The report provides an update on the continuing demand for additional places for September 2012 and September 2013 onwards, seeks further funding to enable the delivery of additional pupil places and provides an update on proposals to use the former Stanley Park High School (SPHS) site for primary provision. 

Further to Minute 115/12, The Executive considered a report which updated them on progress on meeting the increasing demand for primary school places in 2012 and 2013.

Possible options for extending four primary schools by one form of entry were currently being consulted upon.  There were four options and the advantages and disadvantages of each were reported.  The four suggested primary schools to be extended were Amy Johnson, The Avenue, St. Mary’s Catholic Infants School and Dorchester Primary School.  The progress made in developing the former Stanley Park High School site into a 4FE primary annexe with an ASD base was also reported. Bandon Hill Primary School best met the criteria for governance of the provision on the former site of Stanley Park High School.  All the proposed school expansions were currently being consulted upon which finished on 14 May, 2012. 

Details of the capital and revenue funding involved were reported.  A further report on cost estimates together with the results of the consultation process would be made to the Children Family and Education Committee in June 2012.

            Resolved:  (i) To confirm, whilst noting the schools below meet the criteria previously agreed by the Executive in the first two phases (2010 and 2011) of the Primary Expansion Programme, that the proposed expansion of capacity for 2013 onwards should include some or all of the following: Amy Johnson Primary School (30 to 60 places at YR); The Avenue Primary School (90 to 120 places at YR); St Mary’s Catholic Infants School (60 to 90 places at YR); Dorchester Primary School (90 to 120 places at YR).

(ii) To note that consultation on the possible expansion of these schools to provide up to 120 places (4FE) of additional primary place capacity, commenced on 19 March 2012 and will close on 14 May 2012 and that feedback from this consultation, along with the consultation for the 4FE expansion of the former Stanley Park High School site be reported to the Children, Family and Education Committee in June 2012.

(iii) To note the early feedback from the ongoing feasibility studies in relation to the schools listed above

(iv) To authorise Officers to continue with feasibility work on these proposed projects for different types of buildings e.g. permanent, modular and demountable and delegate authority for the commissioning of such work with a budget limit of £300,000 in 2012/13 to the Strategic Director for Children, Young People and Learning Services and report back to the Children, Family and Education Committee in June 2012 with a detailed cost update.

(v) To authorise Officers to continue work with a budget limit of up to £100k relating to new schools, including the identification of possible sites and explore with the Department for Education (DfE) and other relevant partners the processes required for such provision in 2014 or beyond.

(vi) To authorise Officers to proceed with detailed design work with respect to the provision of Key Stage 2 accommodation at the five schools expanded at Key Stage 1 with effect from September 2011, which will require Key Stage 2 accommodation for September 2014 (September 2013 for Devonshire Primary School), to ensure that such expansion will be feasible and affordable and that the Strategic Director for Children, Young People and Learning Services be given delegated authority for the commissioning of such work with a budget limit of £500,000 across the 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years.

(vi) To note the projected additional demand for places beyond 2013, which will be kept under review as more up to date and accurate data becomes available and which will be the subject of a further report to the Children, Family and Education Committee in the Autumn 2012.

(vii) To approve capital investment of up to £1.0m, which is required for the replacement life-expired mobile buildings, which will provide appropriate Key Stage 2 (KS2) provision at Camden Junior School by September 2013;

(ix) To note that in partnership with the Environment and Leisure Group and emerging from the September 2011 and 2012 primary expansion programmes, further funding of up to £150k is required for improvements to the surrounding road infrastructure network.

(x) In order to meet building and Health and Safety requirements, to approve an additional capital investment of £100k for the provision of sufficient school accommodation at Cheam Common Infants School for September 2012.

(xi) To delegate to the Strategic Director Children, Young People and Learning Services authority to authorise bulge classes for September 2012 with a capital investment of up to £1m. (NB: Bulge Classes are additional classes added to one year group only; it is not a permanent expansion and so will not continue year after year.)

(xii) To approve capital investment of up to £100k which will be required at Hackbridge Primary School to complete works in relation to Key Stage 2 provision for September 2012.