To ensure that the funding is in place to expand White Cliffs Primary College for the Arts, Dover, for the Local Authority to meet its statutory obligations in providing education provision to the children of Kent.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Dover Town;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 13/02/2014
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: David Adams, Assistant Director Education (South Kent) 01233 898559 Email: david.adams@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01233 898559.
Consultation process
Financial Implications
Capital
The enlargement of the School requires the provision of seven additional classrooms, as well as ancillary facilities. A feasibility study was conducted with the total cost initially estimated to be in the region of £2.2m. Funding was assumed as £1.8m of Targeted Basic Need and the balance of £400k from the Basic Need capital budget. Since then, the project has been taken from inception stages through to detailed design, which has included several technical and intrusive surveys, and further engagement with the School. Design development throughout the planning process has added cost to the overall scheme, particularly to the scope of the ground works and the excavation into the embankment. In addition the costs within the construction sector have risen significantly since the original estimates were made. The expected estimate to deliver this scheme is now £3.5m and appropriate funding has been identified as part of the Medium Term Capital Programme, which includes the original funding from the Targeted Basic Need allocation made by the DfE in August 2013. As the revised estimated project cost is more than 10% of the original estimate, a further decision is required to allocate the additional funds of £1.3M. Therefore, the Cabinet Member will be required to take a further decision to allocate the additional funding.
Revenue
The School will continue to receive increased funding through the Delegated Budget as follows:-
(i) Pupil Growth Money: For the financial years 2014/15 and 2015/16 the School has received reorganisation funding, for 30 pupils in 2014/15 and 60 pupils in 2015/16 and will receive further protection on 30 pupils in 2016/17. Rising roll funding will then be provided for the remaining period of expansion until the School becomes a full two form entry School.
(ii) EFA Delegated Budget: As an Academy, the School is funded on the academic year September to August. The pupil count used in the calculation of the budget is taken from the October census, prior to the following academic year. This means that the School will receive formula funding for the increase in pupil numbers from the year after the admission, therefore growth funding will be provided during the initial year of admission.
(ii) Additional Classroom Funding: The School will receive £6,000 as a contribution towards the set costs of each of the seven additional classrooms that need to be opened.
Human
White Cliffs Primary College for the Arts has and will continue to appoint additional teachers and support staff as the School size increases and the need arises.
Consultees
Public
consultation
Local County Councillor: Mr Gordon Cowan
Headteacher and Board of Directors of
the school
Area Education Officer - South Kent: David Adams
Education Cabinet Committee – 27 September 2013
Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee – 17 March 2016
Financial implications: David Adams Area Education Officer – South Kent 01233 898559 david.adams@kent.gov.uk
Legal implications: 14/00022(a) 14/00022(b)