ITEM 4 SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE 5 OCTOBER 2004
SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLAN 2004 - 2009 (Director of Education)
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The School Standards and Framework Act, 1998, sets out arrangements for decisions on school organisation to be taken at a local level.
1.2 The School Organisation Plan is a contextual document. It draws conclusions about the need to add or to remove school places within the local authority area and covers a five-year period. The Plan is subject to widespread consultation and facilitates a local understanding of the need for school places and the need to establish future demand.
1.3 The draft School Organisation Plan for 2004-2009 was published on 7 July for statutory consultation. It was approved by the Executive Member for Education for Bracknell Forest Borough Council on 28 September. This paper seeks the School Organisation Committee’s approval to the final Plan for 2004-09.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS
That:
2.1 the comments received on the Draft School Organisation Plan and the LEA’s commentary on these be noted;
2.2 the School Organisation Plan (Annex C accompanying this report) be approved for publication in October 2004.
3. ADVICE RECEIVED FROM STATUTORY AND OTHER OFFICERS
Borough Solicitor
3.1 The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 provides a framework for new arrangements for local decision making on issues relating to school organisation and for Regulations to provide more detail.
The Education (School Organisation Plan) Regulations, the Education (School Organisation Committee) Regulations and the Education (School Adjudicators’ Procedure) Regulations all came into force in 1999.
Borough Finance Officer
3.2 Revenue costs required to service the School Organisation Committee and other costs associated with the preparation and publication of the School Organisation Plan are contained within existing budgets.
Any financial implications arising from the implementation of the Plan will be considered as part of the Council’s Annual Capital Programme and Revenue Budget.
Access Implications
3.3 Access implications where appropriate are taken into account in the School Organisation Plan.
4. SUPPORTING INFORMATION
School Organisation Plan
4.1 This sixth School Organisation Plan for Bracknell Forest Local Education Authority (LEA) sets out the need to add or remove school places within Bracknell Forest during the five-year period that it covers. The LEA will use the Plan to set out the steps that need to be taken to secure the provision of primary and secondary education that will meet the needs of the population of the area during that period. The LEA has the power to make proposals that ensure that those needs are met, in addition it is possible that the Plan may prompt other providers to make proposals.
4.2 The Plan also sets out the provision that the Authority proposes to make for children with special educational needs (SEN). It defines the strategies for identifying and providing support for pupils with the full range of special educational needs. Over time the School Organisation Plan will reflect any arrangements that are developed for the regional co-ordination of SEN provision and services.
4.3 The School Organisation Plan also includes a specific section on post-16 provision, in particular setting out ways in which collaborative provision is to be fostered.
4.4 It is not a requirement for the LEA to produce a Plan each year following the changes to the Regulations in 2003. However, it is recommended that where significant changes have been made to school organisation that a plan is produced incorporating these. This Plan therefore, incorporates the effect of the recently agreed changes to school organisation following the Review of primary school places in South Bracknell.
4.5 The Plan is set out in three parts:
• demographic information relevant to the supply of school places • a statement of policies and principles relevant to the provision of school places within the LEA area – specifically related to securing improved standards of achievement by pupils; and • conclusions drawn from the above about the need to add or remove school places in particular areas of the authority.
4.6 The School Organisation Plan is one of a number of plans that the LEA is required to produce. It should relate to all, but in particular to the Education Development Plan, the Behaviour Support Plan, the Special Education Needs Strategy and the Asset Management Plan.
4.7 The Plan has been published in draft form on 7 July 2004, with a two-month period to allow for any objections to be sent to the Authority. The School Organisation Committee considered the draft Plan and Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s Executive Member for Education has considered and approved this final plan. If there is unanimous acceptance of the Plan by the School Organisation Committee, it is then published by the LEA in final form. If agreement is not unanimous, the Plan is passed to the regional Schools Adjudicator for determination.
4.8 The LEA has received the following comments during the public consultation process:
a) Headteacher, Ascot Heath Primary School Requested an explanation of 'Section 106 contributions' LEA's response Definition included in The Plan
b) Mrs M. Fairbrother, Bracknell Expressed concern about the lack of a Catholic Secondary School in the Borough LEA's response Director of Education responded in writing, copy of letter is attached at Annex A.
c) Bursar, Wildridings Primary School Queried whether it is true that 'most' children from St Michael's Easthampstead seek secondary education at Ranelagh. LEA's response Detailed statistics from Admissions Team from the last three academic years show that while some attend Ranelagh, most go on to attend Easthampstead Park. The Plan has been revised accordingly.
d) Sally Youll, Learning & Skills Council, Provided various clarifications on post-16 provision and LSC developments LEA's response The Plan has been revised accordingly.
e) Mr K. Menon, Chairman Warfield Parish Council Queried whether sufficient primary places in Whitegrove and Warfield and secondary school places in North Bracknell will be available in the future to meet demand from the respective designated areas. LEA's response Alison Sanders' letter of 10 September 2004 addresses the individual points (copy attached at Annex B). The Plan was also amended accordingly to clarify these areas.
Background Papers Agenda and minutes, School Organisation July 2004 Committee ‘Guidance for arrangements for local decision DfEE Letters dated 14 December making on school organisation.’ 1998, February 2003 and May 2003 Executive Member decision 28 September 2004
Contact for further information
Alison Sanders, Assistant Director of Education (01344 354061)
Newalluse\SPR\schoolorganisationcommtttee\plan2004\SOC cover paper 051004.doc
Annex A
Our Ref: TE/SP
22 July 2004
Mrs M Fairbrother 27 Reeds Hill Bracknell Berkshire RG12 7LJ
Direct line: 01344 354183 E-mail: [email protected]
Dear Mrs Fairbrother
You wrote to me on 5 July about your perceived lack of a Catholic secondary school in Bracknell Forest.
Our information about the numbers of children whose parents might want places in Catholic secondary schools is limited. Each year 60 pupils leave Catholic primary schools, but not all of these are Catholics. Some Catholic children attend other primary schools. This does not indicate that there would be enough to warrant the establishment of a Catholic secondary school.
Brakenhale school is only half full at the moment but future housing developments within its designated area will produce children to take up these places. There is therefore no strong reason for changing its status or planning a different future for it.
I am certainly willing to discuss the matter with the Diocese, but I could not give much encouragement to them about your suggestion.
Yours sincerely
TONY ECCLESTON Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Education and Libraries copy to: Alan Ward Alison Sanders Martin Gocke Annex B Alison Sanders: % 01344 354061 email: [email protected]
Our Ref: AS/jw
Mr K Menon Chairman Warfield Parish Council 7 County Lane Warfield, Berkshire RG42 3JP 10th September 2004
Dear Mr Menon
School Organisation Plan
Thank you for your letter of 11th August. Tony Eccleston indicated to you in his letter that he had asked me to reply.
Thank you for your comments on the School Organisation Plan. In the last few Organisation Plans the Borough Council has forecast oversubscription at Whitegrove and Warfield Primary Schools. The problem has actually been with trying to ensure the accommodation at these schools meets the demand. The limitations of each school site means that it is not possible to expand either school further.
Primary School Places
The forecasts are again showing pressure on places at Warfield and Whitegrove Primary Schools for the next five years. This mainly reflects previous trends at these schools. The commentary section notes that the Borough Council cannot provide additional accommodation at either school, however, within neighbouring schools there are sufficient places available to meet this general demand.
The Borough Council has also carefully monitored the intake at both schools and the level of oversubscription from within the designated area at each school has gradually fallen, to the extent that this year all children from within the designated area could be accommodated in one of the schools. (Both schools share a designated area).
The forecasting methodology is explained on Page 21 and 22. Gradually this trend of fewer designated area pupils entering the school will have a greater impact on the theoretical forecasts and the actual numbers and the forecasts will converge. We believe currently that the forecasts are overstating the future school requirement through replicating the previous experience. We are confident as a Borough Council that we are very close, if not already able, to accommodate all designated area pupils at one of the two schools and, therefore, there is no requirement for a new school, particularly in the context of places being available at neighbouring schools.
In the last two years, a few children from the Whitegrove/Warfield area have had to enrol at neighbouring schools, but no one has had to travel more than 2 miles to do this and most journeys are less than a mile. None of the neighbouring schools merit closure on the grounds of having insufficient pupils.
If the Governing Body of Warfield Primary School wishes to become a Voluntary Aided School, they would have to consult on this proposal with the local education authority and their local community. If the Governing Body subsequently also wished to change the admission intake, this would be subject to further consultation. It is not for the School Organisation Plan to speculate on either eventuality.
The results at Garth Hill are steadily improving and there is evidence that more children from the North of Bracknell are attending the School.
Secondary School Places
In the table on page 28, not all the primary schools listed are feeder schools for Garth Hill College.
The list of feeder schools can be found on page 23. However, it should still be noted that some pupils from these schools will naturally wish to seek places at Ranelagh or schools outside Bracknell Forest, including private education.
Our evidence is not of under provision of secondary places in North Bracknell. Garth Hill College has been able to accommodate all pupils from within its designated area for a number of years and has also accepted a significant number of pupils from outside its designated area. Over the next few years the numbers of primary pupils are forecast to decline. This would indicate that there is not a need for additional secondary places in the area, although Garth Hill numbers will increase in the medium term (up to 4 years).
The Borough Council will monitor the situation closely.
The commentary on pages 67-69 covers these matters.
Conclusion
The Plan predictions are not based on national demographic predictions but cohort trends associated with each individual school and area combined with birth rate statistics for each ward.
