- INTRODUCTION
This
project combines a 4-class ‘Basic Need’ expansion of the school to cater
for increased pupil numbers and a Foundation Stage improvement, which
the school are promoting following a successful bid for grant funding.
In
the light of plans for over 1,000 new housing units on brownfield sites
in South Banbury, reports were submitted to the former Executive on
14 October 2003 and to the Cabinet on 6 September 2005 outlining proposals
to re-organise Primary School provision in the South Banbury area and
to receive results of the public consultation carried out.
The
Cabinet on 6 September 2005 agreed in principle to proceed with:
- the development
of a new 7-class primary school on the Cattle Market site and
- the transfer
of Dashwood School and expansion of Harriers Ground School, subject
to:
- statutory
notice procedures
- reference
to the School Organisation Committee
- obtaining
of necessary rights and consents
- confirmation
of the project(s) on the basis of a detailed project appraisal
to be submitted to a future meeting
The
statutory notice was issued on 22 September 2005 for the expansion of
Dashwood School by relocation to the former Cattle Market site and expansion
of Harriers Ground School and as no comments were received, the County
Council determined the notice itself without reference to the School
Organisation Committee. All necessary rights and consents regarding
obtaining the land have been secured. The Detailed Project Appraisal
for the provision of the new 7-class primary school on the Cattle Market
site was approved by Cabinet on 2 May 2006.
In
order to facilitate the scheme it is necessary for the County Council
to declare surplus to requirements the existing Dashwood School buildings
and site of approximately 0.3 hectares and it is proposed that approval
for this is given as part of this appraisal.
- DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
This
detailed project appraisal relates to the design and construction of
a four classroom extension incorporating resource, cloakroom, toilet
and storage areas together with internal alterations and minor extensions
to provide a visitor reception, school office and staffroom accommodation.
The project includes a ramped external corridor to provide accessibility
between the entrance / assembly hall and the rest of the school.
The
project incorporates an improvement to the Foundation Stage as a result
of the school’s successful bid for Foundation Stage Improvement Funding.
This will provide a new Foundation Stage classroom and main entrance
linking with and incorporating alterations within the existing permanent
building. The existing temporary classroom will be removed and the external
play area and garden will be reconfigured to link with the adjacent
pre-school accommodation.
Car
parking and vehicle access onto the school site will be improved and
provision has been made to create a hard surface drop off and collection
area in the Town Council’s Recreation Ground at the end of Harriers
View to help ease local traffic problems. This work remains subject
to final discussion and a formalised agreement with the Town Council.
The
scheme has been designed in accordance with the Primary School Brief
and in line with DfES guidelines; it has the full support of staff and
the School’s governing body and meets the objectives of the County Council’s
Corporate Plan by improving the opportunity to enjoy effective teaching
and learning.
- JUSTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT
OF NEED
It
is anticipated that in excess of 1000 new dwellings will be provided
on brownfield sites in the centre and southeastern parts of Banbury.
The Cattlemarket site itself was only proposing between 300 and 350
houses and did not justify the allocation of a whole site to a new school
by the developers. The rest of the housing was being developed within
brownfield sites within Banbury. Most other proposed dwellings are situated
within the catchment areas of 3 existing primary schools in Banbury
namely St Leonard’s, St Mary’s and Dashwood. All 3 schools have little
spare capacity.
A
detailed Option Appraisal has been undertaken which considered the different
ways in which the additional pupils could be accommodated. The Option
Appraisal confirmed there was very little room for expansion in any
of the 3 primary schools mentioned above. The Option Appraisal established
that the most cost effective solution would be to provide a new 7-class
school at the Cattlemarket site with expansion improvement at Harriers
Ground School if necessary. Further work has identified it is likely
that only 7 new classrooms need to be provided. The report to the Cabinet
in September 2005, outlined the proposal to take the opportunity to
relocate Dashwood School to the Cattlemarket site. This would mean that
only 3 new classrooms were being provided for growth on the Cattlemarket
site and therefore, as part of the new proposal, Harriers Ground School
would be extended by 4 additional classrooms thus providing the 7 new
classrooms required for Basic Need. The funding for this would come
from the capital receipt generated from the sale of the Dashwood site.
This would also require some change in the catchment area of the schools
but would have the advantage of disposing of substandard school buildings
at Dashwood School.
The
extensions and improvements at Harriers Ground School are being programmed
to coincide with completion of the New Dashwood Primary School.
There
will be some revenue savings due to the school using new buildings and
there will be a reduction in repairs and maintenance liabilities.
- OTHER OPTIONS
The
other options considered as part of the Option Appraisal included further
expansion of local schools but this was not feasible either because
of the size of the site of the existing schools and/or the lack of core
infrastructure. The existing Dashwood School has no adjacent playing
field provision and there are significant suitability deficiencies with
the classrooms and other internal accommodation.
- FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS