Issue - meetings

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

DECISION TAKEN BY

Cabinet

20 June 2011

DECISION NO.

10/01478

Unrestricted

Subject: Knole Academy, Sevenoaks

Item 14 on the Cabinet Agenda - report by Mrs Sarah Hohler, Cabinet Member for Education, Learning & Skills, Mr Roger Gough, Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance & Health Reform, Mr Andy Roberts, Interim Corporate Director, Education, Learning & Skills  and Mr David Cockburn, Corporate Director of Business, Strategy & Support

(1) This report sought approval to submit the Feasibility study for Knole Academy to Partnership for Schools  to progress to the next stage and to issue a Future School Notice to the preferred bidder for Batch 2 Academies to develop a proposal for the Academy.

(2) The Knole Academy was formed following the amalgamation of Bradbourne School (Girls) and Wildernesse School (Boys) in September 2010. The Academy is currently located on the sites of the two former Schools but it is the intention that capital funding would be used to allow the Academy to consolidate on to one site. The development of this academy was put on hold while the funding available was reconsidered and following visits by the Department for Education (DfE) and the adoption of a new approach to calculating the funding, there was a significant reduction in the funding

available. The original funding would have allowed a complete new build of the school facilities but there is now a reduced budget and therefore revised plans have been developed and the proposal was therefore being taken forward on that basis. 

(2)  Cabinet resolved to:

                            (i) authorise the submission of the Feasibility study for Knole   Academy to Partnership for Schools and the DfE.

                           (ii) authorise the issuing of a Future School Notice to the  preferred bidder for Batch 2 Academies todevelop a proposal for the Academy within the affordability parameters and to progress through to the next stage of the process the development of detailed designs, progress the planning application and to finalise contracts: and,  .  

(iii) to note that the BSF, PFI and Academies Board will be updated on progress and final approval to enter into contracts will be sought from Cabinet

Any Interest Declared when the Decision was Taken:

None

Reason(s) for decision, including alternatives considered and any additional information

As set above and in the Cabinet report

Background Documents: none