I do not agree with your conclusion that new facilities are required in the area but we will continue to monitor this particular area closely.
Your views will be reported to the School Organisation Committee as part of the consultation process.
Yours sincerely
ALISON SANDERS Assistant Director – Strategy, Planning & Resources
Copy to: Tony Eccleston Martin Gocke Sue Curbishley Graham Symonds Amy Shallcross
Annex C
Final Draft for SOC approval
School
Organisation
Plan
Education & Libraries September 2004
2004-2009
Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
Ordnance Survey Statement for Leaflets/Publication
The maps included within this publication are based upon Ordnance Survey mapping provided by Bracknell Forest Borough Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to publicise local places of interest. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use.
2 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
Contents
1 Introduction
Why Plan School Places? 5 The Purpose of this Plan 6 The School Organisation Committee 8 The Timetable 9
2 Information relating to the supply of school places
Demographic background 10 2001 Census Data 11 Structure of School Provision 12 Provision of Early Education Places 13 Post 16 Provision 15 Admissions Policy 16 Admissions Forum 17 Pupil Mobility 18 Pupil Ethnicity & Gender 19 Provision for Pupils ‘Out of school’ 20 Education otherwise than at school 21 Numbers of pupils in the authority and projected pupil numbers 22 Forecasting methodology 22
Pupil Forecasts 23 Bracknell North 27-30 Bracknell South 31-34 Crowthorne and Sandhurst 35-38 Aided Schools 39-42 Housing Development & Phasings 44 Surplus places 47 Special Educational Needs 48
3 Changes since the publication of the 2003- 2008 Plan
Reorganisation of primary school places (South Bracknell Review) 55 Change to Designated Area 55 Voluntary Controlled Schools Seeking to become Voluntary Aided 56 Schools
3 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
4 Policies and Principles relevant to the supply of school places
Provision of additional places and removal of surplus places 57 Provision within the community 57 Response to parental preference 58 School performance and improvement 58 Diversity of provision 59 Appropriate size of school 61 Appropriate size of class/teaching group 62 Post-16 Education 62 14-19 Education 63 Policy on Inclusion 64
5 Commentary and Conclusions 67-75
6 Appendices
Appendix 1 The School Organisation Plan in the Borough Council’s 76 planning framework Appendix 2 School admission criteria for primary schools 77 Appendix 3 School admission criteria for secondary schools 81 Appendix 4 Map of primary school designated areas 83 Appendix 5 Map of secondary school designated areas 84
4 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
1 Introduction
Why Plan School Places?
1.1 All Local Education Authorities (LEAs) work within the same national policy framework and three main activities make up the task of matching the supply of school places with the demand for them:
• managing the supply of places; • managing demand through admissions and appeals procedures; and • managing outcomes by tackling problems – such as small schools and schools in difficulties – which emerge as a result of attempts to match pupils with places.
1.2 There is a statutory requirement on Bracknell Forest Borough Council LEA to provide sufficient school places. Discharging this duty involves opening new schools or adding places to existing schools where extra capacity is required. It also means reducing in size or closing schools with surplus accommodation. The challenge for the Borough Council, in attempting to secure ‘value for money’ and Best Value, is to provide the right number of places in the right locations. This means that projections of pupil numbers must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure that additional places are provided in growth areas but, in addition, that there are not substantial surplus places in the area which could represent a waste of resources.
1.3 Failure to provide sufficient places to match demand can lead to:
• dissatisfied parents because their children cannot get into their preferred school. This can have a knock on effect on other schools and can lead to excessive, expensive appeals; and • schools being overcrowded if they admit pupils over their Planned Admission Number, or are forced to admit pupils as a result of successful parental appeal.
1.4 The Borough Council can pursue funding for adding capacity in a number of ways including Basic Need bids to the DfES and private funding. As Bracknell Forest is a debt free Local Authority, it does not usually require borrowing approval from the DfES to fund additional school capacity but it does utilise the interest credit from this process, which is included in the Education Standard Spending Assessment. Under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, councils are able to seek contributions from developers at the planning stage to fund additional infrastructure eg roads, schools or other community facilities. Bracknell Forest has a well-organised approach to obtaining funding from housing developers with guidelines giving a set rate per house for school provision, which is clearly of importance to Bracknell Forest as a fast growing community.
1.5 There is also a requirement for the Borough Council to review and to remove surplus places. Empty places are costly in terms of annual premises related costs.
5 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
1.6 There is no consensus about what an appropriate level of surplus places is however, and not all surplus places can, or should, be removed. For example:
• it is difficult for parents to have their preference for a particular school place met without the existence of some surplus places; • some surplus places are needed to cope with future increases in pupil numbers.
1.7 Beyond a certain level, however, schools with surplus places are unlikely to be contributing significantly to enhancing parental preference. It is important that the Borough Council operates the principles of Best Value in managing the supply of school places.
1.8 There are several ways in which the Borough Council can remove surplus places:
• removing temporary accommodation; • mothballing part of a school (particularly if demand for places might increase in future years); and/or • finding alternative users or uses for some of the accommodation.
Achieving the correct balance requires accurate forecasting and planning over a long period.
The Purpose of this Plan
1.9 The School Organisation Plan sets out the conclusions on the need to add or remove school places within the Bracknell Forest area during the five- year period that it covers. The Borough Council will need to use the Plan to set out the steps that need to be taken to secure the provision of primary and secondary education that will meet the needs of the population of the area during that period. The Borough Council has the power to make proposals that ensure that those needs are met, in addition it is possible that the Plan may prompt other providers to make proposals.
1.10 The Plan is also required to set out the provision that the Borough Council proposes to make for children with special educational needs (SEN). It must set out strategies for identifying and providing support for pupils with the full range of special educational needs. Over time the School Organisation Plan will reflect any arrangements that are developed for the regional co- ordination of special educational needs provision and services.
1.11 The School Organisation Plan includes a specific section on post-16 provision setting out ways in which collaborative provision is to be fostered.
1.12 The School Organisation Plan must include sufficient information to allow local people and schools to see how its conclusions have been reached. The Plan is therefore set out in three parts:
• demographic information relevant to the supply of school places; and • a statement of policies and principles relevant to the provision of school places within the Bracknell Forest area – specifically related to securing improved standards of achievement by pupils;
6 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
• conclusions drawn from the above about the need to add or remove school places in particular areas of Bracknell Forest.
1.13 As it is the Borough Council that has the duty to secure sufficient and suitable school places in its area, it is for the Borough Council to draw up a draft plan in consultation with those that it deems appropriate. The Plan is then published in draft form, with a two-month period to allow for any objections to be sent to the Borough Council. At the end of the period for statutory objections, the Borough Council draws up a final Plan and presents it, together with all objections to and comments on the draft, to the School Organisation Committee for approval.
1.14 The School Organisation Plan is one of a number of plans that the Borough Council is required to produce. It supports the Borough Community Plan ambition to improve access to services and opportunities in life. The priority areas to achieve this ambition are:
• Promoting learning and educational achievement • Promoting social inclusion • Encouraging communities to shape the future • Promoting innovation in the use of technology.
The School Organisation Plan is in accordance with the Borough Council’s Medium Term Objectives included in the Bracknell Forest Borough Council Performance Plan; specifically promoting learning and achievement and securing Best Value and improving service standards. It also supports the objectives of the Education Service Performance Plan through providing access to learning opportunities. The diagram at Appendix 1 demonstrates in detail how the School Organisation Plan fits into Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s overall planning framework.
1.15 The School Organisation Plan relates to all Education focussed plans, but in particular to the Education Development Plan, the Behaviour Support Plan, the Asset Management Plan (AMP) and the LEA Accessibility Strategy. The Education Development Plan, Behaviour Support Plan and Asset Management Plan have received full approval from the DfES. The Accessibility Strategy was published for the first time in April 2003. The complete AMP provides an agreed basis for local decisions on capital spending and ensures that resources relating to school premises are distributed efficiently and effectively with the aim of improving buildings and facilities in support of raising educational standards. These different plans all relate to each other and to raising standards of achievement in Bracknell Forest schools.
1.16 The School Organisation Plan can also be used to inform the Local Plan Review which sets out the key principles used by the Local Authority in planning development for its local area.
1.17 The School Organisation Plan aligns with the aims and strategies outlined in the ‘Learning and Skills Council Local Strategic Plan 2002 – 05’ and the key actions described in the ‘Berkshire Learning and Skills Council Annual Plan’ published June 2003.
The key strategies that relate to this plan are:
7 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
• Working together towards world class standards in learning • Strengthening the structure of learning • Helping learners succeed
The key activities that relate to this plan are: • improving the quality of provision • expanding breadth of opportunity for 14-19 • increasing 16-18 participation rates • raising level 3 achievement rates especially amongst 16-18 year olds.
The School Organisation Committee
1.18 The School Organisation Committee is a separate statutory body that brings together the key partners in the provision of education at a local level, giving each an equal voice. It is not a committee of the Borough Council, but the Borough Council has the responsibility for convening it and appointing its members, responding to nominations where appropriate. It takes the place of the Secretary of State in the decision making process on school organisation proposals, and approves the School Organisation Plan for its area.
1.19 The School Organisation Committee is organised into groups, each with a single vote. There is a maximum of seven members in each group. For Bracknell Forest, five groups are appropriate. These groups represent:
• Bracknell Forest Borough Council: elected members of the Local Education Authority appointed in proportion to the balance of political power within the authority; • the Church of England, nominated by the diocese; • the Roman Catholic Church, again nominated by the diocese; • the Berkshire Local Learning & Skills Council; and • schools, with members drawn from serving school governors.
