Agenda item

Management of Pupil Places and the School Estate 2019/2020

To consider the report of the Education Transformation Manager.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Education Transformation Manager which was presented to provide Members with the opportunity to scrutinise the management of pupil places and the school estate, throughout the 2019/2020 academic session.

 

The Education Transformation Manager spoke to the report and highlighted the main points contained therein.

 

A Member enquired regarding the surplus places at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Helyg and the drop in figures for Welsh education in primary schools and enquired if this information would be included in the consultation document.  He commented that Pen-y-cwm school did not have sufficient class rooms for the number of pupils yet there were surplus places at other primary schools.  The Education Transformation Manager said the consultation document captured the context associated with pupil numbers and trends for Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Helyg.  It had been the only Welsh medium primary school at that time and the Local Authority was responsible for promoting demand and growth.  Initially, there had been issues around standards highlighted in the Estyn Inspection but the school has significantly improved and pupil numbers had increased and were growing year on year in both nursery and reception classes.  Work was also being undertaken with the Early Years sector to increase the provision of Welsh medium childcare options with a view to elicit further demand for uptake especially at nursery and reception age group.  It had been a significant improvement journey and the Authority were mindful about how to manage the surplus places within Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Helyg to ensure sufficiency in the medium to long term, in line with the potential for increased demand.

 

In relation to Ebbw Fawr, a review of capacity of Pen-y-Cwm school had been undertaken but as pupil numbers had increased significantly and the school had to rework its operations, a further full scale review with the school needed to be undertaken to look at reconfiguring the learning environment and additional capacity they may need in line with potential projections. A consultation document with a draft design and schedule of accommodation had been developed to address the needs of Pen-y-Cwm school in the short to medium term, the long term developments would include the potential use of aspects of Ebbw Fawr primary facility. Negotiations were taking place and the team were looking to bring forward proposals to increase capacity and therefore the space within Pen-y-Cwm school in early in 2021.

 

A Member commented that a number of schools had been oversubscribed year on year, some were due to a significant influx of pupils from new residential developments in the catchment area and enquired if this was being addressed and were significant increases in pupil projections taken into account in the design of new schools.  The Education Transformation Manager explained how projections were undertaken, there was an established formula and the team worked closely with the Planning Department to factor in housing developments, etc.

 

The sets of projections were:-

·        Developments which were yet to be approved (including a look at Section 106 developer contributions to accommodate increased capacity).

·        Developments that had been approved (including a look to secure Section 106 developer contributions to support increased capacity).

·        Birth and trend data.

 

With regard to the Glyncoed Primary design and schedule of accommodation the team had worked closely with the Planning Department and at this point in time there was capacity to accommodate potential future increased demand. Strategic planning was also undertaken and reviewed regularly to assess any potential impact to ensure that pupil numbers can be accommodated going forward.

 

The Member commented that Section 106 had been used to great advantage at Georgetown school for new play equipment within the school yard and also in the local playground and he hoped the use of Section 106 would continue.

 

The Education Transformation Manager informed Members that they were looking to undertake a catchment area review and were working closely with the Policy & Performance Team looking at data to consider how to review the catchment areas and were hoping to bring forward a statutory consultation in the summer term around the review of school catchment areas.

 

In answer to a Member’s question regarding Section 106 and how it can be used. The Education Transformation Manager explained that an assessment form was completed every time a planning development came forward and using the established formula based on the number of dwellings and the potential impact of pupil numbers that would be generated for both primary and secondary schools, the form was submitted to the Planning Department in consideration of the potential impact upon schools.  In some instances there were high levels of impact and other instances of little or no impact, this was monitored throughout the school estate.  Monthly meetings were held with the Planning Department to look at developments and the impact upon schools and look to address where there were financial viability issues for developers and also whether or not there was sufficient capacity within schools to accommodate the pupils.  The Officer suggested that she could provide a report for a future meeting to provide detail on how the Directorate worked around Section 106 developments to incorporate them into pupil place planning and within strategic schools organisation processes.

 

A Member commented that he welcomed the review of the catchment areas as he felt it would help alleviate issues with sufficiency issues in some schools and help to reassess the pupil numbers that were required in different schools.

 

In relation to Section 106 a Member raised concerns around new developers and their contributions.  He felt it was important to ensure that all developers contribute fairly and that Section 106 agreements continued.

 

The Director of Education referred to the Forward Work Programme and reports on the review of capacity at Pen-y-Cwm Special School and Section 106 Agreements would be presented to a Special meeting of the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee.

 

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing, to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that the report be accepted.

Supporting documents: