Providing sufficient school places
This objective is centred around trying to reduce the gap between the number of places and the number of pupils. The DfE recommend that local authorities, wherever practicable, maintain a surplus of places above pupil numbers of no more than 5%. This is to ensure there is an element of parental preference and spaces for families that move into an area. Reducing the number of surplus places ensures better use of available resources but does restrict greater parental preference.
Further details about the principles of school place planning and a breakdown of data by District & Borough Council areas can be found at:
February 2021 performance
No additional school places were required to be created by WSCC for
September 2020 admissions to schools. In a small number of instances, the
County’s School Organisation Team sought the admission of additional pupils to
a school above the Published Admission Number (PAN) but this was achieved
through schools admitting extra pupils into surplus accommodation within the
school. A number of schools also admitted extra pupils through the
independent appeals process and, similarly, these were accommodated within
existing accommodation.
Actions
To ensure we work towards meeting our target a number of activities are ongoing:-
- An annual review of schools capacity and consideration is given to each schools situation when the annual review of projected pupil numbers is undertaken
- A programme of expansion, where appropriate, to existing schools is ongoing to cater for an increase in demand across the 24 planning areas, additional places are discussed with the schools as required
- Monthly discussions are held with the DfE Free School Group regarding existing Free Schools, the Free School Programme and locations. These schools will be built to their actual capacity but not all of the accommodation will be in use from the outset, it can take up to 7 years for a new primary and 5 years for a new secondary school to fill to their planned capacity.
- Continuous review is undertaken with all District & Boroughs on major development and progress against their housing targets, to match local demand to local authority house building programme and district and Borough planning.
- The annual consultation process school place planning which includes on any changes to school capacity is rigorously applied to meet legal requirements.
- In pressure areas, additional places are negotiated with schools as required.