Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the annual report of the Head of Schools and Families on school organisation and school places in Sefton based on the annual School Capacity (SCAP) return to the Department for Education. 

The report indicated that the figures contained in the report were based on the 2016 SCAP return and the School Census in January 2016 and 2017; and that the following range of factors and issues impacted on school organisation:-

·       Government Policy

·       Local Authority Statutory Duties

·       Government’s vision for Local Authorities

·       Factors affecting Pupil Place Planning

·       Education reform

·       School funding reform

·       Demographic Issues

·       Planning Areas

The report also provided information on both the primary and secondary sector pupil places and numbers and detailed the variations in different parts of the borough; and that regarding capital projects, Sefton did not receive any Basic Need allocation for 2017/18 and 2018/19 as the pupil projections submitted to the DFE via SCAP in 2014 and 2015 did not demonstrate enough growth.  However, based on the 2016 SCAP return Sefton would receive an allocation of £2,876,486 in 2019/20.

The report concluded that managing pupil places was a complex matter taking into account a range and variety of factors; and that the the demand for school places was reviewed annually and proposals developed to meet local pressure points as they arose.

Members of the Committee raised the following issues:-

·       Could information be provided on the pupil admission numbers for all schools and what places had been allocated as at June 2017?

·       Confirmation was given that regarding new housing within the borough  the DFE would not allow local authorities to factor housing developments in to their pupil projections until planning permission had been granted

·       Confirmation was given that pupil movement into and out of the borough was taken into account in the planning of school places

RESOLVED: That