Contact: Chris Holt - Head of School Organisation; telephone: 01962 845673;

email address: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek a decision from the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) in respect of the statutory proposal from the governing body of St Bede's Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School to increase the capacity of the school from 236 to 420 places, and to increase the admission number of the school from 30 to 60 with effect from 1 September 2009 (Appendix 1 refers).

1.2 The Executive Member is asked to consider the proposal in light of the comments of the Director of Children's Services and the statutory objection received (Appendix 2 refers).

2 Background

2.1 St Bede's Catholic Primary School is located to the north of Basingstoke town in Popley. The area is served by a variety of primary, infant and junior schools, nine of which are within one mile of St Bede's with a further 12 maintained schools for primary age children within two miles.

2.2 Immediately to the north of the area development is underway on the building of 2,000 new homes. The additional demand for primary school places from the development will be catered for in existing schools and through an investment of more than £3million providing an additional 180 places at Marnel Infant and Marnel Junior Schools, both of which are within half a mile of St Bede's Catholic Primary School.

2.3 On 27 June 2007, the headteacher of St Bede's School contacted the Local Authority and the Diocese of Portsmouth regarding pupil numbers at the school (Appendix 3 refers). The school had been oversubscribed for 2007 admissions and was about to admit 51 pupils set against a planned admission number of 30. Given that the school wished to admit in excess of its planned admission number and had the accommodation to enable this, the Local Authority did not challenge the governing body's decision. The headteacher's e-mail referred to an anticipated future oversubscription for places at the school and expressed the view that an expansion of the school to two forms of entry (420 places) was "looking an increasingly logical and necessary step".

2.4 In response to the headteacher's e-mail, on 3 July 2007, the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth advised the school (Appendix 4 refers) to explore the feasibility of expanding to one and a half forms of entry (315 places) or two forms of entry (420 places) as a reasonable way forward, pointing out that an increase to two forms of entry was substantial and might be a cause for concern. The Diocese advised that, with the assistance of the Local Authority, there was a need to assess the growth in child population and the impact of new housing, together with the impact an expansion of St Bede's School, would have on neighbouring schools.

2.5 The Local Authority's response to the Diocese on 4 July 2007 (Appendix 5 refers) was to advise them of its primary school place planning strategy for north Basingstoke and that the provision of additional places at St Bede's would be difficult to justify. In light of the Diocese's advice to St Bede's of the need to assess the impact of an expansion of the school, the Local Authority offered the services of its Information and Research Unit to assist in this exercise.

2.6 On 9 July 2007 the Diocese responded to the Local Authority (Appendix 6 refers) acknowledging the offer of support from the Local Authority's Information and Research Unit to assist the school in a needs assessment for expansion and stating that the Diocese would contact the Local Authority when the situation was clearer.

2.7 There was no further contact from either the school or the Diocese until 18 January 2008 when the Fleet Local Office received the consultation document from St Bede's Catholic Primary School's governing body and the Diocese of Portsmouth on the proposal for the school to expand to 420 places (Appendix 1 refers).

2.8 The front page of the consultation document stated that "the governing body, supported by the Diocese and the Local Authority, believe the time is right to seize the opportunity to increase the number of places available at the school...". At best, the statement represented a misunderstanding of the situation, at worst a misrepresentation. At the time of the consultation document's publication, the governing body of the school had expressed the wish to admit in excess of the school's planned admission number for September 2008 admissions (as per the previous year). On the basis that the school was able to house the children in existing accommodation, the Local Authority did not challenge the governing body's decision.

2.9 Officers of the Local Authority responded to the governing body's consultation document on 14 February 2008. The Local Authority's response stated that the proposed additional places at St Bede's Catholic Primary School would result in excessive surplus primary school places in the area and, as such, the proposal could not be supported.

2.10 On 30 June 2008 the Local Authority received a copy of the statutory notice, published on 19 June 2008 (see Appendix 1) in respect of the proposed expansion of St Bede's Catholic VA Primary School. A copy of the completed proposals (see Appendix 1) was received on 4 July 2008.

