NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR THE SOUTH WEST OF

INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS

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PROPOSALS FOR TWO NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITH NURSERY & RECEPTION AT SHINFIELD WEST AND IN THE SOUTH WEST OF WOKINGHAM

BACKGROUND

Education Vision and Strategy

Our vision is for Wokingham Borough to be the most forward looking area in for education and learning so that we are the best place for children and young people to grow up, learn, develop and achieve.

We have high ambition for Wokingham to be a place where families thrive and all children learn and develop well from the earliest years so that they are ready to succeed at school, have excellent foundations for learning and are equipped well for achievement in life, no matter what their background.

Every child and young person should go to a good or outstanding school, have access to the best teaching, and benefit from schools and other providers working in partnership with each other to share the best practice as they continue to improve.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) is responsible for ensuring there are sufficient high quality places for all learners, while at the same time fulfilling our other responsibilities to raise education standards and to be the champion of children and their families in securing good quality education in Wokingham Borough.

Our Primary School strategy is key to achieving our aims and has the following objectives:

 To meet the Council’s key priority to improve educational attainment and focus on all children achieving their potential through the provision of quality primary school provision  To ensure that there are sufficient places available for all pupils, in outstanding schools  To ensure that parental preferences are met to the greatest possible extent consistent with the elements of this policy  To support the delivery of the objectives established in the Council’s Core Strategy and maximise the opportunities that the Strategic Development Locations (SDLs) provide.

Growth

The Primary School Strategy has identified the need for additional places in Wokingham to cope with a rising birth rate and new housing developments across the Borough. Whilst the rising birth rate is affecting the whole of the borough, new housing, especially from the SDLs, is causing serious and localised problems.

Table 1 summarises the projected dwelling completions for the next 10 years and clearly shows that the bulk of the new houses are concentrated in four out of the seven school planning areas.

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Table 1: Projected Dwelling Completions

2015- 2016- 2017- 2018- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- 2025- 2006- School Planning Area 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2026

Earley 103 40 13 23 21 11 11 11 11 11 11 262

North (, , , Twyford, , 18 37 43 29 27 19 19 19 19 19 19 268 , St. Nicholas Hurst)

South East (, 9 50 94 234 401 401 401 401 401 401 331 3,125 )

South West (Shinfield, , , 85 483 731 699 532 507 517 382 382 222 218 4,761 ) Wokingham Town East 242 289 380 270 159 60 19 0 0 0 0 1,419 (Norreys & Westcott)

Wokingham Town West ( Evendons & 120 175 331 351 328 276 158 158 48 38 38 2,022 Emmbrook)

Woodley 155 235 202 152 93 64 64 64 48 9 9 1,093 Total 732 1,309 1,794 1,758 1,561 1,338 1,189 1,035 909 700 626 12,951

The effect of the increased housing is also reflected in the Year R Cohort projections for the Borough, see Table 2.

Table 2: Roll Projection for Wokingham Borough

Borough 2014 2015 2016 2017/ 2018 2019/ 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 /15 /16 /17 18 /19 20 /21 /22 /23 /24 /25 /26 /27 Year R* 2121 2139 2158 2120 2030 2048 2066 2084 2102 2120 2138 2156 2174 AN 2191 2191 2251 2251 2251 2251 2251 2251 2251 2251 2251 2251 2251 3% 2% 4% 6% 10% 9% 8% 7% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% Variance

Table 3: Roll Projection for South West South 2014 2015/ 2016 2017/ 2018/ 2019/ 2020/ 2021/ 2022/ 2023/ 2024/ 2025/ 2026/ West /15 16 /17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Year R* 253 232 251 218 248 251 255 258 262 265 269 273 276 AN 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 1% 9% 2% 14% 3% 1% 0% -1% -3% -4% -5% -7% -8% Variance

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The Strategic Development Locations (SDL)

The Wokingham Borough Core Strategy Policy establishes a requirement to provide at least 13,000 new dwellings with associated development and infrastructure in the period 2006-2026. The majority of this new residential development will be in four SDLs:

 North of Wokingham  South of M4  Arborfield  South of Wokingham

For the South of the M4 SDL, 2,757 new houses have planning consents and are being delivered. In order to ensure sufficient infrastructure, two of the planning consents include land allocated for two new primary schools. The details of these are as follows: :

 Shinfield West – the school will be built by the developer and will be 2 Form Entry/420 places (with potential for expansion to 3 FE / 630 places). The new school is scheduled to open in September 2018 (dependent on the completion of 200 houses as set out in the S106 agreement).

Wokingham Borough Council granted outline planning permission October 2012 (reference O/2010/1432) for the development of 1200 new homes and 150 specialist houses, a district centre, retail centre, a new relief road and a new primary school. The developer has full consent (RM Reserved Matters) for 69 new homes and is expected to submit a RM application for the next phase of development (including the school) early in 2016.

 Spencers Wood – this school will offer at least 1 form of entry with options to expand to 3FE. The earliest that this school will open is September 2018 but is likely to be later. Wokingham Borough Council granted outline planning permission on 22 July 2014 (reference O/2013/0346) for the development of 900 homes and a primary school.

