Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2009/128

Contact: Barbara Chillman, Principal Officer - School Organisation and

Planning Tel: (01865) 816459

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families

St Nicholas CE Primary School has a published admission number of 45 children. For September 2008, 57 parents chose the school as their first preference. Due to rising numbers across Oxford City, 60 children have been admitted to the school in September 2009. Primary Care Trust records and the annual census of local children in early years settings show that the demand for places is likely to continue to be above the planned admission number. Other nearby schools are also expected to be full or nearly full, and pupil numbers across Oxford are expected to rise further.

The report considers a proposal to increase the school admission number from 45 to 60, which has been the subject of an informal consultation in the Marston area. A decision is sought as to whether to proceed to issuing a statutory notice to expand the school, in accordance with The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools)(England) Regulations 2007 (as amended by The School Organisation and Governance (Amendments)(England) Regulations 2007 which came into force on 21 January 2008).

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of St Nicholas CE Primary School, Marston.

Cabinet considered a report (CA8) setting out a proposal to increase the school admission number at St Nicholas CE Primary School, Marston from 45 to 60 following an informal consultation in the Marston area and a decision was now required as to whether or not to proceed to issuing a statutory notice to expand the school.

Councillor Altaf-Khan supported expansion but highlighted a number of issues regarding traffic and highway repairs and called for an investigation into the admission process in other schools in order to relieve pressure on St Nicholas School.

Councillor Waine welcomed Councillor Altaf Khan’s comments regarding expansion at the school but added that pressure points for placements were not always places where numbers could be increased.  He had no objection in principle to the proposal but also referred to a number of issues including traffic levels, highway repair and provision of a new entrance off Marston Road.  Investigations were ongoing into the first two but provision of an additional entrance was contrary to policy.  There were also financial implications attached to the capital works should the proposals be approved which would need to be the subject of a future report.

Councillor Rose added that he would be happy to consider provision of a pedestrian crossing but much of the road repair work would need to be undertaken by the City Council as a Section 42 responsibility.

RESOLVED: to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of St Nicholas CE Primary School, Marston