1.20 The ‘schools’ group must include a governor of a primary school, a secondary school and the special school. Governors may be parent, headteacher, teacher and staff governors but not governors who are also elected Members of the authority. The Borough Council will seek to ensure that not all members of the ‘schools’ group are drawn from one class of governor, as defined above, when it formally appoints members. It will also aim to provide for the different geographical areas of the Borough to be represented.
1.21 The School Organisation Committee must meet at least once a year to agree the School Organisation Plan. There are clear advantages in meeting either during the period in which the Plan is being drafted or during the period after the draft has been published in order to facilitate agreement.
1.22 The conduct of the Committee, including the appointment of Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Secretary and notice of meetings are set out in the appropriate regulations. The Committee should agree on the circumstances for which it might need funds and through the Chairman, submit a provisional and itemised budget before the beginning of the financial year to
8 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
which the budget applies. The Borough Council should agree the budget, or stipulate reasons for rejecting it and provide a revised budget.
1.23 The School Organisation Committee has a duty to consider the Plan prepared by the Borough Council, any objections arising from the Statutory Consultation on the Plan and the Borough Council’s comments on them.
1.24 If there is unanimous acceptance of the Plan by the School Organisation Committee it is then published in final form. If agreement is not unanimous, the Plan is passed to the Schools’ Adjudicator for determination.
The Timetable
1.25 The Plan covers a period of five years starting from the start of the school year after which it is published. It is a rolling plan, reviewed and updated every three years, as a minimum, unless there are significant changes to school organisation within an authority, when it can be published more frequently. The demographic data will still be updated on an annual basis and be available on request. The Authority is required to publish a draft School Organisation Plan by 1 June each year.
1.26 The timetable adopted by Bracknell Forest for the September 2004 update of the Plan is as follows:
June Draft Plan to Executive Member for approval
July - August Statutory Consultation of Draft Plan
July Meeting of School Organisation Committee to review Draft Plan
September Executive Member approves Final Plan
October Meeting of School Organisation Committee approves Final Plan
October/November Final Plan published
1.27 Following the publication of the final Plan, there may be further developments at national and local level. These will be taken into account in future plans.
9 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
2 Information Relating to the Supply of School Places
Demographic Background
Population trends
2.1 The latest estimate (as at May 2004) for the population of the Borough is approximately 113,500. Out-migration continues to affect the rate of population growth however the population of the Borough is still expected to increase to 117,500 by 2009. In summary, the overall trend for the population of Bracknell Forest is still upwards, but at a lower rate than during previous decades. The average household size will continue to decline. In common with national trends, the population will continue to age, with an increase in the number of people aged over 45, and a reduction in other age groups.
Age structure of the population
2.2 Based on forecasts produced by the Joint Strategic Planning Unit (JSPU) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) the age structure of the Bracknell Forest population is currently estimated to be:
Age range Estimated Comment / Change expected Population by 2009 (numbers rounded to nearest 500)
0 - 4 years 7000 Declining - forecast to drop by around 500
5 -15 years 17,500 Also forecast to drop by around 500
16 - 24 years 12,500 This age group will grow by around 3000
25 - 44 years 37,000 This age group will decline by around 2000
45 - 64 years 25,500 The mature working age population is forecast to increase by about 2000
65 - 74 years 7000 The over-65 population is expected to increase by approximately 2000 75+ years 7000
10 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
2001 Census Data
2.3 Since the previous School Organisation Plan was published, data from the 2001 Census has become available. Below are some statistics based on census data, which provide socio-economic context and background for this year’s Plan. It should be borne in mind that the statistics for the Unitary Authority as a whole may disguise some significant variations at ward level.
Bracknell Forest and surrounding areas experienced significant economic and population growth during the 1990s. In 2001 the total population of Bracknell Forest was 109,617, an increase of over 14% since the previous census in 1991. The average household size in 2001 was 2.46 people, slightly higher than the national average for England and Wales of 2.36. Employment rates were significantly higher than the national average (73% as opposed to 61% nationally) and unemployment was low (2%).
Bracknell Forest has a small ethnic minority population and in 2001 95% of its residents were white, compared with the national average of 91%. Only about 9% of Bracknell residents were born outside the UK, of this group 6.5% were born outside the EU. (NB pre 2004 EU boundary changes)
According to the 2001 Census the average house price in Bracknell Forest was £166,361, well above the national average of £119,436. Nearly 50% of households had 2 or more cars or vans, compared to the national average of around 30%.
Generally, Bracknell Forest has a low level of deprivation. Based on the six measures of deprivation published in May 2004 by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (based on 2001 Census data), of a total of 354 local authorities, Bracknell Forest was ranked between 281 and 320, depending on the measure selected.
Despite the apparent affluence of the area, as noted above, there are pockets of deprivation within the Borough. At local level, based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, out of a total of 32,482 local areas in England & Wales, Bracknell’s most deprived area was ranked at 11,964 and the least deprived was 32,460. In terms of Education Skills & Training specifically, Bracknell Forest’s most deprived area ranked 5227 and the least deprived 32,341 (again out of a total of 32,482).
(NB 1 = most deprived and 32, 482 = least deprived)
These rankings illustrate the wide spectrum of socio-economic circumstances within the Borough which in turn have a significant impact on school organisation and planning issues.
11 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
Structure of School Provision
Numbers and types of schools
2.4 The Borough Council maintains the following schools:
Phase Number & Type Status Secondary 6 schools 5 Community schools, 1 All comprehensive, 11-18 Voluntary Aided years. Primary 4 infant and 4 junior schools 7 schools with Community (transfer at 7 years), status and 1 junior school with Voluntary Controlled status; 23 primary schools, (all 5–11 15 with Community status, 4 years) with Voluntary Controlled status, and 4 with Voluntary Aided status. Early Years 15 infant and primary schools have nursery classes Special 1 school (nursery to 19 years) resourced for moderate, severe and profound & multiple learning difficulties including learning difficulties associated with autistic spectrum disorder. Capacity to admit up to 145 pupils, some of whom will be part-time 2 primary schools resourced for special needs 1 secondary school (Voluntary Aided) resourced for special needs A total of 48 places in maintained schools resourced for special needs. 1 primary school with a Language and Literacy Unit. 12 places PRUs: A Pupil Referral Service incorporating a primary facility at Adastron House and a secondary facility at College Hall. The service also encompasses a home tuition service.
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2.5 Additional providers:
• 53 early years providers in the private, voluntary and independent sectors. • 6 independent schools for children of primary and secondary ages: Licensed Victuallers, Heathfield, Wellington College, Eagle House, Lambrook-Haileybury, and Newbold School.
Provision of Early Education Places
2.6 The Bracknell Forest Early Years Development Plan became operational on 1 April 1998. From that date an early education place has been provided for all four-year-olds whose parents want one. Increasingly, places have become available for three year olds in the same range of settings and by April 2004 there will be a place available for all. These places are available either in the maintained sector in a nursery or a reception class or at a setting in the private, independent or voluntary sector. The availability of, and need for places is closely monitored using information supplied by members of the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) and population forecasts. This information is published in the Annual Childcare Audit which is completed each December in advance of the Early Years and Childcare Implementation Plan. A new Strategic Plan was prepared in April 2004, covering the period up to 2006.
2.6.1 Uptake of places for four-year-olds
Summer Autumn Spring Term 2003 Term 2003 Term 2004 Pupils in the maintained sector 966 806 827
% pupils in maintained sector 70.0% 62.5% 62.13% Pupils in private, independent & 414 493 504 voluntary sector settings % pupils in private, independent & 30.0% 37.95% 37.87% voluntary sector settings Total Number of Pupils 1380 1299 1331
Source: BFBC Education Dept, April 2004
2.6.2 Places for three-year-olds
From April 2004 Bracknell Forest funds all three year olds who live in and attend provision in the Borough. There are reciprocal arrangements with neighbouring authorities, ensuring that we can meet the DfES targets with regard to provision. Numbers provided for are set out in the table below. The criteria for allocation of these places is set out in the outlined in the Early Years and Childcare Strategic Plan.
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2.6.3 Uptake of places for three-year-olds
Summer Autumn Spring Term Term 2003 Term 2003 2004
Pupils in the maintained sector 306 195 208
% pupils in maintained sector 24.03% 16.38% 17.17% Pupils in private, independent 967 995 1003 & voluntary sector settings % pupils in private, 75.97% 83.62% 82.83% independent & voluntary sector settings Total Number of Pupils 1273 1190 1211
Source: BFBC Education Dept, April 2004
2.6.4 Projected Numbers for Early Years
PROJECTED NUMBERS
JAN JAN JAN JAN JAN JAN 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Actual Actual
Uptake of places for 3yr olds
Maintained Sector 165 202 204 208 212 216 Local Authority Day Nursery 6 8 10 10 10 Private Sector 668 704 710 714 720 726 Voluntary Sector 335 281 283 285 288 292 Independent Sector 63 28 28 28 28 28
Funded Place Total 1231 1211 1225 1235 1248 1262 Children not placed in Bracknell 352 309 280 245 223 195 Forest funded setting
TOTAL 1583 1520 1505 1480 1471 1457
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PROJECTED NUMBERS
JAN JAN JAN JAN JAN JAN 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Actual
Uptake of places for 4yr olds
Maintained Sector 879 827 832 837 842 847 Local Authority Day Nursery 0 0 0 0 0 0 Private Sector 340 320 318 315 312 309 Voluntary Sector 170 118 115 112 110 107 Independent Sector 32 68 68 68 68 68
Funded Place Total 1421 1333 1333 1332 1332 1331 Children not placed in Bracknell Forest funded setting 119 70 53 35 26 7
TOTAL 1540 1403 1386 1367 1358 1338
2.6.5 Numbers of children receiving funded early years education are predicted to increase overall over the period of this plan as participation rates increase. This will not be spread evenly across the Borough however. There is an increase in the number of funded places from 2004 due to the addition of three new providers. More providers may be added in future years to reflect demand from new housing. The Annual Childcare Audits will provide the basis for detailed monitoring by the Early Years and Childcare Partnership.
