Issue details

Proposal to enlarge The Canterbury High School, Knight Avenue, Canterbury, CT2 8QA by one form of entry adding a total of 150 secondary school places from September 2017

The Canterbury district section of the Kent Commissioning Plan for Education Provision 2016-20 has identified a significant pressure on Year 7 places across the district.  The expansion of Canterbury High School to 7FE will help to address these pressures and adheres to the principles of our Commissioning Plan as it increases capacity at a good, popular school.  In reaching this decision I have taken into account:

 

1.              The Governing Body’s agreement to the proposal and their agreement to carry out an informal consultation with parents/carers, staff and governors.

2.              The views of the Local Member

3.              the views of the Area Education Officer

4.              the views of the Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee.

 

It is proposed to permanently enlarge Canterbury High School, increasing the PAN to 210 (7FE) for the September 2017 Year 7 intake.  

 

a)    Capital – The enlargement of the school requires the provision of additional general teaching spaces, specialist teaching areas and facilities.  A curriculum assessment and feasibility study has been carried out. The total cost is estimated to be in the region of £3.1m.   The costs of the project are estimates and these may increase as the project is developed.  If the cost of the project is greater than 10% the Cabinet Member will be required to take a further decision to allocate the additional funding.

b)    Revenue – For a period of three academic years, the school will receive protection for an additional 30 Year 7 pupils at the rate of £3,803 per pupil.    For each additional classroom, resulting from the expansion of the school, the sum of £6,000 will allocated towards the classroom setup costs.

Human – As an Academy, the school will decide when to appoint additional teachers, as the school size increases incrementally.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Division affected: Canterbury City South West;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 11/01/2016

Department: Education & Young People's Services

Contact: Marisa White, Area Education Officer - East Kent 443000418794 Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01227 284407.

Consultees

Academy Trust carried out an informal consultation with parents/carers, staff and governors and would be informing the EFA of the increase in pupil numbers.

 

The Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee met on 21 to discuss the proposed decision on 21 January 2016

 

Martin Vye, Member for Canterbury City South West was consulted.   Mr Vye understood the need to expand Secondary capacity in Canterbury and welcomed the fact that Canterbury High School has been chosen to take in an extra 30 children in Year 7 next September and to expand by 1FE from 2017.

 

The view of the Area Education Officer:

Discussions have taken place with all the schools involved and with other schools locally.  The schools’ leadership teams have confirmed their support for the proposals. All proposals are set out within the Commissioning Plan which has been consulted on with schools, local councils, governors and KCC local Members.  These proposals will help meet the local demand for Year 7 places from September 2016 onwards.

 

 

Financial implications: Marisa White Area Education Officer -East Kent Tel number: 03000 413214 marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Keith Abbott Director of Education Planning and Access 03000 417008 keith.abbott@kent.gov.uk

Legal implications: 16/00011

Decisions