Issue details

As Leader of the Council, I approve a variation to the existing school place planning in Thanet through an urgent application being made to the Secretary of State to terminate the Academy Presumption process published in November 2017.

On the basis of approval from the Secretary of State being forthcoming, I further agree, subject to normal KCC and statutory school consultations, to KCC reversing its decision (17/0088) to establish a new secondary school in Thanet and instead;

• Agreement is given to the expansion of Ursuline College by 1 Form of Entry (FE) (5FE to 6FE) and King Ethelbert’s School by 2FE (from 5FE to 7FE)

• Agreement is given to the temporary expansion of Royal Harbour Academy to meet the additional need up to 2023/24

Reason(s) for decision:

My reason for the decision is as follows:

• It provides the best use of public resource with potential savings of at least £10.3 million capital.
• School rolls have not grown to the extent predicted in Thanet. Principally as a result of new housing build out rates being significantly lower than anticipated based on the Thanet Local Plan.  I believe that the shortfall against earlier projections should be materially reflected in our planning for future years and accordingly am persuaded that reducing the anticipated need is reasonable.
• In my view, the proposed strategy presents the best case for improving Educational Outcomes for young people in Thanet
• Numbers currently entering primary schools in Year R, 1 and 2 are dropping significantly.
• Expanding existing secondary schools strengthens the viability of Thanet secondary schools – both financially and educationally.
• The strategy to expand existing secondary schools in Thanet, has the full support of all Thanet secondary heads The extent of their support is shown in a letter signed by all secondary headteachers on 15 October 2019 and is appended to this decision.

It is on this basis that I seek to vary the existing commissioning plan and apply to the Secretary of State to terminate the presumption process and seek support to pursue alternative arrangements to meet the educational needs in that locality.

Reason for urgency:

The Department for Education (DfE) have indicated that they are only willing to consider proposals when they are formally put before them. Given the urgent timelines, I have concluded that it is imperative to bring forward the decision urgently and that KCC cannot wait for the conclusion of the normal key decision timetable.

The short-term demand on places in Thanet in the next two to three years rises to 5FE in 2021 and reduces to 1FE in 2025. Urgency is therefore required to obtain the DfE’s formal support. Note, building a new 6FE school in Margate would not be completed until September 2022, which is predominantly post bulge and therefore an interim solution needs to be found.

To provide clarity on the way forward and seeking clarity in their respective statutory positions, both the General Counsel and Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education also believe that the decision is now urgent.

Equality Implications:

An Equality Impact Assessment has been undertaken and can be viewed on request.  All identified issues have been mitigated and considered as part of this decision.

Business Plan:

The decision relates to the method for KCC to meet its Statutory duty to provide suitable education provision.