Purpose

To approve the Secondary School Expansion
Programme 2025 and associated capital expenditure.

Content

1.     
That the formal proposal for schools to be included within the
Secondary School Expansion Programme 2025 be approved.

 

2.     
That the allocation of £1,750,000 from the capital budget for
Secondary School Expansion Schemes to the Ormiston SWB Academy
project be approved.

 

3.     
That the allocation of £1,450,000 from the capital budget for
Secondary School Expansion Schemes to the Moseley Park project be
approved.

 

4.     
That the Council be authorised to enter into all legal agreements
in relation to the schemes.
 

5.     
That it be noted that the Local Authority (LA) has a statutory duty
to:
·       
ensure the sufficient school places are available within their area
for every child of school age whose parents wish them to have
one.
·       
to promote high educational standards, to ensure fair access to
educational opportunity, and;
·       
to help fulfil every child’s educational potential.
 

The LA must also ensure that there are sufficient schools in its
area and promote diversity and parental choice.

 

6.     
That it be noted that the Regional Schools Commissioner is
responsible for determining if academies can expand and the Council
is not fully appraised of all the information which decisions are
based on, therefore, the Council is not in full control of all the
factors relating to the effective and timely supply of school
places.

 

7.     
That the increase in the Published Admission Number at Colton Hills
Community School for 2025-2026 onwards be noted. This would help
ensure sufficiency of provision and can be achieved without the
need for capital investment.

 

8.     
That it be noted that the projects within this report are reflected
in the Capital Programme and included in the Capital Budget Outturn
2023-2024 including Quarter One Capital Budget Monitoring 2024-2025
report also on this agenda.