3 Need for places

3.1 Table 1 shows that there are nine schools providing for primary age children and located within one mile of St Bede's Catholic Primary School. The present combined number on roll at the nine schools is 1,477 set against a combined capacity of 1,900 places, equating to 423, or 22%, surplus places.

Table 1

3.3

3.4

3.5 In 2009 the combined number on roll is forecast to increase to 1,529 and the combined capacity of the schools will increase to 2,080 places when the additional 180 places provided at the Marnel schools are ready for occupation. At this time the combined number of surplus places at the schools rises, reflecting the slow-down in the building and occupation of new housing in the area.

3.6 In 2012 the projected rise in the combined number on roll reduces the surplus places at the nine schools to 201, or 10%.

3.7 Table 2 lists all Christian faith primary schools located within the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane. The combined schools' capacity totals 4,325 with a present total number on roll of 3,884 children, equating to 441, or 10% surplus places. The projected, combined number on roll at the schools in 2012 decreases to 3,751 increasing the number of surplus places to 574 or 13%.

Table 2 - Christian faith primary schools in Basingstoke and Deane

4 Standards

4.1 Table 3 lists St Bede's Catholic Primary School and the nine primary schools within one mile, and shows the latest Office for Standards in Education (OfSTED) grades in relation to the overall effectiveness of each school and in relation to pupil achievement and standards.

Key four inspection grades:

· Grade 1 - outstanding

· Grade 2 - good

· Grade 3 - satisfactory

· Grade 4 - inadequate.

Table 3

4.2 Table 4 shows the most recent OfSTED grades for the 17 Christian faith primary schools in the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane.

Table 4

5 Funding and accommodation

5.1 The capacity of St Bede's Catholic Primary School is 236 which equates to eight class bases. There are currently 257 children on roll and an anticipated number on roll of 271 in September 2008, which would equate to nine class bases. An expansion to a 420 place school would require a further five classrooms.

5.2 The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth's surveyor has informed the Local Authority that it would be possible to accommodate the proposed increase in the number of pupils at the school from 257 to 420 in existing accommodation by converting specialist facilities to standard classrooms, but would prefer not to do this. The Local Authority would concur with this view as to do so would result in a diminution of the quality of the learning and teaching environment.

5.3 In the Local Authority's experience the capital cost of providing five classrooms in permanent accommodation would range between £1.5m and £2m. The £320,000 identified to fund the proposal falls well short of the above range. It is therefore assumed that the additional classrooms required will be provided through temporary accommodation. The Diocesan surveyor has stated the intention to place two temporary classrooms on site with effect from September 2009 if the proposal goes ahead, and it is the governing body's intention that additional temporary buildings will be provided at a later date through phased works.

5.4 Whilst the Local Authority appreciates that temporary classrooms are necessary to alleviate issues which arise in schools from time to time, for example to cater for peaks in individual age groups, the Local Authority's policy is not to provide additional spaces in temporary classrooms except in situations where the need is for an identified period. The policy is predicated upon the Local Authority's desire to provide and maintain a high quality teaching and learning environment for Hampshire children and school staff.

5.5 Given the above, the Local Authority has severe reservations that the appropriate level of capital funding can be secured to deliver a high quality learning and teaching environment and grave concerns that the outcome will be an overall lowering of standards of provision.

6 Statutory objection to the proposal (see Appendix 2)

6.1 Great Binfields Primary School is located in north east Basingstoke, 1.5 miles distant from St Bede's Catholic Primary School. The school was built in 2001 to serve the need for additional primary school places required as a result of housing development in that area of the town. Designed as a two form entry (420 place) school, it presently operates as a one form entry (210 place) school with the site and infrastructure in place to expand to two forms of entry as housing development continues and demand for primary schools places dictates.

