Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of Capacity Planning and Sufficiency, Children’s Services, on the outcome of the statutory notice on the proposal to expand Gledhow Primary School and to consider the response to the representation 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 representation received.

The proposal being to expand Gledhow 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 2016.

The School Organisation Advisory Board considered a report by the Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Team regarding the outcome of a statutory notice on proposals to expand primary provision in Roundhay for 2016. The report sought the Board’s consideration of one representation received in respect of proposals to expand Gledhow Primary School from a capacity of 420 pupils to 630 pupils, with an increase of the admission number from 60 to 90 with effect from September 2016, and to make a recommendation to the Executive Board in reaching a decision in relation to the proposals.

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

·  Report of the Director of Children’s Services to Executive Board 17 September 2014 (Part B of the report - Outcome of consultation on proposals to expand primary school provision in Roundhay)

·  A representation received from a member of the public

·  The consultation booklet entitled “A Consultation about proposals to increase primary school places from September 2016”

·  Report of Capacity Planning and Sufficiency 13 November 2014 “Outcome of Statutory Notice on proposals to expand Primary Provision in Roundhay for 2016”

·  The Notice publicising the consultation published 26 September 2014 “Proposal to Expand Gledhow Primary School from September 2016”

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

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

·  Statutory guidance had been followed.

·  Only one representation had been received to the proposals.

·  Representatives of Gledhow School were key to the design process and were keen to retain the existing ethos of the school and to continue to meet the needs of the pupils

Mr Steve Archer, Head of Gledhow Primary School, attended the meeting and responded to the Board’s queries in respect of

-  Current use of an area of greenspace to the rear of the school which would be affected by the proposals to protect and bring it within the curtilage and control of the school

-  Measures to advise occasional users of the greenspace and dog walkers of the forthcoming changes

-  Community use of the school building and grounds

-  The role of the school in the development of the proposals

-  How the atmosphere and ethos of the school would be maintained

The Chair asked the representatives of Children’s Services and the School to leave the room in order to discuss the proposals. The Board considered the comments raised during the statutory notice period, the contents of the report and the contents of the representation submitted by a member of the public during the consultation

The Board noted that the member of the public who had sent the email which had required the Board to convene had sent a further email prior to the meeting.  It was not clear to the Board whether the member of the public had intended to object to the proposals.  It appeared to the Board that the member of the public did not in fact wish to object. The Board proceeded in any event as if objections had been raised and the comments made by the member of the public were given due consideration.

The groups entitled to vote and in attendance i.e. Roman Catholic Church Diocese Group and the Governors Group, voted as follows:-

·  The Governor’s Group voted in favour of the proposals in order to address the need for additional capacity in the area

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

The Board welcomed the approach taken to the consultation process, and noted that no objections had been received from local residents. The Board was satisfied that the School would be able to manage the significant changes.

The Board heard from the Head Teacher of the school and were confident that the atmosphere and the ethos of the school could be maintained.

The Board were satisfied that concerns relating to traffic and health & safety issues relating to any building work would be addressed by the appropriate council departments which have extensive experience of such issues.

The Board noted that dog fouling was unlawful and any increase in incidents of dog fouling would be subject to the usual enforcement regime by the council.

The Board noted that the current land adjacent to the school would provide additional green space for the school’s use and while some hard play area would be lost this would be provided elsewhere on the site.  The Board were satisfied that there was adequate space both to accommodate new buildings and provide sufficient play area.

The Board noted that Children’s Services had acknowledged that the larger cohorts of pupils as a result of the expansion will need to managed through expansion of secondary provision and that plans will be brought forward to address this.

Additionally, the Board made a general comment in respect of the wording of the statutory notice for further consideration by Children’s Services. Finally, the Board suggested that appropriate signage and enforcement controls in respect of the area of greenspace to the rear of the school should be investigated and implemented prior to development works, if appropriate

RESOLVED – It was the view of the School Organisation Advisory Board that the Executive Board be recommended to support the proposals to expand Gledhow Primary School from a capacity of 420 pupils to 630 pupils, with an increase of the admission number from 60 to 90 with effect from September 2016.