Decision details

That the comments of the School Places Working Group following its meeting on 27 April 2020, be noted - in particular its resolutions that:

1.  Pupil roll projections and other trend data set out in the report be noted;

2.  A planning margin of 5% above the GLA school roll projections is continued to be sought to provide for local variations in need and to meet parental preferences;

3.  Whilst there are, at the moment, sufficient places available or planned to meet current and projected demand for school places, the Council will work with schools to safeguard the existing supply of school places as required;

4.  There are specific pressures for placements for pupils with an Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and that the Council works with local schools, trusts and the DfE to bring proposals forward to increase capacity and improve provision where necessary;

5.  Discussions be undertaken with schools, multi academy trusts and the DfE, as outlined in this report, to ensure a sufficient supply of mainstream school places in the Borough, including through expansions and opening new schools;

6.  There is a potential delay to Harris Kent House opening and that it is recommended that the Council engages in conversation with Harris and other academy trusts operating in the borough to ensure that there are sufficient school places until the school opens;

7.  Where expansion is agreed, to implement through the education capital programme (subject to the availability of funds);

8.  The outcome of the ongoing work around SEND provision be reported to either the School Place Planning Working Group or the Children, Education and Families PDS Committee when it is available;

9.  Local provision of SEND places be increased in order to reduce reliance on independent provision; and

10.  More School Place Planning stakeholder events be delivered across the Borough in the future.

The Council has a statutory duty to secure sufficient school places to meet demand in its area under the Education Act 1996.  Local authorities are responsible for all children and young people with SEN in their area under Part 3 of Children and Families Act 2014.  Bromley Council has an established policy for the review and strategic planning of school places and related school organisation. The need to ensure sufficient school places, the quality of those places and their efficient organisation is a priority within the Council’s strategy ‘Building a Better Bromley’ and contributes to the strategy to achieve the status of An Excellent Council. This policy also contributes to key targets within the Education, Children and Families Portfolio Plan.