Issue - meetings

That the Wokingham Borough Secondary School Strategy 2017 to 2020, as appended to the report, be approved.

The Executive considered a report setting out the Secondary School Strategy for Wokingham Borough for the period 2017 to 2020. The document provided an analysis of the need for school places and a strategy for delivering places (if required) over that three year period.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services introduced the report and stated that the timeframe for the strategy matched that for the Local Plan Update. The new Local Plan may result in fundamental changes to the size of some local communities and the distribution of the child population. Consequently, there was no value in developing a longer term strategy at this time.

Councillor Ashwell reported that the core recommendation in the strategy related to the ability to create additional capacity. It was felt that any demand for additional capacity in the three year period could be met from the use of existing premises and expansion on school sites. If demand increased towards the limit of current capacity there would be early engagement with stakeholders to explore potential options. Longer term growth may require a new school which would be delivered in conjunction with new housing proposals in the updated Local Plan.

RESOLVED: That the Wokingham Borough Secondary School Strategy 2017 to 2020, as appended to the report, be approved.