DECISION

1.    To note the current position on the projected need for school places;

2.    To agree the proposals for specific schemes to increase school places i.e.:

a.    the development of a new secondary school on the London Dock site for opening in September 2022;

3. To note the progress of plans to rationalise the primary school provision in areas of the borough where there is a significant surplus;

4.    To note the progress made in relation to:

a.    The development of a new primary school at Wood Wharf on the Isle of Dogs.

b.    The development of a new secondary school at Westferry Printworks on the Isle of Dogs.

c.    The expansion of Phoenix Special School on the site of the former Bow Boys Secondary School at Paton Close, E3 and the planned enlargement of Beatrice Tate Special School.

d.    The plans and options for future school developments in the East to meet the anticipated need for additional places.

5.    To agree the funding for the development of the new schools as outlined in paragraph 3.46 of the report;

6.    To note the options for the commissioning of a school provider when a new school is to be established; and

7.    To note that this report sets out the Council’s plan to exercise its Education functions, not its functions as a Local Planning Authority (LPA). It aligns with the LPA stance at the Local Plan Examination in Public, particularly on the plan to retain the current allocation of school sites.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (D. JONES)

(Head of Pupil Services and School Sufficiency (T. Bryan)

Councillor Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People, introduced the report on planning for school places. He provided an update on expected pupil numbers and the central ambition of the Council to ensure the right school provision was available in the right parts of the Borough at the right time. He noted that pupil numbers had not risen as far as expected and that school places would therefore need careful management especially as primary school demand moved towards the East of the Borough.

He also took Council through expected secondary school demand and plans to manage that including potential new schools. Finally he highlighted the planned increase in capacity for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Cabinet discussed the report looking at a number of issues including:

·         Potential development sites.

·         Falling fertility rates

·         Changing Borough demographics

The Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions, noted the pre-decision scrutiny questions and officer responses, and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the current position on the projected need for school places;

2.    To agree the proposals for specific schemes to increase school places i.e.:

a.    the development of a new secondary school on the London Dock site for opening in September 2022;

3. To note the progress of plans to rationalise the primary school provision in areas of the borough where there is a significant surplus;

4.    To note the progress made in relation to:

a.    The development of a new primary school at Wood Wharf on the Isle of Dogs.

b.    The development of a new secondary school at Westferry Printworks on the Isle of Dogs.

c.    The expansion of Phoenix Special School on the site of the former Bow Boys Secondary School at Paton Close, E3 and the planned enlargement of Beatrice Tate Special School.

d.    The plans and options for future school developments in the East to meet the anticipated need for additional places.

5.    To agree the funding for the development of the new schools as outlined in paragraph 3.46 of the report;

6.    To note the options for the commissioning of a school provider when a new school is to be established; and

7.    To note that this report sets out the Council’s plan to exercise its Education functions, not its functions as a Local Planning Authority (LPA). It aligns with the LPA stance at the Local Plan Examination in Public, particularly on the plan to retain the current allocation of school sites.