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Need for places and phasing

From a place sufficiency perspective and in order to integrate the new schools with the development of the new housing and community needs, initially only one new school will be required and so Shinfield West is scheduled to be completed by 2018 and the Spencers Wood school is likely to be required from 2019 or later. These dates will be kept under review as the new housing develops.

However, the latest place projections for the south west of the borough indicate that up to 30 reception places will be needed in the Shinfield area from September 2016 or 2017. The place projections will continue to be monitored over the next few months as the primary admissions process proceeds but as a contingency the council is preparing options to open the new school using temporary accommodation at the former Ryeish Green school site in Shinfield from September 2016 or 2017 onwards.

School Organisation

Wokingham Council seeks to ensure that the organisation of new and existing schools is sustainable and meets the needs of the local community. To this end, the council is developing a strategy for school collaboration and organisation and wishes to see the new schools in the south west work collaboratively with other local schools to support the existing and new communities. The Council is also keen to introduce innovative models for delivering and managing schools.

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In the first instance, the Council wishes to appoint a provider to open a new primary school (currently referred to as Shinfield West) in the south west of the borough. This will be in temporary accommodation at Ryeish Green from September 2016 (Phase 1) or September 2017 tbc and will then move to a new school building from September 2018 (Phase 2).

However, the Council’s preference is to appoint a provider who is capable of running both the Shinfield West and Spencers Wood schools. Any providers so interested will be required to provide an explanation of how they will work with the council to achieve this aim and that they have the potential to do so. The second school (currently referred to as Spencers Wood) will open either in September 2019 or later as required by the need for places.

Providers who are interested in running just one school are also welcome to apply.

SHINFIELD WEST - SCHOOL SPECIFICATION:

Phase 1 - Temporary Accommodation

As part of a detailed feasibility study, two options are being considered for using existing accommodation on the former Ryeish Green school site. The school will need to accommodate one form entry/30 reception places for 2016 and a further class in September 2017.

Phase 2 - New School

Location - South of the M4 SDL- (outlined in Red)

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The school site covers an area of approximately 2.5 hectares situated in the South of M4 development. In addition to the school building itself, a variety of different uses are accommodated, including a staff car park, hard surfacing to accommodate play and circulation space, playing pitches, a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), habitat area with pond, and related landscaping to be shared with the community (see Planning Application: C/2013/2495)

The proposed school would connect to the proposed Shinfield neighbourhood centre via an attractive footpath and cycle route providing a convenient and accessible visual and physical link from the local centre to the school, facilitating linked trips and a greater level of car parking and convenience. Footpaths will also link the school to the neighbouring settlements of Ryeish Green and Spencers Wood.

The school will be designed to accommodate two-form entry (420 pupils) with an integrated nursery facility for 26 children.

Expected Opening Date: 1 September 2018

Design and Construction: The school will be built by a contractor who will be appointed by the developer (Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Bloor Homes . The design will be developed with the provider and the council and then submitted for full planning consent. The design will be based on BB103 standards.

The site and buildings will be leased to the Academy Trust for 125 years but with appropriate mechanisms for ensuring community use.

Age range: 3-11 years co-educational

Capacity: The School will open in September 2016 or 2017 for 30 pupils and, subject to demand, will increase to 2FE, 60 pupils, aged 3-11 years, when it moves to the new premises in September 2018, at which time all communal and specialist facilities for a 420 place school will be in place.

SPENCERS WOOD - SCHOOL SPECIFICATION:

Location - South of the M4 SDL- (outlined in Red)

The school site covers an area of at least 1.14 hectares (the council has options to acquire a further 1.27 hectares at market value) situated in the South of M4 development. The composition of the site still has to be agreed.

Earliest Opening Date: 1 September 2019 but could be 2020

Design and Construction: The school will be built either by a contractor who will be appointed by Wokingham Borough Council or by the developer, as per the S106 agreement. The design will be developed with the provider and then submitted for full planning consent. The design will be based on BB103 standards.

The site and buildings will be leased to the Academy Trust for 125 years but with appropriate mechanisms for ensuring community use.

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Age range: 3-11 years co-educational

Capacity: The School will open in September 2019 or 2020 for 30 pupils and if demand warrants, up to 90 pupils, aged 3-11 years.

Nursery: It is currently anticipated that there will be Early Years provision on site, which could take the form of a conventional 26 place nursery class, but might offer longer hours to a wider age range.

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Place Planning

In order to ensure the new school serves its secondary purpose of supporting the development of new communities in Wokingham, we would want to work with the provider to balance the availability of places against local demand and increase to provide up to 630 places. This will require a flexible approach dependent upon pressures and the pace of house building.

Admission Arrangements:

For both schools, the admission number for Reception pupils will initially be 30 pupils expected to rise to 60 or 90 for Spencers Wood (dependent on local need and agreement with the schools). It is expected that there would be a clear commitment to serve the Shinfield West and Spencers Wood developments as well as the existing communities in the South West (Shinfield and adjoining Wokingham parishes) area.