2.6.6 Neighbourhood Nursery
To further expand the range of provision in the Borough a 56 place Neighbourhood Nursery, operated by the Borough Council, catering for children aged between 0 and 5 opened in the Town Centre in March 2003.
Post 16 Provision
2.7 There are sixth forms in all six secondary schools in the Borough and at Kennel Lane School. Individually and through working in partnership, the mainstream schools deliver a broad and balanced curriculum, embracing a minimum curriculum entitlement. A range of Advanced (including AS) Level and vocational courses is available, with provision varying from year to year depending on demand and take-up by students. Students also have access to a range of enrichment activities, including Key Skills components.
15 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
ACTUAL PROJECTED NUMBERS
NUMBER OF PUPILS IN SIXTH FORMS JAN JAN JAN JAN JAN JAN 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
The Brakenhale School 37 28 34 46 54 64 Easthampstead Park School 155 147 146 149 152 151 Edgbarrow School 157 173 181 170 158 155 Garth Hill College 130 134 122 128 120 128 Ranelagh CE School 173 170 178 184 190 187 Sandhurst School 126 128 124 127 143 151 Kennel Lane School 32 26 25 26 28 23
TOTALS 810 806 810 830 845 859
2.8 Bracknell & Wokingham College provides a range of full and part-time Advanced Level, GNVQ and vocational courses, together with adult education. Local schools and the College are working in partnership to develop appropriate courses to meet the needs of post-16 students in Bracknell Forest. Other post-16 providers attract students from the Borough, notably Farnborough Sixth Form College and Reading College.
2.9 The Borough Council is playing a full role in the current Strategic Area review that is being co-ordinated by the Berkshire Learning and Skills Council.
Admissions Policy
2.10 The Borough Council has an admissions policy for statutory aged pupils. By law children must start full time education no later than the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday, subject to the following definitions. To qualify for admission at the start of the summer term, the child must be five years old on or before 31 March, for the autumn term before 31 August and for the spring term before 31 December. Following widespread consultation, the Council approved a change to its admissions policy and fully funded places for ‘summer born rising fives’ are now available. The following table outlines the position:
Children with Fifth Birthdays Admitted to School From: Occurring Between: 1 September to 31 December Start of the Spring Term as statutory aged pupils 1 January to 31 March Start of the Summer Term as statutory aged pupils 1 April to 31 August Start of the Summer Term as rising fives
16 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
In addition to the above, school governing bodies may exercise their discretion (in terms other than the summer term) to admit pupils before statutory age. In admitting these children, the governors must adhere to the admissions criteria and the infant class size requirement. Precedence is given to statutory age children.
In all cases parents have the right to defer their child’s admission until they reach statutory age.
The Borough Council has decided to adopt the use of designated areas for community schools. This allows families to identify with a particular local school. Priority is given to children whose home address falls within a school’s designated area. Maps of these designated areas for primary and secondary schools are attached at Appendices 4 and 5.
The Borough Council consults annually in the spring on its admissions arrangements and reviews its over-subscription criteria. The Executive Member then ratifies these arrangements in March or April, eighteen months before the start of the academic year to which they relate. The consultees include schools, other admissions authorities (such as voluntary aided schools), neighbouring LEAs and Diocesan Authorities. Following the publication of the revised Code of Practice on School Admissions, the published admissions policy now make specific reference to the allocation of places for children with statements of SEN and those who are looked after by the local authority. The Policy is published in Appendices 2 and 3.
The governing body of each voluntary aided school determines their own admissions arrangements and criteria. They also are required to consult annually on these if they are proposing changes, and bi-annually if not. There is a prescribed list of those who must be consulted, which must include Bracknell Forest LEA.
Admissions Forum
2.11 The Bracknell Forest Admissions Forum met for the first time at the beginning of April 2003. It has agreed a programme of work that conforms with the requirements of the revised Code of Practice and the annual flow of admissions work. Advice from the Forum will be forwarded to all Admissions Authorities in the area, including the Local Authority for community and controlled schools. These authorities are bound to have regard to this advice. The Forum is one of the consultees for the School Organisation Plan.
A major piece of work that the Forum has initiated over the last 18 months has been the development and introduction of co-ordinated admissions schemes for primary and secondary admissions. The scheme for secondary admissions was first introduced for entry in September 2004. This was a year in advance of the statutory deadline for introducing such a scheme. The primary scheme will be introduced for admissions in 2005/6. The schemes will require the close co-operation of all admissions authorities in Bracknell Forest and surrounding LEAs. The schemes will introduce a centralised administration for all admissions arrangements across the Borough. This will ensure that every pupil receives an offer for one school
17 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
place. The schemes will also require the electronic transfer of data between admissions authorities. This is part of the e-Government agenda. Brackell Forest is also hoping to introduce online admissions within the next few years.
Other matters that the Forum has considered are – the draft School Organisation Plan; the content of the admissions booklets that the LEA produces for parents; the admission of children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs; and the school admissions appeals process.
Pupil Mobility
2.12 It is clear through the process for admissions to secondary schools that there may be a change between the local authority of the primary school they attended and the local authority of the secondary school at which they were accepted. Although it is currently difficult to track accurately pupils between primary and secondary schools, there are some indications of the scale of the issue. For example, in September 2003, 189 pupils came from primary schools in other unitary authorities to Bracknell Forest secondary schools, and 232 went from Bracknell Forest primary schools to secondary schools in other unitary authorities. Also, in Bracknell Forest schools there were 1,236 year 6 pupils in January 2003 and 1,104 year 7 pupils in January 2004. The majority of movement is into and from Wokingham, Windsor and Maidenhead, Hampshire and Surrey. Some of this movement is a result of parents seeking either a denominational or private education. There are implications for both target setting and pupil forecasting
2.13 The extent of within-year mobility decreases with age. Using the recognised formula, expressing mobility as the sum of arrivals plus leavers divided by the number on roll, the averages across all schools in the Borough are low in the national context (data for the academic year 2002/3):
Primary Schools 15.4% Secondary Schools 8.9%
However the averages mask some significant differences between schools. For example, College Town Infant and Junior Schools are among the schools with the highest mobility rates in the primary phase, 24.7% and 33.3% respectively. These rates are high in the national context where over 20% is accepted as ‘high’ and over 30% as ‘very high’ (Source: ‘Pupil mobility in schools’, Dobson, Henthorne and Lynas, September 2000.) The two College Town schools regularly receive pupils unexpectedly from neighbouring military garrisons. Whilst the schools work closely with the military, it is not always possible to predict when or where additional pupils from service families will arrive, what their ages will be and how long they will stay.
Great Hollands Infants School also had a high mobility rate at 28.3%, possibly as a result of family movements in the local community. One other primary school had a mobility rate above 20%.
The mobility rates in secondary schools were all lower than these rates, with the highest rate being 15.9%.
18 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
Pupil Ethnicity and Gender
2.14 The following tables provide analysis of pupil ethnicity, gender and free school meal eligibility taken from PLASC 2004 numbers on roll.
GENDER FREE SCHOOL MEALS ELIGIBILITY Male Female Primary 4135 51.0% 3965 49.0% 595 7.3% Secondary 3082 50.4% 3029 49.6% 333 5.4%
Bracknell North 1921 51.4% 1817 48.6% 221 6% Bracknell South 2247 49.9% 2257 50.1% 512 10% Crowthorne & 2192 53.0% 1943 47.0% 158 4% Sandhurst Aided 857 46.7% 977 53.3% 37 2%
19 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
ETHNICITY (in main school only - does not include those refused or not obtained)
White Mixed Asian Black Other Primary 8139 92.8% 272 3.1% 208 2.4% 107 1.2% 195 0.6% Secondary 5068 93.8% 131 2.4% 82 1.5% 68 1.3% 55 1.0%
Bracknell North 3588 93.5% 99 2.6% 61 1.6% 51 1.3% 40 1.0% Bracknell South 4170 91.9% 135 3.0% 113 2.5% 91 2.0% 28 0.6% Crowthorne & Sandhurst 3778 93.7% 111 2.8% 102 2.5% 19 0.5% 20 0.5% Aided 1671 94.2% 58 3.3% 14 0.8% 14 0.8% 16 0.9%
Provision for Pupils ‘Out of School’
2.15 Bracknell Forest Borough Council places a very high priority on developing an atmosphere in its schools that promotes good learning. This means developing appropriate standards of behaviour in schools. The Borough’s Behaviour Support Plan (revised in April 2004) sets out ways to meet this objective. This is also supported by the Special Education Needs Strategy.
2.16 The Borough Council is committed to a multi-agency approach to pupils’ behavioural problems, to preventative approaches, to early identification of learning difficulties and to the full involvement of parents.
2.17 The overriding aim of the Council is to educate the children for whom it is responsible in mainstream education or, where appropriate to meet their needs, in a special school.
2.18 The Borough is also committed to providing suitable opportunities for other pupils not able to receive education in school, for example for medical reasons.
2.19 There are a number of pupils for whom a placement in mainstream school is not always sustainable and special school is not appropriate. This group of pupils receive their education through the Pupil Referral Services and may include at any time:
• those permanently excluded from mainstream school or those who are unlikely to sustain a mainstream placement; • those with a pattern of non-attendance, for example because they are school phobic; • pregnant schoolgirls or young mothers; • those with medical reasons for not being able to attend school, including psychiatric reasons.
The Borough meets its statutory obligations through provision of education at the Adastron House Pupil Referral Unit for primary-age pupils, College Hall Pupil Referral Unit for secondary-age pupils or through individual and group tuition from tutors.
20 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
The tuition service includes provision for pupils at:
• their own home; • a school, for example where a school phobic is receiving individual tuition outside mainstream classes; • Coopers Hill and Priestwood Youth & Community Centres; • Other centres as necessary and appropriate.
2.20 College Hall has more pupils on roll than will attend any one session of the day. This is because some attend part-time; others are on work experience or receiving their education elsewhere, for example on partial reintegration into mainstream school or in a College of Further Education.
2.21 College Hall is able to provide some support for pupils that are at risk of exclusion, perhaps through part-time attendance at the PRU and at their own school. Working in such a way would assists in further meeting targets for the reduction in exclusions.
2.22 In addition, Adastron House PRU for primary-age pupils will continue to offer part-time placement (four morning or four afternoon sessions) for pupils of primary age where there are behavioural issues in the mainstream primary school that the pupil attends for the remainder of the week. Pupils remain on the roll of their mainstream school.
2.23 Since September 2002, the LEA is required to make arrangements for the provision of full time education for pupils excluded from school for more than 15 school days. The majority of these pupils are in Key Stage 4. In order to meet the requirement, College Hall Pupil Referral unit has been expanded from its previous size of 15 FTE to meet the needs of 30 FTE pupils.
2.24 Provision for pupils includes tuition at College Hall, attendance on college courses and extended programmes of supported work experience. Appropriate provision for younger pupils will be made through small group tuition. The intention for these younger pupils is always a swift return to mainstream school or, when necessary special school. In support of this a reintegration protocol has been agreed between local secondary schools.
Education Otherwise Than at School
2.25 Numbers of children being educated otherwise than at school are small. They are distributed across the Borough and do not impact on the provision of school places to any degree at present.
There are currently (May 2004) 45 pupils whose parents have taken responsibility for their education. Thirteen of these children are of primary age and 32 are of secondary age (thirteen pupils are in Year 11, reaching the end of their statutory period of education on the last Friday in June). The Borough Council has a responsibility to inspect the education provided.
21 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
Numbers of Pupils in the Authority and Projected Pupil Numbers
2.26 There were 8671 primary-aged pupils in schools in the Borough in April 2004. This number is expected to decrease by 6.5% to 8108 by April 2009. There were 6111 secondary-aged pupils in schools in the Borough in January 2004, expected to rise by 3.5% to 6324 by 2009.
Forecasting Methodology
2.27 Computerised forecasts of pupil numbers are produced annually for each school and age group to support the Borough Council’s planning process. The forecasts are based on population data produced under contract by the Greater London Authority (including data on 5 year old intakes from birth rate information), data relating to housing developments in the area and both base information and new data relating to schools. Base information includes details of school types, school designated areas, entry and leaving ages, building plans, capacities and data on which schools feed other schools. New data required for every pupil forecast are the number of pupils in schools (from the January Annual Schools’ Census returns to the DfES) and the latest file of allocations to secondary schools.
2.28 Age groups are predicted using a ‘cohort trend’ model where predictions of an age group are made by studying changes in relevant age groups over the previous four years, and applying these as predicted pupil numbers, making appropriate allowances for children coming from new housing. If there has been a significant event to change the character of a school then it is possible to limit the period over which trends are based.
2.29 The recommendations of the District Audit report for Berkshire County Council, ‘Planning School Places’ have been taken into account in the design of the system. This includes the opportunity to include data now available to the education service in the Borough Council, such as data on housing sites from the Environment Department, and appropriate data from the Social Services & Housing Department.
2.30 A feature of the forecasts is that they are not constrained by accommodation at the school – the numbers of pupils are projected in the designated area and it is an issue for the headteacher, governors and LEA whether or not the projected numbers of pupils can be admitted to the school. If all children cannot be admitted then the schools’ admission criteria will be applied and children not allocated a place will need to attend a nearby school. Many schools will also have their own projections based on the numbers of children waiting to be admitted – whereas these may be able to take account of some local knowledge, they do not take account of children on the waiting list of more than one school.
2.31 The pupil forecasting system now used by the Borough Council is an updated and enhanced version of the system previously used by Berkshire County Council. In general terms recent forecasts have:
• On average slightly under-estimated the primary April number on roll, by less than 1% for the following year. • On average slightly over–estimated the secondary January number on roll by less than 1% for the following year.
22 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
The 2003 forecasts of primary pupil numbers for April 2004, however, varied from this and under-estimated by 2.5%. Bracknell Forest Borough Council formally changed its admission policy to admit summer-born rising 5s from April 2003. In addition, a number of schools have also decided to admit rising 5s in other terms and some also admit pre-rising 5s - a decision of each governing body each year. This has affected the total primary numbers on roll.
The system and data quality are reviewed annually to attempt to improve the accuracy of forecasts produced. As an example of such a review, a survey of the numbers of children up to the age of 5 in the North Bracknell area was undertaken in the winter of 1999/2000 as a response to specific concerns in this area. The results of the survey indicated the forecasts had underestimated the number of children to be expected from this area of new housing. The survey was repeated in the early autumn of 2000 and further validated the original findings. Further research was undertaken by Revolution Research in 2001 to evaluate the demographic impact of new housing development across Berkshire. This was a review commissioned by all six ex-Berkshire unitary authorities working together led by Bracknell Forest Borough Council. The results of this research showed that the number of primary pupils generated by new housing in Bracknell was higher than the figures used in the forecasts, but the number of secondary pupils produced was about the same. The forecast methodology was amended to reflect these results.
2.32 A review and re-specification of the forecasting system was undertaken in 2002 in the expectation of implementing an improved system. Alternative systems were evaluated but no system was identified that was as comprehensive or accurate as the system currently in use. The Borough Council will continue to monitor the market and maintain contact with system providers.
Pupil Forecasts
2.33 The forecasts presented in this report are 2004-based forecasts, produced using information on demography, housing, pupil transfers to secondary schools and numbers on roll. It is not always possible in the forecasts to include the full potential scale of new housing developments as these may still be subject to discussion with the Planning Department. Schools had the opportunity to comment on the forecasts and appropriate adjustments have been made to reflect their comments.
2.34 This Plan is based on three sub-areas; Bracknell North, Bracknell South and Crowthorne and Sandhurst, reflecting the geography of the Borough and the designated feeder links between schools. Aided schools are treated as a separate group. Aided primary schools have been included in the three area groupings below (in italics) as they do have an impact on maintained secondary school admissions. The following groupings have been identified:
23 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
Group 1 –Bracknell North
Schools and Secondary Feeder arrangements:
Secondary School Primary Feeder Infant School Schools The Garth Hill Binfield CE Primary2 Meadow Vale Primary Sandy Lane Primary Holly Spring Junior Holly Spring Infant & Nursery Warfield CE Primary Whitegrove Primary Winkfield St Mary’s CE Primary
Charters School1 Ascot Heath CE Junior Ascot Heath Infant Cranbourne Primary
1 Charters School is in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The designated area of this school covers part of Bracknell Forest. 2 Binfield Primary School became a Church of England Aided school from 1 September 2003. It has retained its existing admissions criteria for designated area pupils and has therefore been included in the analysis of pupil numbers for North Bracknell.
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Voluntary Aided school is also located in this geographic area but most of its pupils would normally seek Catholic denominational secondary education outside the Borough.
Group 2 –Bracknell South
Schools and Secondary Feeder arrangements:
Secondary School Primary Feeder Infant School Schools Harmans Water Primary The Brakenhale Crown Wood Primary Fox Hill Primary Wildridings Primary
Birch Hill Primary Great Hollands Primary Easthampstead Park The Pines Junior The Pines Infant & Nursery Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery School
St Michael’s Easthampstead Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is also located in this geographic area. Some of its pupils would typically seek denominational secondary education at Ranelagh Church of England Secondary School within the Borough, however the majority transfer to Easthampstead Park. St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School is also located in this geographic area but most of its pupils would normally seek Catholic denominational secondary education outside the Borough.
24 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
Group 3 – Crowthorne and Sandhurst
Schools and Secondary Feeder arrangements:
Secondary School Primary Feeder Schools Infant School
Broadmoor Primary Crowthorne CE Primary New Scotland Hill Primary 1 Edgbarrow Uplands Primary (part) Hatch Ride Primary 2 Oaklands Primary 2
College Town Junior College Town Infant & Nursery Sandhurst Owlsmoor Primary St Michael’s CE Primary, Sandhurst 3 Uplands Primary (part)
1 The designated area for Edgbarrow Secondary School covers part of Wokingham. 2 Hatch Ride Primary School and Oaklands Primary School are both in Wokingham District. 3 St Michaels CE Primary School, Sandhurst became a Church of England Aided school from 1 September 2004. It has retained its existing admissions criteria for designated area pupils and has therefore been included in the analysis of pupil numbers for Crowthorne and Sandhurst.
