Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services on details of proposals brought forward to meet the local authority’s duty to ensure sufficiency of school places. The report describes the outcome of consultation undertaken and seeks permission to publish a statutory notice in respect of Roundhay School.

Further to Minute No. 137, 17^th December 2014, the Director of Children’s Services submitted a report providing details of the proposals brought forward to meet the local authority’s duty to ensure sufficiency of school places. The report described the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken and sought permission to publish a statutory notice in respect of Roundhay School.

The Board noted a correction which was reported to the meeting, in that paragraph 4.4.1 of the submitted report should refer to the project being at the ‘Feasibility Stage’ rather than ‘RIBA Stage D’, as referenced within the published report.

Responding to a specific enquiry, the Board received clarification both on the proposals detailed within the submitted report and also on how the proposals would affect the admission of pupils, at both primary and secondary levels. 

Members noted the Council’s aspiration for all children and young people to have access to good or outstanding education in every community throughout Leeds. In addition, the Board received further information on the range of issues which could potentially affect the cost of, or extent to which a school could be expanded or developed in order to ensure a sufficiency of school places in the locality.

In conclusion, it was highlighted that the provision of sufficient school places across the city continued to be a key priority for the Council.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given for the publication of a Statutory Notice to expand Roundhay School from a capacity of 1,250 pupils to 1,500 pupils in years 7 – 11 with an increase in the cohort sizes from 250 to 300, with effect from September 2017;

(b)  That it be noted that legally the change would be to increase the year 7 admissions number in 2017 and 2018 to 300, then reduce it to 240 in 2019, as the primary children are already on the roll of the school and the admission number is the number of additional children from other primary schools that would be admitted;

(c)  That it be noted that the responsible officer for the implementation of such matters is the Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Lead by September 2017.