Agenda item

Report CEF22032

The report presented the Bromley School Places Plan 2022-26 that set out the Local Authority’s plans to meet the forecast need for primary and secondary school places and sought agreement to the recommendations of the School Place Planning Working Group which met on 27 July 2022.

The Chairman observed the significant impact that the increase in Education, Health and Care Plans had on school place planning.  The Head of Strategic Place Planning further advised of additional pressures identified with Reception pupils who had not yet had their education, care and health needs assessed due to the disruption of early years’ provision by the COVID-19 pandemic.  In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Strategic Place Planning explained that the COVID-19 pandemic may also be a contributory factor in the increase in children and young people identified as having mental health support needs. 

A Member queried the proposal to move to two planning areas for secondary place planning and the Head of Strategic Place Planning advised that this proposal reflected the logistical difficulties of school travel across Bromley which was the largest London Borough by area.  There continued to be significant pressure on secondary school places within the Borough and it was anticipated that moving to two planning areas would assist families in securing appropriate school places, particularly in the north of the Borough where pressure on secondary school places was acute.  In response to a specific question raised by a Member, the Head of Strategic Place Planning confirmed that following a recent Ofsted inspection, the rating of Kemnal Technology College had increased to ‘Requires Improvement’, recognising work undertaken by the School’s Leadership Team to address identified issues.

The Chairman thanked the Chairman and Members of the School Place Planning Working Group for their excellent work.

RESOLVED: That the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

·  Note the recommendations of the School Place Planning Working Group that:

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

2.  Members note the continued increase in the number of children and young people with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), above demographic trends;

3.  A planning margin of 5% above the GLA school roll projections continues to be implemented to provide for local variations in need and to meet parental preferences;

4.  Members note the projections indicating a potential future reduction in the need for primary places;

5.  Whilst there are currently sufficient primary 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;

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

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

8.  Whilst there has been progress in the delivery of both Harris Kent House and Redwood Academy free schools, there remains a potential delay to both projects and that it is recommended that the Council engages in conversation with both trusts to ensure that there are sufficient school places available until each school opens;

9.  Members note the Special Educational Needs strategic estates review that will be developing options to enable the delivery of additional specialist capacity when needed;

10.The Council should actively seek to increase the capacity of in-Borough specialist provision;

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

12.Officers enter dialogue with the DfE on amending the primary and secondary planning areas.

·  Agree the Bromley School Places Plan 2022-26; and,

·  Note the ongoing work of officers with the Department for Education to amend the Borough’s school place planning areas, comprising moving to two planning areas for secondary place planning, amending the primary planning areas to reflect the 2022 changes in ward boundaries and retaining the principle of planning areas being co-terminus with ward boundaries.