Decision details

That the projections for primary need be noted.

That a margin of 5% be agreed above the Greater London Authority projection for primary place planning to provide for local variations in need and to meet parental preferences.

That discussions be undertaken with primary schools identified for expansion with a view to reporting the outcome to a future meeting of Education PDS Committee.

That, where primary school expansion is agreed, implementation be funded through the Education Capital Programme, subject to availability of funds.

That the Secondary School Place Planning report be recommended to the Education PDS Committee as the basis for secondary school place planning to 2031.

That the proposals for the expansion of existing secondary schools be brought forward to the Council’s Executive for approval.

That feasibility studies be undertaken in consultation with identified schools to assess the scope and cost of school enlargement as set out below:

Planning Area 1 - Wards:  Crystal Palace, Penge and Cator, Clock House

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 3 FE at James Dixon Primary School.

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of a further bulge class for 2015/16 and of increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 3 FE at The Pioneer Academy, Stewart Fleming Primary School. 

To consider scope for other schools to expand as needed following consultation and feasibility studies.

Planning Area 2 - Wards:  Copers Cope, Kelsey and Eden Park

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 3 FE at Worsley Bridge Primary School. 

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at Clare House Primary School. 

To await the outcome of the free school submission proposed by Langley Park Boys and Girls School.

Planning Area 3 - Wards:  Shortlands, West Wickham, Hayes and Coney Hall

To keep school organisation and size in the area under review and to consider medium term options for enlargements. 

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity by 1 FE to 3 FE at St Mark’s C.E. Primary School to meet the needs in the medium term.

Planning Area 4 - Wards:  Bromley Town, Plaistow and Sundridge, Bickley

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 3 FE at Scotts Park Primary School. 

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of consolidating the PAN (Pupil Admission Number) for St George’s C.E. Primary School to 2 FE.

Planning Area 5 - Wards:  Bromley Common and Keston, Petts Wood and Knoll, Farnborough and Crofton

To keep school organisation and size in the area under review and to consider medium term options for enlargements. 

Planning Area 6 - Wards:  Chislehurst, Mottingham, Chislehurst North

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of relocating and increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at Chislehurst C.E. Primary School. 

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at Edgebury Primary School.

Planning Area 7 - Wards:  Cray Valley West and Cray Valley East

To move towards the expansion on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at Midfield Primary School, which had been agreed in principle by Governors, subject to planning approval and consultation.

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a temporary basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at St Paul’s Cray C.E. Primary School.

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a temporary basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at Leesons Primary School.

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a temporary basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at Poverest Primary School.

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a temporary basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at St Mary Cray Primary School.

Planning Area 8 - Wards:  Orpington, Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom

To investigate, with Governors, the feasibility of increasing capacity on a permanent basis by 1 FE to 2 FE at Blenheim Primary School. 

To consider scope for other schools to temporarily expand as needed following consultation and feasibility studies.

Planning Area 9 - Wards:  Biggin Hill and Darwin

No current changes to school organisation or size in this planning area.

The strategic planning of school places and school organisation in the Borough is driven through the Primary Schools’ Development Plan and Secondary School Place Planning report.  The School Places Working Group met on 13^th November 2014 to consider the strategic planning of school places and school organisation in the Borough for future years.

For the 2014/15 academic year, applicants for reception class places had exceeded previous forecasts and it had been necessary to supplement the agreed changes by 225 places to ensure that every on-time applicant received a valid offer.  The total number of reception class places originally available for 2014/15 had been 4023.  This was subsequently increased to 4204 places by the addition of eight bulge classes, with 76% of on-time applicants securing their first preference of school in Bromley, which was unchanged from the previous year. 

Increased demand for primary places was expected to continue in the long term, with the Greater London Authority forecast projecting a rise of the total number of places in the Borough to 4041 by 2018, and remaining at that level to 2031.  This was due to a higher level of birth rate than expected, as well as through migration to the Borough and increased occupancy levels of existing homes.  In response to this, the School Places Working Group recommended that a margin of 5% be agreed above the Greater London Authority projection for primary place planning to provide for local variations in need and to meet parental preferences, and that forecast growth be met through a combination of existing surplus capacity, permanent expansion of existing provision, new schools and bulge classes.  The School Places Working Group also recommended that work be undertaken around secondary place planning to ensure that there were sufficient secondary places across the Borough as the increasing number of pupils at Bromley primary schools moved towards Key Stage 3.