Agenda item

Report ED13029

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report summarising the outcomes from the consultation undertaken on the proposal to permanently expand Keston CE Primary School from 30 to 60 pupils at Year Reception (the year children start school) from September 2014. 

The consultation for the proposed permanent expansion of the school had run from 11^th January to 15^th February 2013, and produced 136 responses of which 28 were in support.  The responses received and the comments made to a Consultation meeting held on 17^th January 2013 showed significant opposition to the proposal, primarily on the grounds of access and parking.  The Governing Body arrived at a ‘majority decision to support the proposal’ on educational and financial grounds whilst acknowledging that there were access and parking issues to be addressed in conjunction with the Local Authority.

In considering the proposed expansion of Keston CE Primary School, the following Motion to amend the recommendations of the report was proposed by Councillor Alexa Michael and seconded by Councillor David McBride:

“That this Committee recommends the Portfolio Holder to agree expansion for an additional ‘bulge’ year of one form of entry for the academic year 2013/14 and that the Portfolio Holder be requested to give serious consideration to alternate school sites for permanent expansion.”

On being put to the vote the Motion was CARRIED. 

Members considered the proposed expansion of Keston CE Primary School for an additional ‘bulge’ year of one form of entry for the academic year 2013/14.

In considering the proposal, the Portfolio Holder for Education highlighted the significant demand for school places at Keston CE Primary School and noted that 178 applications had already been received for the 30 existing available places in Reception for 2013/14.

Councillor Alexa Michael, Ward Councillor for Bromley Common and Keston agreed that there was a need for more school places across the Borough but noted that many parents and carers were attracted to the ‘small school’ ethos of Keston CE Primary School as a one form of entry primary school. There were also a number of key local issues that would have to be addressed prior to any permanent expansion of the school, such as the accessibility of the school and traffic management.  Councillor Alexa Michael underlined that the Unitary Development Plan of the Local Authority stated that new development would normally be resisted for those developments that would substantially increase traffic on roads that were not part paved, as was the case in the area around Keston CE Primary School.

Another Member was concerned that the scope of the Portfolio Holder for Education’s decision was required to be based purely on educational grounds, and noted the need to involve other members of the Executive in the decision making process to ensure that the full implications of any expansion on both the school and the local community were considered before the final decision was made.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note Members’ comments regarding the outcome of the consultation;

2)  Agree expansion for an additional ‘bulge’ year of one form of entry for the academic year 2013/14 and that the Portfolio Holder  be requested to give serious consideration to alternate school sites for permanent expansion; and,

3)  Authorise Officers to undertake the formal statutory processes for the temporary expansion of a school for a ‘bulge’ year for the academic year 2013/14.