiteley, with potential for future expansion, subject to further reports on the availability of a suitable site and an appropriate funding strategy.

(b) That every endeavour be made to house in temporary accommodation those Children in the September 2006 Year R who would not otherwise be able to be accommodated at Whiteley Primary School.

2 Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following corporate aims:

· Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities, by developing strategies for the most appropriate educational provision;

· Aim 4 - building strong and safe communities, by taking full account of community and neighbourhood issues when deciding upon how best to meet the demand for additional school places;

· Aim 5 - improving services, by considering solutions which will contribute to the raising of educational standards.

2.2 This decision supports the aims of the Children Act:

· being healthy: (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle) - by considering options which will maximise opportunities for children to walk to school, thus increasing opportunities for exercise and reducing car dependence;

· staying safe: (being protected from harm and neglect) - by having access to a secure learning environment;

· enjoying and achieving: (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood) - by providing a high standard of education for children in suitable buildings, where possible within their own community;

· making a positive contribution: (being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour) - by safeguarding friendship and neighbourhood groups by allowing for primary education to be provided as close to pupils' homes as reasonably practicable;

· economic well-being: (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life) - by ensuring that proposals will not disadvantage children and will protect equality of opportunity.

3 Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 The recommendation is made in the context of a decision by the Children's Services Policy Review Committee (CSPRC) on 12 July to advise Cabinet to take an in principle decision to provide a new one form entry primary school in Whiteley with potential for expansion, subject to further reports on the availability of a suitable site and development of a capital funding strategy.

3.2 An option to build a new one form entry infant school at Whiteley is rejected because it would not provide the additional places required for children aged 7 to 11.

3.3 An option to extend Whiteley Primary School by 210 places is rejected because the school would be significantly larger than the maximum specified in the County Council's School Organisation Plan, practical difficulties of achieving an acceptable design solution and opposition from the school's governing body.

3.4 An option to cater for the demand for additional primary school places in Whiteley by using surplus capacity in primary schools in the Western Wards of Fareham is rejected because it does not support the County Council's policies of providing primary school places wherever possible within the community where pupils live, and of minimising the number of car journeys to and from school.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

None.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

5.1 Not applicable.

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

6.1 Not applicable.

Approved by: ................................... Date: ............................
Councillor T K Thornber, CBE