Issue - meetings

Primary School Provision Strategy

Meeting: 28/01/2016 - Executive (Item 93)

93 Primary School Planning Strategy pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Primary School Planning Strategy, as attached to the report, be approved.

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report including a proposed Primary School Planning Strategy which sets out the need for new primary school places over the period 2016 to 2018 to ensure that there are sufficient school places to meet this need.

 

The Executive Member for Children’s Services advised the meeting that last year there had been some areas where it had been difficult to meet the demand for school places eg Earley which had seen an unprecedented change in house occupation patterns.  Therefore through the Strategy it was planned over the coming years to provide: up to 315 places in Earley; 315 places in Woodley; and up to 210 places in the South West.  This would be achieved by the expansion of existing schools and new school place provision provided by the addition of seven new schools.  It was noted that a school at Montague Park was due to open in September 2016, and one at Matthews Green was anticipated to be open in 2018.  Further schools would be built in South Wokingham, Spencer’s Wood, Shinfield West and two in the Arborfield SDL. 

 

Councillor Haitham Taylor thanked the Earley Parents Group and those Members involved in helping to formulate the Strategy and highlighted that consultation had taken place with parents, residents, schools and other stakeholders.  Members noted that the Strategy had also taken account of highways constraints and restrictions of school sites.

 

Councillor Jorgensen commented that she welcomed the provision of extra school places, especially in Earley, as she felt it was really important that local parents are able to send their children to local schools.  In addition to the benefits for parents and children it would also reduce traffic congestion.  Councillor Jorgensen also wanted to ensure that the Council would continue to crack down on fraudulent school admissions and robustly fine people.  Councillor Haitham Taylor responded that the School Admission Arrangements report, which was due to be discussed at the next Executive, included more robust wording around applications from parents who owned/lived at two properties.

 

RESOLVED: That the Primary School Planning Strategy, as attached to the report, be approved.