6.2 The headteacher and governing body of Great Binfields remain somewhat frustrated that the planned expansion of the school has not yet taken place, given the over demand for admissions, but reluctantly accept the fact that the present level of surplus places in schools in the area negates any such action by the Local Authority. An expansion of St Bede's Catholic Primary School would serve to exacerbate the situation for Great Binfields Primary School.

7 Consultation

7.1 Not applicable.

8 Legal implications

8.1 None.

9 Financial implications

9.1 None.

10 Personnel implications

10.1 None.

11 Impact assessment

11.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

12 Crime prevention issues

12.1 The issues in this report have no impact on the prevention of crime.

13 Views of the Local County Councillor

13.1 The local county councillor responded to the governing body's consultation document on 7 February 2007 (Appendix 1 refers). She expressed concerns at the adverse impact the proposal to expand the school would have on local residents resulting from the increase in traffic in the immediate vicinity of the school, and the potential loss of playing area on the school site.

14 Conclusion

14.1 The County Council has a statutory duty to plan the provision of school places and to secure an appropriate balance between supply and demand. The need for school places changes in response to population movements and birth rate variations. In many areas of the county the child population is declining; in other areas new housing developments are creating the need for additional school accommodation. The Audit Commission would recognise between 5% and 10% surplus school places in an area to be a reasonable working margin, reflecting good school place planning and creating an opportunity for parental preference to be met.

14.2 In June 2008, the Local Authority received an invitation from the Department for Children, School and Families (DCSF) to submit a bid for Targeted Capital Funds for surplus place removal in primary schools. Notwithstanding that the removal of surplus places is a priority for the Local Authority, Hampshire was one of a number of authorities identified by the DCSF as having a significant number of schools with more than 25% surplus places. A bid has been submitted to the DCSF and the outcome is awaited.

14.3 The proposal to enlarge St Bede's Catholic Primary School is predicated upon a need for denominational primary school provision in the area, the denomination being of the Christian faith. Table 2 shows that there is more than adequate provision in Christian faith primary schools within Basingstoke and Deane Borough to meet this need.

14.4 The funding identified to support the proposal will not meet the cost of additional accommodation necessary to increase the capacity of the school from 236 to 420 places in permanent construction. If the proposal goes ahead, the current utilisation of buildings at St Bede's School would result in up to 150 children being housed in temporary accommodation with no future strategy in place to provide permanent accommodation.

14.5 North Basingstoke is an area of the county where significant housing development is underway and planned. The Local Authority has been planning for the growth in primary population in this area for some time. To date this has resulted in the building of a new primary school in north east Basingstoke, one and a half miles distant from St Bede's Catholic Primary School and planned to be expanded from one form of entry (210 places) to two forms of entry (420 places) when demand for primary schools places necessitates, together with an expansion of Marnel Infant and Marnel Junior Schools to create an additional 180 places to meet expected demand.

14.6 In north west Basingstoke there is a site reserved for a new primary school (within two miles of St Bede's Catholic Primary School) to cater for the primary age children generated from the new housing development in this area. At this stage the new school is anticipated to open in 2012. The new school will be subject to a competition, at which time proposers will be invited to submit proposals presenting the opportunity for a faith sponsor.

14.7 When establishing new school provision necessary as a result of development, the Local Authority, in accordance with its policy, seeks contributions from developers to fund the required provision. In assessing what level of contribution is needed, the Local Authority must take account of places available in surrounding schools. Unless the level of surplus school places is effectively managed, this can result in insufficient funding to build schools of the required capacity to serve newly established communities. As such, children would be forced to attend schools outside of their immediate community.

14.8 Without an expansion of St. Bede's RCVA Primary School, in 2009 the number of surplus places at St. Bede's together with the 9 primary schools within a 1 mile radius will total 479 equating to 23% of total capacity. In 2012 the number of surplus places is planned to fall to 129 or 6% of total capacity. Were the proposal to enlarge St. Bede's from 236 to 420 places to go ahead, in 2012 the number of surplus places in the 10 schools would total 313 equating to 15% of total capacity.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

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

The statutory objection from Great Binfields Primary School (see Appendix 2).

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

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