Group 4 – Aided Schools
There are three Church of England Aided primary schools, St Michael’s Easthampstead CE Voluntary Aided Primary (Bracknell South), Binfield CE Voluntary Aided Primary School (Bracknell North) and St Michaels CE Primary School in Sandhurst (Crowthorne and Sandhurst).
There are two Catholic primary schools, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary (Bracknell North) and St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary (Bracknell South).
There is one Church of England Aided secondary school in the Borough, Ranelagh Church of England School, which serves the Deaneries of Bracknell and Sonning.
Pupils from Bracknell Forest attend Catholic secondary schools in Reading, Slough and Surrey.
25 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009 - final draft for SOC approval
2.35 The numbers of pupils in each Group and the expected rates of change are shown in the table below.
Primary Secondary Number on roll % Number on roll % April change Jan change 2004 2009 2004 2009
Bracknell North 3149 2891 -8.2% 1200 1198 -0.2% Bracknell South 2823 2778 -1.6% 1881 2076 10.4% Crowthorne and 2065 1840 -10.9% 2194 2221 1.2% Sandhurst Aided Schools 634 599 -5.5% 836 829 -0.8% Totals 8671 8108 -6.5% 6111 6324 3.5%
Sources: Annual Schools Census Jan. 2004 & BFBC Education Dept, May 2004
2.36 The number of primary pupils and places in the three planning areas in April 2004 split between those in Controlled (all CE), Aided and those in Community schools are shown below.
Controlled Aided Community Total Pupils Places Pupils Places Pupils Places Pupils Places Bracknell 716 704 606 590 2029 2275 3351 3569 North (21%) (20%) (18%) (17%) (61%) (64%) Bracknell 0 0 432 458 2823 3448 3255 3906 South (%) (%) (13%) (12%) (87%) (88%) Crowthorne 431 429 0 0 1634 1780 2065 2209 & Sandhurst (21%) (19%) (%) (%) (79%) (81%) Totals 1147 1133 1038 1048 6486 7503 8671 9684
Source: BFBC Education Dept, May 2004
2.37 There are two Aided primary schools in the Bracknell North planning area. In this area the Catholic Aided Primary school accounts for 6% of the available places and 6% of the pupil population in the area, and the CE Aided Primary school accounts for 11% of the available places and 12% of the pupil population in the area. The other two Aided primary schools in the Borough are located in Bracknell South. In this area the Catholic Aided Primary school accounts for 5% of the available places and 6% of the pupil population and the CE Aided primary school for 6% of the available places and 7% of the pupil population.
2.38 There is one CE Aided Secondary school in Bracknell Forest Borough, which accounts for 14% of the available secondary school places and 12% of the pupil population.
26 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
27 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
PROJECTED NUMBERS ON ROLL SURPLUS / DEFICIT PERCENTAGE SURPLUS / DEFICIT CAPACITY NOR
as at JAN APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL
1.9.2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Stat. Actual
BRACKNELL NORTH
3054 Ascot Heath CE Junior (Vol Contr) 240 239 239 246 244 243 241 204 1 -6 -4 -3 -1 36 0.4% -2.5%-1.7% -1.3% -0.4% 15.0% 2135 Ascot Heath Infant 210 155 206 186 186 181 178 174 4 24 24 29 32 36 1.9% 11.4%11.4% 13.8% 15.2% 17.1% 3076 Binfield CE Primary (Aided) 380 371 404 398 386 379 371 360 -24 -18 -6 1 9 20 -6.3%-4.7% -1.6% 0.3% 2.4% 5.3% 2099 Cranbourne Primary 210 162 178 187 189 189 192 184 32 23 21 21 18 26 15.2%11.0% 10.0% 10.0% 8.6% 12.4% 2060 Holly Spring Infant & Nursery 200 116 148 154 152 149 147 143 52 46 48 51 53 57 26.0%23.0% 24.0% 25.5% 26.5% 28.5% 2059 Holly Spring Junior 240 201 196 222 207 200 191 186 44 18 33 40 49 54 18.3% 7.5% 13.8%16.7% 20.4% 22.5% 2251 Meadow Vale Primary 420 359 401 397 386 364 358 337 19 23 34 56 62 83 4.5% 5.5% 8.1% 13.3% 14.8% 19.8% 2814 Sandy Lane Primary 563 402 442 435 443 464 485 459 121 128 120 99 78 104 21.5%22.7% 21.3% 17.6% 13.9% 18.5% 3062 Winkfield St. Mary CE Pr (Vol Contr) 210 197 214 198 197 192 186 182 -4 12 13 18 24 28 -1.9% 5.7% 6.2% 8.6% 11.4% 13.3% 3047 Warfield CE Primary (Vol Contr) * 254 246 263 271 271 269 236 210 -9 -17 -17 -15 18 44 -1.3% -2.5% -2.5% -2.2% 2.6% 6.4% 2813 Whitegrove Primary * 432 408 458 454 463 453 452 452 -26 -22 -31 -21 -20 -20 -6.0% -5.1% -7.2% -4.9% -4.6% -4.6%
TOTAL PRIMARIES 3359 2856 3149 3148 3124 3083 3037 2891 210 211 235 276 322 468 6.3% 6.3% 7.0% 8.2% 9.6% 13.9%
4059 GARTH HILL COLLEGE 1252 1200 1200 1231 1228 1253 1265 1198 52 21 24 -1 -13 54 4.2% 1.7% 1.9% -0.1% -1.0% 4.3%
Note: Binfield CE Primary School is now an Aided school. However, as the school still feeds into Garth Hill College and has retained the Designated Area Admission Policy it is included in the Bracknell North group of schools.
28 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Published ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OF PLACES Admission Number 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 1.9.2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
BRACKNELL NORTH
3054 Ascot Heath CE Junior (Vol Contr) 60 62 66 63 61 60 59 -2 -6 -3 -1 0 1 2135 Ascot Heath Infant 72 68 66 65 64 62 61 4 6 7 8 10 11 3076 Binfield CE Primary (Aided) 60 60 56 55 53 52 50 0 4 5 7 8 10 2099 Cranbourne Primary 30 29 30 30 25 25 24 1 0 0 5 5 6 2060 Holly Spring Infant & Nursery 60 50 54 54 55 51 52 10 6 6 5 9 8 2059 Holly Spring Junior 60 55 56 52 50 50 49 5 4 8 10 10 11 2251 Meadow Vale Primary 60 61 60 62 50 49 45 -1 0 -2 10 11 15 2814 Sandy Lane Primary 90 62 76 71 62 59 60 28 14 19 28 31 30 3062 Winkfield St. Mary CE Pr (Vol Contr) 30 30 30 30 28 27 25 0 0 0 2 3 5 3047 Warfield CE Primary (Vol Contr) * 30 30 30 30 30 28 28 0 0 0 0 2 2 2813 Whitegrove Primary * 60 85 80 80 93 59 58 -25 -20 -20 -33 1 2
TOTAL PRIMARIES 612 592 604 592 571 522 511 20 8 20 41 90 101
4059 THE GARTH HILL COLLEGE 240 251 228 214 225 227 190 -11 12 26 15 13 50
* Shared designated area
29 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
BRACKNELL NORTH NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2000-2004 Forecasts 2005-2009)
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0 Apr 2000 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009
Primary Secondary
30 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
31 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
PROJECTED NUMBERS ON ROLL SURPLUS / DEFICIT PERCENTAGE SURPLUS / DEFICIT CAPACITY NOR
as at JAN APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL
1.9.2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Stat Actual
BRACKNELL SOUTH
2236 Crown Wood Primary 341 237 272 226 219 209 209 209 69 115 122 132 132 132 20.2%33.7% 35.8% 38.7% 38.7% 38.7% 2057 Fox Hill Primary 297 / 210 184 203 181 179 186 185 179 94 29 31 24 25 31 31.6% 9.8% 14.8%11.4% 11.9% 14.8% 2254 Harmans Water Primary ~ 667 521 572 526 536 578 618 665 95 141 131 89 49 2 14.2% 21.1% 19.6% 13.3% 7.3% 0.3% 2250 Wildridings Primary School 420 / 315 322 345 327 321 303 305 303 75 -12 -6 12 10 12 17.9% -2.9% -1.9% 3.8% 3.2% 3.8% “Peacock Farm Primary” # 210 14 66 120 164 196 144 90 46 93.3% 68.6% 42.9% 21.9% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 1725 / 1743 1264 1392 1260 1269 1342 1437 1520 333 465 474 401 306 223 19.3% 27.0% 27.2% 23.0% 17.6% 12.8%
4030 THE BRAKENHALE SCHOOL 1139 534 534 521 549 648 769 878 605 618 590 491 370 261 53.1% 54.3% 51.8% 43.1% 32.5% 22.9%
2165 Birch Hill Primary 539 / 449 409 456 430 414 423 431 423 83 109 35 26 18 26 15.4%20.2% 7.8% 5.8% 4.0% 5.8% 2815 Great Hollands Primary # 428 327 347 322 307 299 301 301 81 106 121 129 127 127 18.9%24.8% 28.3% 30.1% 29.7% 29.7% 2162 The Pines Infant & Nursery 173 / 90 116 139 144 135 125 120 118 34 29 -45 -35 -30 -28 19.7%16.8% -50.0% -38.9% -33.3% -31.1% 2168 The Pines Junior 240 / 120 198 193 198 205 196 191 183 47 42 -85 -76 -71 -63 19.6%17.5% -70.8% -63.3% -59.2% -52.5% 2228 Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery 343 268 296 270 254 245 243 233 47 73 89 98 100 110 13.7%21.3% 25.9% 28.6% 29.2% 32.1% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 1723 / 1430 1318 1431 1364 1315 1288 1286 1258 292 359 115 142 144 172 16.9% 20.8% 8.0% 9.9% 10.1% 12.0%
4061 EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK SCHOOL 1448 1347 1347 1344 1334 1304 1244 1198 101 104 114 144 204 250 7.0% 7.2% 7.9% 9.9% 14.1% 17.3%
TOTAL PRIMARIES 3448 / 3173 2582 2823 2624 2584 2630 2723 2778 625 824 589 543 450 395 18.1% 23.9% 18.6% 17.1% 14.2% 12.4%
TOTAL SECONDARIES 2587 1881 1881 1865 1883 1952 2013 2076 706 722 704 635 574 511 27.3% 27.9% 27.2% 24.5% 22.2% 19.8% Sufficiency Capacities as at 1st September 2004. Revised capacities from Jan 2006 are also shown where appropriate. Surplus/deficit/percentages are calculated from these from Jan 2006. This particularly affects The Pines Infant and Junior Schools. # NB Pupils shown for “Peacock Farm Primary” from April 2006. Note this affects capacity and surplus places calculations. “Peacock Farm Primary” capacity is not added into the calculations until 2006 and after for sub-totals, totals and surplus/deficit/percentages. New Peacock Farm school not likely to be operational until December 2008. Pupils from Peacock Farm will go to Great Hollands Primary until the new school is built. ~ The phasing of new housing to be built on the Staff College site has changed. Numbers on roll for Harmans Water Primary have been adjusted with additional pupils from this site from January 2006 onwards.
