Issue - meetings

This report provides the current context for the delivery of the Warwickshire County Council Education Sufficiency Strategy and outlines pupil number forecasts from September 2022.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Kam Kaur

Councillor Kam Kaur (Portfolio Holder for Education) explained to Cabinet that the Annual Education Sufficiency Update was supplementary to the Education Sufficiency Strategy and outlined pupil number forecasts from September 2022 covering a 5 year period for primary phase and a 7 year period for secondary phase, compared against school capacities. Details of any pressures expected during that period were included in the report, along with proposed solutions such as school expansions.

Councillor Kaur particularly noted that demand for primary places in all year groups could be accommodated in existing schools in most planning areas.   The report set out a forecasted need for additional primary school places in areas of high housing development including Nuneaton, Rugby, Kineton, Kenilworth and South of Leamington.  Additionally, the report noted that there was significant demand for additional places at secondary level and, despite significant investment in expansions of existing secondary schools in recent years, further additional secondary school places were forecast to be necessary to meet demand across Warwickshire.

Responding to comments and questions, Councillor Kaur noted that the actual position in terms of people movement in Warwickshire did not correlate with the picture provided by the census.  Conversations were taking place with heads at both primary and secondary levels to ensure that Published Admission Numbers (PAN) were correct and within forecasts.  A discussion with Rugby Borough councillors was planned in the following week regarding the independent review that had taken place and the executive summary would then be shared.

Councillor Peter Butlin noted there had been increasing numbers of school children in the county because of families arriving from Ukraine, Hong Kong and also London.  The requirement for school places was subject to change over time and this made it more difficult to identify where and when school places were required.  Work regarding the PANs and school building was, therefore, ongoing.

Resolved

That Cabinet endorses the Annual Education Sufficiency Update 2022 (attached at Appendix 1 to the report) and notes the proposed schemes to ensure sufficiency of school places in Warwickshire.