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That pupil roll projections and other trend
data set out in the report be noted.
 
That the continued increase in the number of
children and young people with an Education Health and Care Plan
(EHCP) above demographic trends be noted.
 
That a planning margin of 5% above the GLA
School Roll Projections continues to be implemented to provide for
local variations in need, and to meet parental preferences.
 
That it is noted that school census,
admissions, and the GLA School Roll Projections now indicate a
sustained reduction in the need for primary school places in future
years, with a significant surplus of Reception year places from
September 2025 in some primary planning areas.
 
That the primary capacity reductions being
delivered in primary planning areas 3, 5, 6 and 7 are noted.
 
Based on the analysis undertaken within this
report, that Officers take the action set out below, working with
local schools, academy trusts and where relevant the Department for
Education to:
 
Primary Planning Area 1:
No immediate need to reduce
numbers. Recommendation to review
situation with potential need to reduce places later in the
decade.
 
Primary Planning Area 2:
Recommend reducing capacity by 1 form of entry
and then keep under review for possible further reduction from 2028
onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 3:
Recommend reducing capacity by 1 form of entry
and then keep under review for possible further reduction from 2028
onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 4:
Recommend reducing capacity by 1 form of entry
and then keep under review for further reduction from 2027
onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 5:
Recommend taking out 1 form of entry and then
keep under review for possible further reduction from 2029
onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 6:
Keep under review for reduction from
2027/28.
 
Primary Planning Area 7:
Look to reduce capacity by a further form of
entry by 2027/28 keeping the area under review for further future
reductions.
 
Primary Planning Area 8:
Keep capacity at current level and keep under
review.
 
Primary Planning Area 9:
Seek to reduce capacity by 1 form of
entry.
 
Secondary Planning Area 1 (PA 10):
Keep capacity at current level and keep under
review.
 
Secondary Planning Area 2 (PA 11):
Keep capacity at current level and keep under
review.
 
In delivering reductions in primary rolls,
consideration will be given to the need to safeguard the school
estate.
 
That there remains pressure on secondary
school rolls in the west of the borough, and that secondary school
rolls are not projected to experience any significant reduction
until the end of the decade.
 
That the specific pressures for placements for
pupils with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are noted, and
that the Council works with local schools, trusts and the DfE to
bring proposals forward to increase capacity and improve provision
where necessary. The High Needs Funding
and Estates Review will be a key route for identifying
opportunities to bring forward additional capacity.
 
That discussions be undertaken with schools,
multi-academy trusts and the DfE, as outlined in this report, to
ensure a sufficient supply of mainstream school places in the
borough, including through expansions and opening new schools.
 
That the continued delays to progress in the
DfE-led delivery of Redwood Academy special free school be noted,
and that the Council continues to engage in conversation with both
the trust and DfE about delivering needed specialist capacity at
the earliest opportunity.
 
That the Council should actively seek
opportunities to ensure equitable and fair access to all schools
and all schools provide an inclusive education offer to all
pupils.
 
That the Council should support schools in
accessing Government funding to increase school based early years
and wrap around provision, where proposals are targeted at areas of
demonstrable need.
 
Where expansion is agreed, to implement
through the education capital programme (subject to the
availability of funds).
 
That the Working Group expressed significant
concern about the impact of secondary schools and Multi-Academy
Trusts capping secondary school admissions numbers and the impact
on the Local Authority’s ability to meet its sufficiency duty
for school places.
 
That Officers work closely with secondary
schools and Multi-Academy Trusts to find a satisfactory resolution
to proposals to cap school places in Years 8-11.

Reasons for the decision

Bromley Council has established policies and
processes in place for the review and strategic planning of school
places and related school organisation to ensure it meets its
statutory responsibilities to secure sufficient school places as
well as to make appropriate provision for children and young people
with special educational needs.  This
work also helps deliver the priority within the Local
Authority’s Making Bromley Even Better 2021/31
strategy which aims to ensure that children and young people are
supported to grow up, thrive and have the best life chances in
families who flourish and are happy to call Bromley home.