Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached reports of Capacity Planning and Sufficiency regarding the outcome of statutory notices for the expansion of primary provision in Farsley and Horsforth for 2015 and to make a recommendation to the Executive Board to assist in reaching a decision on the proposals.

The proposals subject of the expansion programme are:

·  Expansion of Farsley Westroyd Infant School and Farsley Springbank Junior Schools and convert them both into primary schools

·  Expansion of Broadgate Primary School, Horsforth

The Board considered a report by the Legal Adviser to the School Organisation Advisory Board explaining the role of the Board in considering objections to the following proposals and to make recommendations to the Executive Board to assist the Executive Board in reaching a decision in relation to the following proposals:

a)  To expand Farsley Westroyd Infant School from a capacity of 180 pupils to 210 pupils and raising the upper age limit from 7 to 11, therefore creating a primary school with an admission number of 30, with effect from September 2015.

b)  To expand Farsley Springbank Junior School from a capacity from 240 to 420 and lowering the age limit from 7 to 4, therefore creating a primary school with an admission number of 60, with effect from September 2015

It was reported that a total of 12 representations had been received to the proposals for expansion of the Farsley schools (10 objections and 2 in support)

c)  To expand Broadgate Primary School from a capacity of 210 pupils to 420 pupils with an increase in the admission number from 30 to 60 with effect from September 2015

It was reported that a total of 3 representations had been received to the proposal for expansion of Broadgate Primary school, all in objection

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

• Report of Capacity Planning and Sufficiency 9 June 2014 – Outcome of statutory notices for the expansion of primary provision in Farsley and Horsforth for 2015

•  Report of the Director of Children’s Services 14 February 2014 to Executive Board – Outcome of consultation on the proposals to increase primary provision in Farsley

•  Public consultation document – Proposals to increase primary school places in Farsley and Calverley from September 2015

•  Correspondence from the Governing Body of Farsley Sprinbank Junior School

•  Correspondence from the Governors of Westroyd Infant School and Nursery

•  Copies of the ten representations received from the public

•  Report of the Director of Children’s Services to the Executive Board 5 March 2014 – Part A Outcome of Statutory Notices on proposals for the expansion of Calverley C of E Primary School, Part B Outcome of Consultation on a proposal for the expansion of Broadgate Primary School, Horsforth and Part C Outcome of Statutory Notice on proposals for the expansion of Broomfield South SILC and West oaks SSEN Specialist School and College

•  Public consultation document – Proposals to increase primary school places in Horsforth at Broadgate Primary School from September 2015

•  Copies of the three representations received from the public

•  Report of the Director of Children’s Services – Basic Need Programme – Permission to consult on school place expansions for 2015.

The Board dealt with the expansion proposals for Farsley Westroyd and Farsley Springbank together

Farsley Westroyd and Farsley Springbank

Mrs E Lowes, Deputy Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Manager, Children’s Services addressed the proposals. In particular the following matters were highlighted:

·  Expansion proposals would address the need to provide additional provision in the area

·  The proposals for Farsley were supported by both the Governing Bodies of the schools

·  The consultation undertaken met all relevant legal and local requirements

·  An overview of the contents of the objections received and the response of the Department in respect of the consultation process itself; removal of the infant/junior school model; submission of the counter proposal; Vulnerability in terms of future numbers on roll/parental preference (Westroyd); transition arrangements; current and future management arrangements for off-site outdoor space (Westroyd) and highways/traffic issues.

No questions were raised by the Board. The Chair asked the representatives of Children’s Services and the Schools to leave the room in order for the Board to discuss the proposals. The board considered each of the concerns raised during the statutory notice period as detailed in paragraphs 3.6 to 3:20 of the report of the Capacity Planning and Sufficiency dated 9 June 2014.

The Board noted the concerns raised in respect of traffic, parking and congestion.  The Board was satisfied, however, that the traffic issues could be managed as outlined in the response from Children’s Services. The Board accepted that there should also be some reduction in traffic as a result of families not having to drop and collect children at two separate schools.

The Board noted the concerns raised in respect of insufficient space at Westroyd but were satisfied that appropriate measures were being put in place to ameliorate the issues as far as possible.

The Board noted the concerns in relation to making Westroyd vulnerable to a future lack of demand and the representations made about the effect of a possible development at Kirklees Knoll.  The Board accepted that, while there might be long term concerns if future demand did not materialise, this had to be balanced against the fact that there are a variety of factors which influence parents’ choices and that some parents prefer smaller schools.

The Board noted the concerns expressed about the consultation process.  The Board was concerned that parents felt the need to use social media to express their views.  The Board also noted that a petition with 155 signatures had been submitted.  The Board considered that Children’s Services could have managed the consultation better, in particular, by giving consultees confidence that their views were being heard.  The Board was, however, satisfied that overall the process had been adequate. Consultees had been able to make representations and account had been taken of those representations, including an alternative suggested during the representation period.

The Board noted that concerns had been raised about whether there was a need for an additional 30 school places. The Board noted the inherent difficulty in forecasting future demand and that the proposals had been made on the best available information. If the future demand did not materialise the Board considered that this could be appropriately managed.

The Board did not have any concerns about transition arrangements.

In respect of the concerns raised as to the removal of play equipment from Westroyd, the Board considered that it would be relatively easy to remodel the play area to suit the relevant age of children.

The Board considered that Children’s Services’ response to comments made about job opportunities when a school caters for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 were correct. 

The Board was confident that any disruption during building work could be managed.

The Board were also satisfied that there had been appropriate action in respect of the concern raised in respect of an alleged conflict of interest.

The groups entitled to vote, and in attendance .i.e. Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of the Church of England Group; Roman Catholic Church Diocese Group and the Schools Group voted as follows:-

·  The Roman Catholic Church Diocese Group voted in favour of the proposals because of the need for additional capacity in the area.

·  The Schools Group voted in favour of the proposals because of the need for additional capacity in the area.

·  Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of the Church of England voted in favour of the proposals because of the need for additional capacity in the area.

Additionally, the Board made an observation on the need for future consultation to be closely managed in order to ensure the Department is seen to be listening to and addressing concerns raised during the consultation process.

Broadgate Primary School

Mrs E Lowes, Deputy Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Manager, Children’s Services addressed the proposals and highlighted the following matters:

·  The expansion proposals would meet the need to provide additional provision in the area, noting that additional school places had been created on a temporary basis to meet existing need elsewhere in Horsforth

·  The school Governing Body supported the proposals

·  The consultation process undertaken met all relevant legal and local requirements

·  An overview of the objections received and the response of the Department in respect of highways/traffic issues

The Chair asked the representatives to leave the room in order for the Board to discuss the proposals. The Board considered each of the concerns raised during the statutory notice period as detailed in paragraphs 3:22 to 3:24 of the report of the Capacity Planning and Sufficiency dated 9 June 2014.

The Board noted the main objections were based on parking issues but were satisfied that the concerns were being addressed and proposals were being put in place to manage those issues appropriately.

The groups entitled to vote and in attendance .i.e. Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of the Church of England Group; Roman Catholic Church Diocese Group and the Schools Group, voted as follows:-

·  The Roman Catholic Church Diocese Group abstained from voting in the matter of this proposal due to the proximity between St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Broadgate Primary School, noting the possible impact that the expansion proposals to be considered for Broadgate may have on St Mary’s Catholic primary school.

·  The Schools Group voted in favour of the proposals in order to address the need for additional capacity in the area.

·  Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of the Church of England voted in favour of the proposals in order to address the need for additional capacity in the area.

RESOLVED – It was the view of the School Organisation Advisory Board that the Executive Board be recommended to support the proposals to expand Farsley Westroyd Infant School; Farsley Springbank Junior School and Broadgate Primary School, Horsforth.