Issue details

20/00007 - Proposal to permanently increase the capacity at Pilgrims Way Primary School, Pilgrims Way Canterbury CT1 1XU

 

 

Background –

 

The Kent Commissioning Plan for Education 2019-2023 identifies a need for additional places in the Canterbury City Planning Area from 2021 this is due to pressures from new housing developments in Canterbury City and specifically the private development on the former Howe Barracks Site. This development will produce a total of 500 new homes. In addition to this, the refurbishment of former army houses by Redbridge Council is resulting in 38 new families moving in from November 2019.  To mitigate the need for places, it is proposed that Pilgrims Way will expand by 0.5 forms of entry (FE) to become a 2FE Primary school. Pilgrims Way is the nearest primary school to these developments and was named for any developer contributions linked to the development of private housing on the former barracks site. Canterbury City Council Local Plan identifies 16,000 new homes over the plan period to 2031. 8,737 are planned for the Canterbury area, with 6,533 in the Canterbury City Primary planning area where Pilgrims Way Primary School is located. Pilgrims' Way Primary School was registered as a new school on 1st May 2018 and is part of the Veritas Academy Trust. They are awaiting their first Ofsted inspection. Currently Pilgrims Way has 261 on the school roll with 31 on the nursery roll totalling 292 (May school census 2019)

 

Proposed decision –

 

To expand Pilgrims Way Primary School by increasing the Published Admissions Number (PAN) from 45 places to 60 places from September 2021.

 

Decision type: Key

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

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Division affected: Canterbury City South;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/12/2019

Decision due: Not before 21st Jan 2020 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
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 Education and Skills

Lead director: Keith Abbott

Department: Education & Young People's Services

Contact: Marisa White, Area Education Officer - East Kent Tel: 03000 418794 Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01227 284407.

Consultees

A public consultation was held between 4 October 2019 and 22 November 2019 and the feedback from this will be included in CYPE Cabinet Committee report. During this period a pre planning consultation event was held at the school on Monday 18 November 2019.

 

The report to the CYPE CC to approve the proposal will be presented at the 10 January 2019 cabinet committee meeting.

 

The local member has been informed of the proposal and their views have been sought during the public consultation period. Their view will be included in the CYPE Cabinet Committee report.

 

Financial implications: The feasibility estimates the costs for this proposal to be £1.9m and the CYPE Cabinet Committee report will update costs as the concept designs are prepared and surveys completed for the planning application. Up to £2,500 is provided for each newly provided learning space for ICT equipment from the Capital budget. Totalling £10,000 for this project. £81,473.63 in developer contributions has been collected by Canterbury City Council towards the 0.5FE expansion of Pilgrims Way Primary School. A further £843,560 is expected but not received and £4,986 has been requested but not agreed. A total of £930,019.63 is therefore expected from developer contributions towards the expansion. As per KCC policy a total of £6,000 per new learning space will be provided to the school from the DSG revenue budget. For this proposal, costs will be £24,000.

Legal implications: Any legal implications will be identified in the report to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills before he takes his decision to allocate the funding.

Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment has been produced as part of the proposal and will be considered as part of the decision making process.

Decisions

Documents