Background Information:
The Gravesham district section of the Kent Commissioning Plan for Education Provision 2019-23 has identified pressure for Year 7 places in the Gravesham area. The Commissioning Plan identified a need to provide up to 90 additional places in the planning area from September 2019., with further forms of entry required to come online over the next 4-5 years. The expansion of Saint George’s Church of England School supports the increases required in future years.
For 2020, the school will be able to accommodate an additional 30 year 7 places, but for 2021, permanent building works will be required to ensure an increased cohort can continue to be accommodated.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Northfleet & Gravesend West;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/03/2019
Decision due: Not before 17th Apr 2019 by Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Lead director: Keith Abbott
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Ian Watts, Assistant Director Education, North Tel: 03000 414302 Email: ian.watts@kent.gov.uk Tel: 03000 414302.
Consultees
This matter will be considered by the Infrastructure Commissioning Board on 30 April 2019 or 24 May 2019.
The Academy Trust will be running their own consultation on the matter as they are their own admissions authority.
The final decision was presented to the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 28th March 2019.
Financial implications: The School has already been successful in securing CIF funding from the ESFA for the demolition of a teaching block on the school site. The ESFA have now agreed to vary the scheme to enable this expansion to proceed. Therefore, the CIF funding of £3.7m will be combined with the KCC contribution of £2.6 million to meet the anticipated scheme cost of £6.3 million.
Legal implications: The local authority has a statutory duty under the Chapter III of the Education Act 1996 to ensure sufficient school places are available for any Kent child who requires one.
Equalities implications: A full impact assessment has been carried and will be published with the CYPE Cabinet Committee papers.