32 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Published ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OF PLACES Admission Number 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 1.9.2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
BRACKNELL SOUTH
2236 Crown Wood Primary 60 44 28 27 32 30 29 16 32 33 28 30 31 2057 Fox Hill Primary 40 / 30 27 28 27 36 35 33 13 12 3 -6 -5 -3 2254 Harmans Water Primary 90 90 70 73 87 87 85 0 20 17 3 3 5 2250 Wildridings Primary School 60 / 45 57 52 51 51 46 48 3 8 -6 -6 -1 -3 “Peacock Farm Primary” 30 2 10 14 17 30 30 28 20 16 13
SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 150 218 178 180 216 212 212 -68 -28 -30 -66 -62 -62
4030 BRAKENHALE SECONDARY 231 94 120 123 140 140 144 137 111 108 91 91 87
2165 Birch Hill Primary 77 / 60 68 68 66 69 67 64 9 9 -6 -9 -7 -4 2815 Great Hollands Primary 60 53 45 44 53 50 47 7 15 16 7 10 13 2162 The Pines Infant & Nursery 79 / 30 56 49 45 41 40 39 23 30 -15 -11 -10 -9 2168 The Pines Junior 90 47 47 43 43 2228 Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery 49 47 40 35 42 38 39 2 9 14 7 11 10
SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 199 271 249 190 205 195 189 -72 -50 9 -6 4 10
4061 EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK SEC’Y 240 241 240 228 210 184 196 -1 0 12 30 56 44
TOTAL PRIMARIES 349 489 427 370 421 407 401 -140 -78 -21 -72 -58 -52
TOTAL SECONDARIES 471 335 360 351 350 324 340 136 111 120 121 147 131 Sufficiency Capacities as at 1st September 2004. Revised capacities from Jan 2006 are also shown where appropriate. Surplus/deficit/percentages are calculated from these from Jan 2006. This particularly affects The Pines Infant and Junior Schools. # NB Pupils shown for “Peacock Farm Primary” from April 2006. Note this affects capacity and surplus places calculations. “Peacock Farm Primary” capacity is not added into the calculations until 2006 and after for sub-totals, totals and surplus/deficit/percentages. New Peacock Farm school not likely to be operational until December 2008. Pupils from Peacock Farm will go to Great Hollands Primary until the new school is built. ~ The phasing of new housing to be built on the Staff College site has changed. Numbers on roll for Harmans Water Primary have been adjusted with additional pupils from this site from January 2006 onwards.
33 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
BRACKNELL SOUTH NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2000-2004 Forecasts 2005-2009)
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0 Apr 2000 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009
Primary Secondary
34 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
35 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
PROJECTED NUMBERS ON ROLL SURPLUS / DEFICIT PERCENTAGE SURPLUS / DEFICIT CAPACITY NOR
as at JAN APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL
1.9.2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Stat Actual
CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST
2065 Broadmoor Primary 190 169 189 191 186 173 166 155 1 -1 4 17 24 35 0.5% -0.5%2.1% 8.9% 12.6% 18.4% 3023 Crowthorne CE Primary (Vol Contr) 205 188 207 211 205 199 194 185 -2 -6 0 6 11 20 -1.0% -2.9% 0.0% 2.9% 5.4% 9.8% 2154 New Scotland Hill Primary 210 192 215 225 213 201 190 176 -5 -15 -3 9 20 34 -2.4% -7.1% -1.4% 4.3% 9.5% 16.2% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 605 549 611 627 604 573 550 516 -6 -22 1 32 55 89 -1.0% -3.6% 0.2% 5.3% 9.1% 14.7%
4032 EDGBARROW SCHOOL 980 1102 1102 1135 1144 1142 1140 1132 -122 -155 -164 -162 -160 -152 -12.4% -15.8% -16.7% -16.5% -16.3% -15.5%
2087 College Town Infant & Nursery 231 196 234 228 222 225 225 220 -3 3 9 6 6 11 -1.3% 1.3% 3.9% 2.6% 2.6% 4.8% 2126 College Town Junior 388 319 311 317 291 287 282 268 77 71 97 101 106 120 19.8%18.3% 25.0% 26.0% 27.3% 30.9% 2138 Owlsmoor Primary 521 419 458 454 460 450 448 421 63 67 61 71 73 100 12.1%12.9% 11.7% 13.6% 14.0% 19.2% 3038 St. Michael's CE Primary (Vol Aided) 224 202 224 230 219 209 199 186 0 -6 5 15 25 38 0.0% -2.7%2.2% 6.7% 11.2% 17.0% 2113 Uplands Primary * 240 214 227 242 241 236 233 229 13 -2 -1 4 7 11 5.4% -0.8%-0.4% 1.7% 2.9% 4.6% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 1604 1350 1454 1471 1433 1407 1387 1324 150 133 171 197 217 280 9.4% 8.3% 10.7% 12.3% 13.5% 17.5%
4058 SANDHURST SCHOOL 1162 1092 1092 1114 1143 1139 1113 1089 70 48 19 23 49 73 6.0% 4.1% 1.6% 2.0% 4.2% 6.3%
TOTAL PRIMARIES 2209 1899 2065 2098 2037 1980 1937 1840 144 111 172 229 272 369 6.5% 5.0% 7.8% 10.4% 12.3% 16.7% TOTAL SECONDARIES 2142 2194 2194 2249 2287 2281 2253 2221 -52 -107 -145 -139 -111 -79 -2.4% -5.0% -6.8% -6.5% -5.2% -3.7%
Note: St Michael’s CE Primary School, Sandhurst is now an Aided school. However, as the school still feeds into Sandhurst School and has retained the Designated Area Admission Policy it is included in the Crowthorne & Sandhurst group of schools.
36 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Published ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OF PLACES Admission Number 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 1.9.2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST
2065 Broadmoor Primary 28 26 27 25 24 21 22 2 1 3 4 7 6 3023 Crowthorne CE Primary (Vol Contr) 30 30 31 30 29 28 27 0 -1 0 1 2 3 2154 New Scotland Hill Primary 30 30 32 31 23 21 21 0 -2 -1 7 9 9
SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 88 86 90 86 76 70 70 2 -2 2 12 18 18
4032 EDGBARROW SCHOOL 172 179 210 211 194 192 180 -7 -38 -39 -22 -20 -8
2087 College Town Infant & Nursery 101 76 72 72 74 74 72 14 18 18 16 16 18 2126 College Town Junior 97 72 85 72 68 68 69 25 12 25 29 29 28 2138 Owlsmoor Primary 70 75 64 64 66 63 62 -5 6 6 4 7 8 3038 St. Michael's CE Primary (Vol Contr) 32 33 33 33 26 23 23 -1 -1 -1 6 9 9 2113 Uplands Primary 30 45 43 38 29 30 29 -15 -13 -8 1 0 1
SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 350 301 297 279 263 258 255 18 22 40 56 61 64
4058 SANDHURST SCHOOL 200 209 200 195 173 169 181 -9 0 5 27 31 19
TOTAL PRIMARIES 438 387 387 365 339 328 325 20 20 42 68 79 82 TOTAL SECONDARIES 372 388 410 406 367 361 361 -16 -38 -34 5 11 11
37 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2000-2004 Forecasts 2005-2009)
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0 Apr 2000 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009
Primary Secondary
38 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
39 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
PROJECTED NUMBERS ON ROLL SURPLUS / DEFICIT PERCENTAGE SURPLUS / DEFICIT CAPACITY NOR
as at JAN APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL
1.9.2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Stat Actual
AIDED
Catholic Schools
3333 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary 210 185 202 213 213 204 195 185 8 -3 -3 6 15 25 3.8% -1.4%-1.4% 2.9% 7.1% 11.9%
3344 St. Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary 210 178 199 186 184 177 178 174 11 24 26 33 32 36 5.2% 11.4%12.4% 15.7% 15.2% 17.1%
Church of England Schools
3313 St. Michael's Easthampstead CE Aided Primary 248 211 233 233 237 239 242 240 15 15 11 9 6 8 6.0% 6.0% 4.4% 3.6% 2.4% 3.2%
TOTAL PRIMARIES 668 574 634 632 634 620 615 599 34 36 34 48 52 69 1.0% 1.7% 2.7% 4.7% 5.9% 8.5%
4603 RANELAGH CE SCHOOL 834 836 836 838 851 846 838 829 -2 -14 -17 -12 -4 5 -0.2% -1.7% -2.0% -1.4% -0.5% 0.6%
Note: St Michael’s CE Primary School, Sandhurst is now an Aided school. However, as the school still feeds into Sandhurst School and has retained the Designated Area Admission Policy it is included in the Crowthorne & Sandhurst group of schools. Note: Binfield CE Primary School is now an Aided school. However, as the school still feeds into Garth Hill College and has retained the Designated Area Admission Policy it is included in the Bracknell North group of schools.
