Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/164

Contact: Barbara Chillman, Principal Officer – School Organisation & Planning Tel: (01865) 816459

Report by Interim Director for Children, Education & Families (CA9).

In recent years Oxford has experienced a significant and sustained rise in primary pupil numbers. To meet this demand, in 2008 an additional 105 primary school places across the city were agreed; in 2009 a further 245 additional primary school places were created, and in 2010 another 238 additional places were created. Looking to the future, significant additional housing is included in Oxford City Council's Core Strategy, which will, in turn, lead to increased pupil numbers across the city. The proposal to expand Orchard Meadow Primary School is one part of the county council's strategy to meet the need for primary school places in Oxford. Several other schools across Oxford are also planned for expansion over the next few years.

Orchard Meadow Primary School’s Admission Number was until recently 30. However the school has worked with the county council to admit over this number for the last few years, to meet growth in demand for pupil places in Blackbird Leys.  From September 2011 the Admission Number rose to 45, which more accurately reflects the actual intake of pupils into the Reception (F1) class each year.  Demand for pupil places across Oxford city has risen and future plans for the regeneration of Blackbird Leys could include up to 1000 additional homes: therefore the expectation is that the rise in pupil numbers will be sustained.

As a result, the proposal is to expand Orchard Meadow Primary School to become a 2 form entry school with an Admission Number of 60. This would bring the number of children on roll at the school up to possibly 420 children (excluding the Nursery).  

A decision is required, following the completion of a public consultation and consideration of the responses to it, on whether to proceed to publish a statutory notice relating to the proposed expansion of Orchard Meadow Primary School.  

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of Orchard Meadow Primary School, Oxford.

Cabinet considered a report on a proposal to expand Orchard Meadow Primary School to become a 2 form entry school with an Admission Number of 60 as one part of the county council's strategy to meet the need for primary school places in Oxford. The report included the outcome of a public consultation and consideration of the responses to it.

RESOLVED:             to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of Orchard Meadow Primary School, Oxford.