Agenda item

The Panel received an update on the current situation in terms of demand, the plans currently in progress to resolve issues concerning demand, the financial implications of these plans and possible issues which may arise in the future. The Panel had previously been given oversight of the principles behind SBC’s strategy for school places. This strategy had been amended when SBC undertook longer-terms predictions in December 2013; these estimated that there would be a shortfall of 15 forms of entry at Primary level and 38 at Secondary. Since this prediction, SBC had worked with local schools to meet these future pressures. The extension of existing schools and the creation of new schools was one method of ameliorating the situation; the recent creation of free schools had assisted in this.

In terms of Primary Schools, the demand was close to being satisfied with bulge classes and new permanent forms of entry (either through new schools or the expansion of existing schools) adopted. At present, it was not anticipated that further expansion would be required; however, this may be reappraised once statistics on local birth rates were released later in 2015.

Secondary schools were now forecast to be 37 forms of entry short of requirements. Whilst the expansion of free schools would assist, and there was likely to be an oversupply of forms of entry in September 2015 the situation would become less positive as 2022 approached. It should also be noticed that an oversupply could leave existing schools vulnerable, which needed to be avoided as all schools would be required given this likely situation in the future. The issue of students from outside the area attending selective schools in Slough also needed to be factored into the estimates.

The proposed SASH2 school’s partial opening in 2017 was also included in the future projections. Given the fact that Slough was a highly built-up area, and that a site for this institution needed to be selected, any issues relating to this proposal would have an impact on school places. However there were other plans being made to lessen the pressure on school places, with Langley Grammar’s expansion by one form of entry having been accepted by Cabinet and 3 other schools involved in discussions on similar proposals.

SBC had recently introduced planning for special educational needs (SEN), with Slough experiencing a level of SEN pupils that was slightly higher than the national average. Whilst expansion of SEN provision within existing mainstream schools would help meet demand, there was also the possibility that the expansion of Arbour Vale or the creation of a new, similar institution may be necessary. Should the last of these options be required, then some suitable sites had been identified.

The Panel raised the following matters in discussion:

• The process of planning expansion evaluated a number of factors; the physical potential for expansion, any planning consequences and the status of the school (e.g. schools in special measures would not be expanded).
• In Primary education, the opening of Langley Academy had helped, as had the expansion of pre-existing schools. However, in Secondary education the opportunities for expansion (other than for 6^th forms) had proved more limited. A major obstacle to creating forms of entry had been the lack of obvious sites in an area as built-up as Slough; in additions, expansions had to reflect the realities of catchment areas and therefore had focused on the centre of Slough.
• SBC was assisting schools in their funding of any building work. However, construction work had become more expensive which limited the authority’s ability to do this. In addition, school expansion did not attract any additional funding for the new pupils for the first 6 months, leaving SBC and schools potentially vulnerable between September and April in any given academic year. A proportion of the Dedicated Schools Grant could be allocated to cover this, but there were also limitations regarding this. As a result, rapid expansion could have a financial impact.
• The Eden Girls’ School was due to open in September 2015, and a site had been identified although the lease was not yet signed. However, free schools did not require planning permission for the first year of their existence, although should this then be rejected when the application was made later this could cause significant difficulty.
• The estimate of 90% of pupils in Slough schools being drawn from the area under SBC’s control was based on the best information available. Whilst selective schools may attract a higher proportion of pupils from outside the Borough (e.g. Herschel had approximately 35% of its students from outside Slough) mainstream schools were much more likely to contain local pupils. This issue was also more applicable in Secondary education rather than Primary. However, another issue caused by selective schools was the potential for it to cause a gender imbalance in non-selective schools; at present, the ratio was roughly 60% boys to 40% girls and this could approach 70% boys if more Girls’ Schools opened.
• SBC had formerly used the national formula to make predictions, but this only offered a 2 year forecast. The new system had increased the horizon for decision-making, but could not legislate for changes caused by extraneous factors (e.g. volatility in the housing market).
• Governing bodies had been involved in discussions on these plans; however, comprehensive consultation with all parents on every aspect would have been impossible.

Resolved: that the report be noted.