Agenda item

(To receive a report by Matt Clayton, School Organisation Planning Manager, which examines the sufficiency of school places in Lincolnshire in more detail and outlined the process and criteria involved in addressing those pressures when deciding how to increase capacity)

The Committee received a report from the School Organisation Manager, which looked at the sufficiency of school places in Lincolnshire in detail and outlined the process and criteria involved in addressing the pressure of the County when deciding on how to increase capacity.

It was reported as a large rural county the pressures on school places in some urban areas were hidden by the surplus capacity across some of the more rural areas.  The report compared the national picture against the local Lincolnshire picture when broken down to smaller geographic areas.  The report highlighted that there were local areas of pressure on primary places which would eventually lead onto pressures on secondary places.

In conclusion, the national picture suggested that Lincolnshire did not have an issue regarding pressure on school places at a county level.  It was more evident at a local level that there were pockets of primary pressure around the county, mostly concentrated around urban areas.  The sufficiency of secondary places was not anticipated to become a pressure until 2018 for the majority of the county, although it might be slightly sooner in some parts.  This would be monitored and planned for to ensure that the required capacity was made available for when it was needed.

It was highlighted that basic need funding was carefully prioritised to ensure that resources were efficiently used to address all requirements within budget whilst meeting the needs of the local community.  If a formal proposal to expand a school or build a new one was put forward, then all necessary statutory processes were followed and then a final decision would be taken to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, prior to any Executive Councillor decision.

Some members felt that the sustainability of smaller rural schools was very important as most were a key component in a rural community.  Reassurance was given that the funding formula by Lincolnshire County Council was supportive of smaller local schools.  Without many of the Council's small rural schools some pupils would have significant distances to travel. 

Another area of concern was whether Ofsted reports affected the popularity of schools.  It was reported that popularity could have an effect when looking at expansion, but this was a short term variable and one of many factors taken into consideration.  At the end of the day the Council needed to create places where children lived.  Further comments were raised in relation to capacity issues bringing rural children into urban schools.  Members were advised that only extra capacity would be added within a pressure point area and it was not the intention to enable children to travel from a rural area to an urban one.  If the pressure point related to a rural area then it would be the rural area that would be considered for additional capacity.  The Local Authority always tried to add capacity in the areas where the pupils live, closest to the communities that need them.  This then avoids excessive transportation requirements which was another factor also carefully considered before adding school places.

RESOLVED

          That the report be noted.