Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of Sufficiency and Participation Team, Children and Families Service, on the outcome of the statutory notice on the proposal to expand Allerton Church of England Primary School and to consider 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 expand Allerton Church of England 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 2018.

(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 primary provision in the Alwoodley area of Leeds for 2018. The report sought the Board’s consideration of two representations received in respect of proposals to expand Allerton Church of England Primary School from a capacity of 420 pupils to 630 pupils, by increasing the admission number from 60 to 90 pupils with effect from September 2018, 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:

·  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 “Public Consultation – Proposal to expand Allerton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School”

·  Report of the Director of Children and Families to Executive Board 13^th December 2017 entitled “Outcome of consultation on proposals to increase learning places at Allerton Church of England Primary School”

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

·  The Notice publicising the consultation published 8^th January 2018 “Proposal to Expand Allerton Church of England Primary School from September 2018”

·  Representations received from two members of the public. The Board noted that the members of the public were unable to attend the meeting, and so proceeded with the meeting taking their written comments into consideration. 

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

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

-  The proposals would provide additional primary provision in the Alwoodley and North Leeds area.

-  The school had taken bulge cohorts on a managed basis on three occasions previously

-  Statutory guidance had been followed during the development of the proposal.

-  Only two representations had been received to the proposal.

-  The next steps, should the proposals progress to the next stage of development.

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

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

·  Provision for those additional pupils anticipated on roll at the school whilst works were ongoing to deliver the expansion

·  The involvement of representatives of the School; including the School Council, was key to the consultation process and would continue throughout the design and planning process should the proposal be approved.

·  The design process, should the proposal be supported, involves the establishment of a planning group which includes parents and the role of statutory consultees to consider highways matters and greenspace

·  The role of Sport England in assessing the proposals in terms of suitability and greenspace

·  The outcome of consideration of other schools in the locality to provide additional places

The Board also received assurance that the proposals had received support from the School Governors and Leadership Team.

The Chair asked the representatives of Sufficiency and Participation Team 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, the contents of the representations submitted by members of the public during the consultation and the responses to the questions put to Mr Crawley.

As a representative of the Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of the Church of England, the Chair recused himself from participating in the vote on this matter.

The groups entitled to vote and in attendance i.e. Schools 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 Schools Group voted in favour of the proposals in order to address the need for additional capacity in the area.

The Board was satisfied that Allerton Church of England Primary School would be able to manage the proposed expansion and understood why the school had been selected for expansion. The Board noted the objections from members of the public and anticipated that due diligence would be paid to highways (particularly safety) matters during the planning process. The Board noted that they had been advised that there was sufficient greenspace at the school but that the impact on greenspace would be considered in the planning process. The Board welcomed the fact that the voice of pupils would continue to be heard if the proposals progressed.

RESOLVED – It was the view of the School Organisation Advisory Board that the Executive Board be recommended to support the proposals to expand Allerton Church of England 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 2018.