Council and democracy

Agenda item

Pupil Place Plan (2016-2020)

Minutes:

The Officer presented the report that provided Members with information on the supply of school places in the authority and forecasted pupil numbers for the next five years, setting the context of the provision of school places in the authority.

 

A Pupil Place Planning Sub-Group will remain in its current form and make recommendations on the pupil placing planning across the authority.

 

The Officer stated that Thurrock had a good working relationship with schools and academies in the borough.

 

Expansion to meet demands was essential with 16,500 children currently in primary schools across the borough and only 9,500 secondary school places available. To meet this demand a forecast of a further 2 new secondary schools would be required over the next 5 years. These could cost in the region of 50 million pounds; detailed conversation with the Department of Education and the Educational Funding Agency had taken place and were aware of the pressures being faced.

 

The Officer stated the biggest concern was the increase in numbers of children coming in mid-year outside the normal school rounds. Figures quoted from the Officer for the primary sector on children that moved from outside of the borough and out of the country into Thurrock:

 

2013/14                                   775 children

2014/15                                   940 children

4 months into 2015/16            568 children

 

The Project Group, with representatives from the school admissions team, finance, benefits, transport and planning meet every 2 weeks to monitor this situation.

 

Councillor Little asked what active checks were in place to ensure all children go to school.

 

David Archibald commented that Thurrock had the most thorough and robust system that he had ever before that ensured the appropriate checks were carried out on every child that may have fallen out of the system. David Archibald assured Members that the system was very good and comprehensive.

 

Councillor Little asked the number of children who were privately educated or travelled out of the borough to be educated. The Officer stated this figure was not to hand but could confirm the transfer rate between primary and secondary school was 92 per cent. Therefore the other 8 per cent would either go out of the borough or be privately educated.

 

The Officer stated the number of children educated at home or home tutored was currently 119. There were concerns for 5 of those as to the quality of their tutoring and if needs were being met.

 

Councillor Little asked Officers if 106 monies from large developments were being used to support educational needs.

 

The Officer stated she attended all Planning Committees and requests for information were made with regards to the impact on educational needs if a development goes ahead.

 

Councillor Kerin stated his concern with the number of secondary schools that were required to be built and how reliant was the Council on the sponsorship from free-schools agreeing to build a school in an area. The Officer stated that works were currently being undertaken with the sponsor and the sponsorship process had to be followed. It would also be in the authority’s interest to work alongside the department of education.

 

Councillor Kerin raised concern with the number of new developments proposed for Grays and Lakeside and that the potential of an extra 21,000 children to place in schools and what plans were in place. The Officer confirmed that a 5 year plan had already commenced with insight into outlines of developments and planning applications with education as a forefront need.

 

Roger Edwardson stated that there was a problem of recruiting quality teachers to smaller schools as larger schools offered better opportunities.

 

Councillor Gamester asked Officers to recalculate the figures for the historical uptake factor for 2003-04 and 2004-05 as there appeared to be a discrepancy. The Officer agreed to take this away and feedback.

 

Councillor Gupta asked Officers how long it would take to place a child mid-term. The Officer confirmed that this depended on different factors but ideally within 20 days of notification to place a child mid-term.  Work would be undertaken with parents and that non-attendance at school would be addressed.

 

Reverend Canon Barlow stated the typographical error on Page 33 of the report that the Improvements to the M25 at junctions 30/31 instead of 30/3.

 

Councillor Halden asked for a full feasibility study with a footprint of all schools in the borough provided to the Committee, the Officer agreed to take this action point forward and feedback when appropriate.

 

Councillor Little requested that the recommendation be changed to read discussed rather than noted. The Chair agreed to this amendment.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.1       That the comments of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Pupil Place Plan and the draft forecasts were discussed.

 

1.2       A footprint of all schools within the borough will be brought back to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

 

Janet Clark left the committee room at 8.20pm

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