Minutes:
Slough Borough Council (SBC) used birth data to estimate the number of reception places required at primary schools in the future; this was the best indicator as to trends. Given this information, it was anticipated that demand would decline in the years 2017 – 2020, with Foxborough Primary School already planning to reduce provision in 2017. SBC worked on the basis that 2 contingency classes would always be required; on this basis, there would be no surplus classes in 2016 – 17, but this would increase over time, leaving 6 in 2019 – 2020.
However, Slough tended to be subject to inward migration. This could put pressure on school places for years beyond reception, and in 2019 – 2020 there would be 17 extra classes for year 6 above current levels. As a result, several measures were being explored, including bulge classes, a temporary increase in class sizes from 30 to 32, the use of empty classes in new free schools and the use of freed up space in schools that reduce their admission numbers.
The expansion in classes for secondary schools had the establishment of a SASH2 school as a central aspect; sites for this institution were being sought. In addition, the 4.5 classes categorised as ‘expansion of Slough schools’ could arise from either existing schools or the creation of a new free school. The increase in places for special educational needs and pupil referral units required forecasting, for which data was being sought.
School places would be managed to maximise the benefit to Slough residents, and would also allow for adequate playing with easy access for schools. SBC would maximise the available sources of funding for programme delivery and would only support expansion of selective schools in cases where the expansion will not add to the imbalance between selective and non-selective places. Schools would be part of a holistic plan for future developments in the borough, and SBC recognised that land use pressures must result in provision being made outside the borough.
The Panel raised the following points in discussion:
· Class sizes could exceed 30 in Key Stage 2 classes; this was not a recent change to the law, with ‘basic needs’ having always allowed for this in the legislation.
· Whilst the placement of students at Langley Grammar School was reliant on test results, it was anticipated that the number of Slough children entering the institution would rise from 30 to approximately 50. It was very much recognised that expansion in grammar provision should not solely be for the benefit of children outside the SBC area.
· The expansion of Arbour Vale offered the best, most instant solution to local needs. However, the school playing fields should not be put at risk by this as they had a separate footprint to the school buildings.
· Early Years was also an issue; some schools were considering decreasing their provision, but the Government’s ’30 hours a week of care’ programme was also a matter requiring a response. At present, whenever a school was expanding its Early Years provision was also increasing. The Early Years team was working on this, and could keep the Panel informed as appropriate.
· Information on school spaces, as maintained by SBC on the website, required much work by users to make it useful for their purposes. The Admissions team were working on the system, and had reduced the delay times for information reaching parents.
· SBC had identified the upper year groups in primary schools as the greatest pressure point in future provision.
· The impact of the recent decision to leave the European Union was, at present, hard to deduce. SBC had the option of expanding existing schools, arranging bulge classes and using new schools opening in the area to meet any increased demand.
· Langley Hall Primary School was planning to open a secondary school in 2018. Despite the recent Ofsted inspection, SBC recognised the assistance that the school had offered by opening, and SBC was in discussions with the institution to co-ordinate provision and resolve funding issues.
· SEN was an area under review. Some local schools had been challenged by the level of need of some children, and therefore SBC recognised that a mixture of mainstream and specialist provision was required.
· The transfer of services to SCST could also see more children referred to SEN as thresholds changed.
Resolved:
1. That the Panel receive an updated version of the table outlining school places in secondary schools.
2. That the Panel receive information on the forms of entry, as outlined in the ‘Gold Project’ updates for Cabinet.