Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chair for the meeting.

RESOLVED – That Mrs Angela Cox be elected Chair for the duration of the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest made at the meeting.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children and Families Service, on proposals to permanently expand primary school provision at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School (PS) from 2 Form Entry to 3 Form Entry. Additionally, permission is sought to publish a Statutory Notice in respect of these proposals. The report seeks consideration of the response to the representations received and to make a recommendation to the Executive Board to assist in reaching a final decision on the proposal.

The report describes the proposal, brought forward as part of a programme of expansion of primary provision to ensure the local authority meets its legal duty to secure sufficient school places; and the representations received.

The proposal being to permanently expand primary provision at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School from a capacity of 420 pupils to 630 pupils with an increase in the admission number from 60 to 90 with effect from September 2019.

(Report attached)

The School Organisation Advisory Board considered a report by the Sufficiency and Participation Team regarding the outcome of a statutory notice on proposals to expand Moor Allerton Hall Primary School from a 2 Form Entry school to a 3 Form Entry School with effect from September 2019. The Board noted that the proposal would increase the capacity of Moor Allerton Hall Primary School from 420 pupils to 630 pupils, with an increase in the school admission number from 60, to 90 pupils.

The Board considered the proposals having regard to the following documents:

·  The report of the Legal Adviser to the Board

·  The report of the Sufficiency and Participation Team, Children and Families Service

·  The consultation booklet entitled “School Places Public Consultation – Proposal to permanently expand Moor Allerton Hall Primary School  from September 2019”

·  Report of the Director of Children and Families to Executive Board 27^th June 2018 entitled “Outcome of consultation on proposals to increase learning places at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School”.

·  An equality, diversity, cohesion and integration screening document associated with the proposals

·  The Notice publicising the consultation published 2^nd July 2018 “Proposal to permanently expand Moor Allerton Hall Primary School, Lidgett Lane, Leeds, LS17 6 QP to create an additional 210 primary places with effect from 1^st September 2019

·  Written representations were received from eight members of the public who were objecting to the proposal, with a further eleven responses being received containing comments on the proposal.

Mr D Crawley, Sufficiency Planning Manager (Strategic), Children & Families, attended the meeting together with Ms T Waud, Planning Manager

Sufficiency & Participation Team. Mr Crawley addressed the proposals and highlighted the following matters in particular:

·  There continued to be pressure for school places in the Roundhay area

·  Based on straight line measurements, each year there are in excess of 100 children whose nearest school is Talbot Primary

·  Additional permanent school places have already been created at several schools across the Roundhay/ Wigton area including: Gledhow Primary, Roundhay Primary, Highfield Primary and Wigton Moor Primary. In addition to this a number of temporary bulge places have been created at some of the other schools.

·  No alternative options for additional places in the area of need if proposal does not proceed

·  An application to create a new free school which would increase capacity in the area had recently been withdrawn

·  The proposals would provide additional primary provision in the Roundhay and North Leeds area.

·  Eight objections were received together with eleven responses containing comments on the proposal

In response to questions from the Board, the following issues were discussed:

·  The proposal seeks to expand a school which is continually undersubscribed and categorised as “requires improvement”

·  Is it appropriate to expand a school which is undersubscribed and requires improvement

·  Had a catchment area option been considered

·  Was the population of the area increasing

·  Were there any substantial housing proposals planned for the area

·  Had full consideration been given to further expansion of existing schools in the area

·  There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.