Agenda item

To note a parcel of school alterations which will shortly be subject to key decisions, and a decision that has already been taken. The Committee is asked to endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education on the proposed decisions. The proposed decisions are as follows:

·         18/00015 – Proposal to make prescribed alterations to Laleham Gap (Foundation Special) School

·         18/00028 – Proposal to make alterations to St Nicholas (Community) Special School

·         18/00035 – Proposal to permanently expand Northfleet School for Girls, Gravesend

·         18/00036 – Proposal to permanently expand Temple Hill Primary Academy

·         18/00039 – Allocation of capital funding to enable Norton Knatchbull Grammar School to expand

The decision below has been taken:

·         18/00020 – Proposed permanent expansion and relocation of St Peter's Church of England Primary School

Marisa White (Area Education Officer – East Kent) and Ian Watts (Area Education Officer – North Kent) were in attendance for this item

1.    Marisa White and Ian Watts introduced the reports which set out the proposed decisions to expand or alter the following schools: Laleham Gap (Foundation Special) School, St Nicholas (Community) Special School, Northfleet School for Girls, Temple Hill Primary Academy and Norton Knatchbull Grammar School.

2.    Keith Abbott advised the Committee that that the information relating to the Condition Improvement Funding bid in part (b) of the recommendation for the Norton Knatchbull Grammar School expansion was no longer relevant and would be removed.

3.    Officers made Members of the Committee aware that the decision to permanently expand St Peter’s Church of England School had already been taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education outside of the Committee cycle.

4.    Officers answered questions from Members of the Committee and comments were noted.

The recommendations for each of the five proposed decisions were as follows:

5.    RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

a)    note the outcome of the consultation and statutory notice; and

b)    agree that the Governing Body of Laleham Gap School should implement their proposal to remove the boarding provision; change the age range from 4-16 to 4-17 years by introducing a one-year post 16 provision and increase the designated number of the school from 170-178,

be endorsed.

6.    RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to proceed with the proposal and issue a public notice to:

            a)        increase the designated number from 200 to 285; and

            b)        create Secondary satellite provision at Spires Academy; and

            c)        create Primary satellite provision at Canterbury Primary School; and

subject to no objections being received to the public notice:

a)    implement the proposed changes

be endorsed.

7.    RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

a)    allocate £4m from the Children, Young People and Education Capital Budget, to fund any necessary additional works or variations to accommodation; and

b)    authorise the Director of Infrastructure in consultation with the General Counsel to enter into any necessary contracts/ agreements on behalf of the County Council; and

c)    authorise the Director of Infrastructure be the nominated Authority Representative within the relevant agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under the contracts,

be endorsed.

8.    RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

a)    increase the funding allocated from the Children, Young People and Education Services capital budget to expand Temple Hill Primary Academy from £2,400,000 to £3,075,000,

be endorsed.

9.    RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

a)    agree to release £100,000 from the Children, Young People and Education Services capital budget to enable Norton Knatchbull Grammar School to complete design work and secure planning approval for replacement/expanded buildings,

b)    agree to release £1,900,000 of the Children, Young People and Education Services capital budget to Norton Knatchbull Grammar School to enable the permanent expansion from 5FE to 7FE (149 to 210 places per year),

be endorsed.