Response to Planning Application sent to Bromsgrove DC 16 August 2012

Dear Dale,

Outline planning application for 175 residential units (access and layout submitted for determination) and 700 square metres Class B1 floorspace (access submitted for determination), access, amenity space and associated works

Further to our responses to the previous application for this site, I can confirm that there will be a requirement for a S106 contribution towards education facilities resulting from this development. The 2012/13 table of charges currently in place sets the cost per dwelling as:

For each 2 or 3-bed open market house - £4,905 For each 4 or 5-bed open market house - £7,358 For each 2-bed open market flat or apartment - £1,962

The contribution would be used strategically to improve education provision in the pyramid of schools.

Please let me know if you require any further information.

Sarah Smith Senior Officer - Provision Planning

School Systems Children's Services County Council Tel: 01905 766222 Fax: 01905 766776 E-mail: [email protected]

Statement sent to Bromsgrove DC 16 November 2012

Worcestershire Local Authority has a duty to provide a school place for any Worcestershire resident child who wants one and will seek to meet parental preference wherever possible within the constraints of the Admissions Code and available resources. A balance must be struck between practical school organisation, parental preference and the statutory duties placed on Local Authorities.

The catchment area schools for this development are Hagley Primary School and Haybridge High School. Both generally fill but both were able to offer places to some out of catchment children in September 2012 intake. Hagley Primary in particular attracted a number of children from the Dudley LA area.

The view of Worcestershire LA is that there are sufficient places in local schools to accommodate the additional pupils expected to be generated from this proposed development although we will continue to monitor this over time.

We are seeking a contribution from the development in order to invest in improving facilities at Hagley Primary School. The school currently has capacity for 626 pupils and it is proposed to increase this to 630 to bring it in line with expected pupil numbers. The current Published Admission Number of 90 would be retained.

The LA intends to consult on expanding Blakedown CE Primary School from 15 to 30 places from September 2014. This is not specifically in response to this development but will provide alternative places within the Hagley pyramid of schools should parents wish to apply.

Haybridge High School has capacity for 1221 students including 381 in the sixth form. As an the school is the Admissions Authority so could choose to consult on a variation to its admission arrangements but the LA understands that the school has no intention to change its current catchment area and wishes to continue to serve its traditional community. Should the school wish to expand in future then funds may be available from the LA or from the Education Funding Agency.

Response to Objections Sent to Bromsgrove DC 27 November 2012

Thank you for sending on these documents. We understand that this is a sensitive issue for residents and that they are concerned about the impact on the local schools. We have commented in our role as the Local Authority responsible for education but it should be noted that Haybridge High School is now an Academy and as such is independent of the Local Authority. However we retain a duty to provide school places for Worcestershire resident children and Academies form part of that provision. You have the statement I sent the other day which sets out our opinion on the capacity of the schools to manage the impact of this proposed development and how we would propose to utilise any Section 106 contribution.

The latest number on roll (NOR) information has just been released and is given in the table below:

School Net Maximum October 2012 NOR Capacity Capacity Hagley Primary 626 626 629 Belbroughton CE 140 141 137 Primary Blakedown CE Primary 105 120 110 Parochial 105 120 110 Primary St Kenelm's CE 196 210 189 Primary

School Capacity October 2012 NOR (inc sixth form) Haybridge High 1221* 1205

*As an Academy Haybridge High School does not have a net capacity assessment. Capacity is determined by reference to the Funding Agreement between the school and the Education Funding Agency

Reading the documents submitted by objectors I felt that it might be useful to clear up one or two issues regarding the admissions process.

Each year group in a school will have a certain number of places available. When applications are received the school must allocate places until that year group is full, even if these applications come from outside the catchment area. The school cannot hold back places for children who move into the area later on. If there are more applications than places available then priority is given in line with the published admissions criteria (see below). If applications are received late or are made for an in-year transfer to the school then a place cannot be guaranteed, even if the application is from a child living in the catchment area. If the appropriate year group is already full then the application will be refused. If the parent has not stated any other preference in their application then a place will be offered at the nearest school to the child's home address that has a place available in that year group. Any application that is refused has the right of appeal to an independent Appeals Panel.

