Decision details

Proposed decision:

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills proposes to:

a)            agree to provide £4m from the Children’s, Young People and Education Capital Budget for the permanent expansion of Highsted Grammar School by 1FE for September 2021;

b)           Authorise the Director of Infrastructure, Strategic and Corporate Services in consultation with the General Counsel and Director of Education to enter into any necessary contracts / agreements on behalf of the County Council; and

c)            Authorise the Director of Infrastructure, Strategic and Corporate Services to be the nominated     Authority Representative within the relevant agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under the contracts.

Reason for the decision:

To allocate £4m from the Capital budget for the expansion of Highsted Grammar school by 1FE. The funding allocation would be subject to a contractual agreement with the Trust to offer a minimum of 150 Year 7 places for September 2021 and to permanently expand the school by 1FE from September 2022 linked to the delivery of a Basic Need capital build programme. The school’s current published admission number (PAN) is 120.

Background:

The Kent Commissioning Plan 2020-2024 identified the need for additional selective places for the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Planning group. Forecasts indicted a deficit of up to 60 Year 7 places for 2021 and a continual need through the plan period of between 1.5FE and 2FE in additional selective school places. Discussions have been held with both grammar schools in Sittingbourne and each school has agreed to progress a 1FE expansion, delivering a total of 60 additional places from September 2021.

Options (other options considered but discarded):

There are two grammar schools in Sittingbourne, and they have both agreed to a 1FE expansion. Neighbouring planning groups, including Faversham and Canterbury Selective and Maidstone Selective planning group, have a deficit of year 7 places.

How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’:

This proposal will help to secure our ambition “to ensure that Kent’s young people have access to the education, work and skills opportunities necessary to support Kent business to grow and be increasingly competitive in the national and international economy” as set out in ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2017 - 2022)’.

The Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2020-24 identified the need to commission additional capacity in Sittingbourne Selective Schools.

As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I agree to:

i.         provide £4m from the Children’s, Young People and Education Capital Budget for the permanent expansion of Highsted Grammar School by 1FE for September 2021.

ii.        Authorise the Director of Infrastructure, Strategic and Corporate Services in consultation with the General Counsel and Director of Education to enter into any necessary contracts /         agreements on behalf of the County Council

iii.       Authorise the Director of Infrastructure, Strategic and Corporate Services to be the nominated           Authority Representative within the relevant agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under the contracts