Buckinghamshire County Council

School Place Planning Area

Paula Campbell-Balcombe Stephen Chainani County Council Legal Obligations

• BCC has a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places in its area

• Decisions on school reorganisation proposals based on DfE statutory guidance:

• Encourage popular/successful schools to expand; • Contribution to local diversity; • Ensure sustainability of access (‘local schools for local children’); • Availability of funding and land; • Presumption against closure of rural schools • Consider views of stakeholders Buckinghamshire County Council

Pupil Projections

Pupil projections are produced annually: • Planning area level to recognise the complexities of parental preference • Fluctuations in pupil and population trends can impact significantly on the projections • Population data less reliable since changes introduced eligibility rules on child benefit – now base projections on primary feeder pupils/birth data Buckinghamshire County Council

Current Situation in Bucks

Over the last 5 years, primary rolls have increased by 3150 pupils across Bucks: – Increased migration – Increased birth rates – Shift away from independent sector

Significant rise in Town and High Wycombe primary population now feeding into secondary sector Buckinghamshire County Council

LA’s Evolving Role BCC’s approach to school organisation changes continues to be one of seeking to influence and secure concensus: • providing the expert analysis of the data through its area plans; • bringing together groups of schools to reach agreement about the implications of the data; and, • impact of Academies & Free Schools Buckinghamshire County Council

Places Already Provided

• EARLY YEARS – 534 places

• PRIMARY – c.1,890 (9fe) plus 6 bulge classes

• SECONDARY – 3fe plus Temporary classroom replacement schemes at 7 schools Buckinghamshire County Council

Places Planned/Under Construction

1. EARLY YEARS PLACES – 462

2. PRIMARY PLACES – 2,730 (13fe) plus 9 bulge classes

3. SECONDARY PLACES – 9fe Buckinghamshire County Council

Future Expansion Programme

• No guarantee on future government funding!

• If funding cannot be sourced to meet the costs of expanding schools then the LA will fail to meet its statutory duty. S106 from housing developments key part of LA future plans.

• This will result in pupils being placed at schools outside the area - increasing pressure on transport systems and reducing social cohesion.

• Planning issues – highways issues, school drop off / parking and associated costs. Sport England issues. Buckinghamshire County Council

Situation in Wendover Buckinghamshire County Council Pupils Projections Wendover Planning Area Buckinghamshire County Council

Key facts – update for Wendover

• Almost at full capacity Reception and Year 1 all schools Buckinghamshire County Council

Decisions to date

• Feasibility studies undertaken

• Halton School expanded by 0.5fe to 1fe

• School expanded by 0.5fe to 2fe

• John Hampden Infant/Wendover Junior – bulge class 2014

• Expansion of JHIS/WJS by 1fe under consideration Buckinghamshire County Council

Aston Clinton Housing Growth

• Over 500 homes approved in the village with another 200 homes pending or at appeal; • Draft VoAP states no further sites are required to be allocated in Aston Clinton or ; • No policy basis to object to applications unless scheme unreasonably extends journey times for pupils; • Review of catchment areas to reflect changing demographics. Buckinghamshire County Council

Wendover Housing Growth • Policy S3 of Draft VoAP identifies a potential site for 800 homes in Wendover - equates to c.1fe Buckinghamshire County Council Aylesbury Housing Growth Buckinghamshire County Council

Aylesbury Housing Growth Options to meet housing growth include:

• Provision of 2fe and 3fe primary school on Hampden Fields; • Provision of 2-3fe school to accommodate development in the south within the Parish; • Provision of 1fe school on 1 hectare site within development for 808 homes in the Stone Parish (STO016) • Expand CE School by half a form of entry; • Expand second Primary School from 2fe to 3fe primary school; • Provision of 2fe school on Woodlands site • Undertake feasibility studies to expand existing schools in Aylesbury Town if required Buckinghamshire County Council

Secondary Provision Options to meet housing growth include:

• Site reserved on Broughton Crossing development for a new secondary school up to 10fe; • Old site; • Any major scheme (c. 2000+ homes) would be required to make either on-site provision for a new school or else contribute towards the expansion of a new school; • Undertake feasibility studies to expand existing schools if required. Buckinghamshire County Council

Thank you

Any questions?