The County Council admissions policy applies to all of the primary schools in Hagley. If a school is oversubscribed then places are allocated based on the following criteria:

1. Relevant ‘Looked after’ children

2. Siblings of pupils attending the school and living within the catchment area of the school. In order to qualify for a place on the grounds of a sibling attending the school, the sibling must already be attending the school at the time of application and still be attending at the time of admission. It is important to note that siblings living in the catchment area take precedence over other children, even if they live further away from the school.

3. Pupils living within the catchment area of the school.

4. Pupils living outside of the catchment area but who would still have a sibling connection at school at the time of admission.

5. Pupils who live nearest to the school by the shortest available walking route. The measurement will be taken from the front entrance of the pupil's home to the nearest school entrance, which is the access point to the school site, along a road or made up footpath.

In accordance with legislation, a child with a Statement of Special Educational Needs will be offered a place at the school named in the Statement.

In response to the parent's queries mentioned on page 41 of the report prepared by RCA Regeneration Ltd we have prepared the following responses:

1. Where will our children go to secondary school if all places are full at Haybridge? Response: For admissions to Year 7, Pupil Forecasts indicate that there will be sufficient places for all in-catchment children. Data is available for admissions up to 2023 and can be made available if required. If there are applications received from in-catchment children after the closing date there may not be places available as the school is generally over- subscribed and places will have already been allocated to out of catchment area children. In this case late applicants would be offered a place at the nearest available school.

2. Would the alternative school be in a different Authority area? Response: Parents are able to list 3 preferred schools on their application form and it is possible for parents to list schools in other Local Authorities. If there were no places at all 3 schools of parental choice then a place would be allocated at the nearest school with available places and parents given information on Right of Appeal.

3. Would the alternative school have lower standards than Haybridge? Response: Schools are subject to Ofsted and gradings may vary over time. All schools work towards being Outstanding or if Outstanding to maintain that grade.

4. Will younger siblings be guaranteed admission to Haybridge? Response: If Haybridge is over-subscribed then the over-subscription criteria is applied to all applications. The over-subscription criteria for 2013 intake is: 1. Relevant Looked After Children. 2. Students whose home is within the catchment area of the school. 3. Students with a sibling on roll at Haybridge at the date of application who is likely to remain on roll at the date of admission. 4. Students who are on roll at a feeder school at the date of application. 5. Children of staff who have been employed at Haybridge High School and Sixth Form on a permanent contract for a period of at least two years at the date of application or who have been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. 6. Students whose home is nearest the school by the shortest straight line distance. This would indicate that siblings in catchment area would be allocated a place but siblings out of catchment area may not be allocated a place dependent on the number of applications received.

5. Who will organise transport to alternative schools? Response: Transport is provided if a school allocated by the Local Authority is more than 3 miles from the pupil's home address. Parents will be sent an application form and all arrangements will be made by the Local Authority. If the allocation is to one of the 3 parental choice schools, then transport is not provided by the Local Authority.

6. What would happen about transport to different authority areas? Response: If Worcestershire Local Authority allocate a place in a neighbouring authority and that school is more than 3 miles away from the pupil's home address then Worcestershire Local Authority provide and arrange the transport.

7. Will traffic congestion near to Haybridge and the town centre in mornings and evenings get worse? Response: All Worcestershire Local Authority schools have a travel plan aimed at encouraging pupils within walking distance to walk to school. Out of catchment children may be brought to school by car, if the school had fewer out of catchment area pupils then this may reduce traffic. It must be remembered that Hagley Catholic High School has a different over-subscription criteria with 5 feeder schools out of the area: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, , St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Brierley Hill, St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Kidderminster, St Wulstan's Catholic Primary School, Stourport and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School, Quinton.

I hope that this is helpful in explaining the issues. If you need anything further let me know.

Regards

Sarah Smith Senior Officer - Provision Planning

School Systems Children's Services Worcestershire County Council Tel: 01905 766222 Fax: 01905 766776 E-mail: [email protected]