It is anticipated that each school will have a local designated area (to be agreed) and will use radial (straight line) distance as a tie breaker. The “seed point” for admissions purposes will be the school site. It is from this seed point that distances from the school will be measured.

All providers will be required to follow the DfE School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code. Providers will be required to participate in WBC’s co-ordinated scheme for the normal admission rounds and WBC’s in-year Fair Access procedures.

Revenue Funding:

1. Furniture and Equipment: The costs of furniture and equipment will be incorporated into the school capital project. Following appointment, the Council will agree a mechanism with the provider as to how this money will be allocated to the Trust for them to undertake procurement.

2. Start-up Costs: WBC wishes to provide a budget for start-up costs and would like to discuss possible options with the successful provider. One area it is particularly interested in is supporting the early introduction of effective leadership.

Start-up costs will typically commence from January through to 31 August prior to the new school opening on 1 September of the given year but WBC is happy to discuss this with the provider.

On opening, the new school will be funded directly by the Education Funding Agency.

3. Pupil Growth Funding: In accordance with the Pupil Growth Policy established by WBC and its Schools’ Forum.

4. Indicative Revenue Budget - The roll projection is currently under discussion but admissions in the first year will be in the range 30-60 places. The revenue budget will also take into account elements of diseconomy.

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Shinfield West

The projected growth is as follows:

Year Annual Roll increase 2016 30 30 2017 30 60 2018 60 120 2019 60 180 2020 60 240 2021 60 300 2022 60 360

However, providers will need to confirm that they will work with the Local Authority and the developer to ensure that the school grows in a way that supports the new housing development and the need for places in the wider Wokingham area.

5. WBC will not pay further “Project Management Costs” to the Provider. Therefore, potential providers will need to confirm that they would be prepared to proceed on this basis if they are selected.

Timetable:

Key Event Dates Invitation to submit a proposal published 10 February 2016 Expressions of Interest received by WBC 1 March 2016 WBC informs DfE of all expressions of interest 1st March 2016 received Full application to be with WBC 2359 hrs 20th Mar 2016 WBC informs DfE of all proposals received 21 Mar 2016 Assessment Panel – shortlisting meeting 23 Mar 2016 Interviews 19 or 20 Apr 2016 WBC agrees its recommended Provider 22 Apr2016 WBC submits all proposals to the Secretary of By 26 Apr 2016 State Regional Schools Commissioner full sign off End of May 2016

APPLICATION PROCESS AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Potential Providers are asked to complete the Expression of Interest Form (available on the webpage) and return it to us by 1st March 2016. In the final section titled ‘Any further information you feel we should know’, providers will need to state whether they are interested in applying to run both schools or just one (stating the preference).

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You will then need to complete the full application form available on the webpage and return it to us by 2359 hrs 20th Mar 2016. The application form contains 7 sections, A-G. Section A covers applicant details and sections B-F are to be completed in accordance with the Selection Criteria. Section G covers Additional Information. Our assessment criteria mirror, as far as possible, those used by the Department for Education. These focus on strategic vision, educational capacity and performance, financial planning and operational capacity and governance.

In addition, to the requirements of the Assessment Criteria, we would expect providers to submit proposals (Section G) on how they would approach additional potential council requirements summarised below:

 Nursery / Early Years provision  Proposals for integrated community use of school hall and sports pitches  Alternative models for delivering new primary schools  For those providers wishing to manage both schools, an explanation of how they will work with the council to deliver the second school .

Providers will also need to demonstrate:

 That they have a strong culture of working collaboratively with other education providers locally and in other parts of Wokingham Borough;  How they will support the development of the new communities in South West Wokingham including their commitment to working in partnership with local stakeholders;  How they will work in close partnership with WBC and parents from all the areas served;

The assessment process will take place over two stages. An initial assessment of the applications to produce a shortlist will be followed by an interview. The interview panel will include Members, Officers and a representative from the Department of Education. The details of the selection process may change.

Each application together with the outcome from the Council’s assessment will be sent to the Regional Schools Commissioner by 26th April 2015. The submission to the Commissioner will identify Wokingham Borough Council’s preferred proposer for the school. The Regional Schools Commissioner (on behalf of the Secretary of State) will then make the decision. The indicative time for a provider to be confirmed will be approximately 6 weeks.

The DfE will only consider entering into a funding agreement with an approved provider and due to the constrained timetable we will only consider applications from providers who are already approved at the time of application.

As soon as the suitable proposer is agreed “in principle” the Department of Education will notify the successful proposer. It will then be for the successful proposer to work towards establishing the new academy.

The full application form should be sent electronically no later than 2359 hrs 20th Mar 2016 to:

[email protected]

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List of Documents and links:

A. Advert B. Expression of Interest C. Application Form D. Assessment Criteria E. Core Strategy http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning/policy/ldf/core-strategy/

F. Primary Strategy & Implementation Plan http://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=129&MId=1384

G. Planning Applications: Go to… http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning/services/search and enter the planning reference: RM/2010/1432 or 0346

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