Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: December 16, 2025

Purpose: Update on school place sufficiency at Secondary school level.

Content:  The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services, which sought to inform of an annual review of secondary school places across the borough, evaluating the sufficiency of available places and providing forecasts for the next six years. The report also sought approval of the necessary expenditures for managing the school estate to ensure the council fulfilled its statutory obligation to provide a school place for every child residing in the borough. The Department for Education (DfE) Littleborough Secondary School project was still “paused”, pending the government’s national spending review.   The School Place Planning Manager Sufficiency and the Assistant Director Schools and Inclusions were in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   The Cabinet Members noted the addendum to the report, following consultation with the Pennines Township Committee.   Resolved: 1.     That the updated forecasts borough-wide for both the Heywood / Middleton area and the Pennines / Rochdale area be noted; 2.     That Basic Need funding as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for the Cardinal Langley RC High School scheme for the 2027 intake in Middleton be agreed; 3.     That the Basic Need funding as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for the Edgar Wood Academy scheme for the 2027 intake in Middleton be agreed; 4.     That the Basic Need funding as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for the St. Anne’s Academy scheme for the 2027 intake in Middleton be agreed; 5.     That the increase in Pupil Admission number at Wardle Academy for 2026- 2029 be noted.   Reason for decision: The council has a statutory duty to provide education and school places for all school-aged children residing in the borough and is consequently responsible for ensuring effective planning to accommodate projected pupil numbers.   In accordance with Section 14(1) of the Education Act 1996, the Local Authority has a duty to ensure sufficient school places are available and acts as the strategic commissioner for the provision of new school places within its area.   A local authority shall exercise its functions under this legislation to contribute to the spiritual, moral, mental, and physical development of the community by ensuring that efficient primary and secondary education, and in the case of a local authority in England, further education, are available to meet the needs of the population within its area.   Alternatives considered and rejected: The council is required to meet its statutory duty to maintain sufficient places, and consequently must work in partnership with all schools (maintained and non-maintained) to manage sufficiency. Not delivering additional capacity as requested in (2.2) above could put the council in danger of not meeting its statutory obligations.