40 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Published Admission ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OF PLACES Number 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2003/2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 1.9.2004 2004 20052006 2007 2008 2009 20042005 2006 2007 2008 2009
AIDED
Catholic Schools
3333 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary 30 30 30 30 29 28 27 0 0 0 1 2 3
3344 St. Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary 30 32 29 29 29 27 27 -2 1 1 1 3 3
Church of England Schools
3313 St. Michael's Easthampstead CE Aided Primary 35 35 35 35 37 36 35 0 0 0 -2 -1 0
TOTAL PRIMARIES 95 97 94 94 95 91 89 -2 1 1 0 4 6
4603 RANELAGH CE SCHOOL 124 132 142 126 126 126 126 -8 -18 -2 -2 -2 -2
41 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
AIDED SCHOOLS NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2000-2004 Forecasts 2005-09)
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 Apr 2000 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009
Primary Secondary
42 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
BRACKNELL FOREST TOTALS
CAPACITY NOR PROJECTED NUMBERS ON ROLL SURPLUS / DEFICIT PERCENTAGE SURPLUS / DEFICIT
as at JAN APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL
1.9.2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Stat BRACKNELL FOREST PRIMARY TOTALS 9684 7911 8671 8502 8379 8313 8312 8108 1013 1182 1030 1096 1097 1301 10.5% 12.2% 10.6% 11.3% 11.3% 13.4%
BRACKNELL FOREST SECONDARY TOTALS 6815 6111 6111 6193 6249 6332 6369 6324 704 622 566 483 446 491 10.3% 9.1% 8.3% 7.1% 6.5% 7.2%
Note: Primary school numbers do not include Nursery Class pupils. Secondary school numbers include sixth form pupils.
BRACKNELL FOREST SCHOOLS NUM BERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2000-2004 Forecasts 2005-09)
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0 Apr 2000 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009
Total Primary Total Secondary
43 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Housing development and phasings
The pupil forecasts include an estimate of the number of pupils generated by housing developments in each area. Information on the number of houses expected to be completed during the forecast period is collated by the Environment Department of Bracknell Forest Borough Council from planning applications. This information can be revised frequently depending on information received from developers.
The following table summarises the proposed developments by school designated area.
NUMBER OF HOUSES EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED DURING FORECAST PERIOD
Wards Sites 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 BRAKENHALE Fox Hill Primary Old Bracknell Churchill House, Reeds Hill 98 Fox Hill Primary Old Bracknell Foxhill PS, Pond Moor Road 20 Fox Hill Primary Old Bracknell Small build 2 1 3 3 3 Harmans Water Primary Harmanswater The Staff College Bracknell 0 0 50 150 150 150 Harmans Water Primary Harmanswater Small build 0 0 1 1 1 New Peacock Farm Primary Gt Hollands North Peacock Farm 0 0 40 150 150 200 Wildridings Primary Wildridings Small build 6 2 2 3 3 Wooden Hill Primary Gt Hollands South Small build 0 2 1 1 1 126 5 97 308 308 350 EDGBARROW Broadmoor /Crowthorne Primary Crowthorne 168 Dukes Ride 4 17 Broadmoor /Crowthorne Primary Crowthorne Land at 205 High Street 0 10 Broadmoor /Crowthorne Primary Crowthorne Land at 205 High Street 0 6 Broadmoor /Crowthorne Primary Crowthorne 165 High Street 10 Broadmoor /Crowthorne Primary Crowthorne 141-143 High Street 12 Broadmoor /Crowthorne Primary Crowthorne Small build 14 2 10 11 11 New Scotland Hill /St Michael's Primary Little Sandhurst Small build 4 2 6 5 5 New Scotland Hill Primary Little Sandhurst Land between High Street & Lakeside 15 31 59 68 16 16 16 0 Wards Sites 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
44 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK Birch Hill Primary/ Pines Infant & Junior Hanworth Small build 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 GARTH HILL Ascot Heath Infant & Junior Ascot Small build 1 4 5 6 6 Binfield Primary Binfield Land at Braeside 9 9 Binfield Primary Binfield Small build 8 4 4 3 4 Cranbourne Primary Cranbourne Small build 1 3 1 -1 0 Holly Spring Infant & Junior Bullbrook 1-18 Sycamore Rise 0 54 Holly Spring Infant & Junior Bullbrook Land at 14-20 Bay Road 25 Holly Spring Infant & Junior Bullbrook Land at Broad Lane 10 Holly Spring Infant & Junior Bullbrook Rear 20 Martins Lane/Broad Lane 19 Holly Spring Infant & Junior Bullbrook Land at Eto, Broad Lane 11 Holly Spring Infant & Junior Bullbrook Ferling/Merraway/Oaklea/Woodlea -4 24 Holly Spring Infant & Junior Bullbrook Small build 4 6 7 6 6 Meadow Vale Primary Priestwood Winchester House/Car Park 0 42 Meadow Vale Primary Priestwood Acal Electronics, Wokingham Road 12 Meadow Vale Primary Priestwood Farley View/Hardness Wood 23 Meadow Vale Primary Priestwood Small build 0 4 4 3 4 Sandy Lane Primary Bullbrook Town Centre northern & southern end 0 0 50 100 100 Sandy Lane Primary Garth Small build 0 1 1 2 2 Warfield /Whitegrove Primary Warfield Warfield Park Mobile Homes Ext 6 Warfield /Whitegrove Primary Warfield Land at Warfield Park 3 3 2 Warfield /Whitegrove Primary Warfield Adj Warfield Chase 6 6 Warfield /Whitegrove Primary Warfield Newell Hall 11 Warfield /Whitegrove Primary Warfield Small build 13 10 8 5 6 Winkfield St Mary Primary Winkfield St Marys Small build 3 2 0 -1 -1 161 172 82 123 127 0
45 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Wards Sites 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
SANDHURST College Town Infant & Junior College Town Bull & Butcher PH, Yorktown Road -2 33 College Town Infant & Junior College Town 69, 73, 79 & 83 High Street 0 -4 24 College Town Infant & Junior College Town Adj Sandhurst School, Owlsmoor Road 11 College Town Infant & Junior College Town Small build 0 0 4 6 7 Owlsmoor Primary Owlsmoor Small build 0 2 3 3 3 Uplands Primary Sandhurst Small build 1 3 3 2 2 10 34 34 11 12 0
BRACKNELL FOREST 357 280 230 458 463 350
46 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Surplus places
Overall in April 2004 there were 1013 primary (10.5%) and 704 secondary surplus places (10.3%) in Bracknell Forest. In April 2003 there were 958 primary (9.8%) and 761 secondary surplus places (11.3%) in the Borough. The implementation of the outcomes of the reorganisation of primary school places in South Bracknell will also reduce surplus places further with effect from September 2005.
2.39 Three schools in Bracknell Forest have over 25% surplus places. These are: • Holly Spring Infant & Nursery School • Fox Hill Primary School • Brakenhale Secondary School.
There is an anticipation of pupils from future housing development in the local area and the places will be required in the medium term:
• Crown Wood Primary School (Displacement effect from Harmans Water Primary School from the Joint Services Staff College site - 730 houses) • Fox Hill Primary School (Church Hill House – a further 98 houses). • The Brakenhale School (Church Hill House a further 98 houses, Peacock Farm 1500 houses, Joint Services Staff College site - 730 houses.
The Peacock Farm development may affect Great Hollands Primary School in the short term until a new primary school can be built on the development site. It is proposed that temporary accommodation will be made available on the Great Hollands site, as required, to accommodate early numbers until the new school is built. The development will be part of The Brakenhale School’s designated area.
The Church Hill House development will affect Fox Hill Primary School and also may affect Wildridings Primary School. The development is part of The Brakenhale School’s designated area. This development of 355 houses in total is into its fourth year. The pupil forecast figures reflect this increase as part of the forecast for Fox Hill Primary School. In addition, one outcome of the South Bracknell Review is a proposed reduction in the size of Fox Hill Primary school by 90 places.
The Joint Services Staff College site development will affect Harmans Water Primary School, as it is part of its designated area, and will also affect Crown Wood Primary School by displacing new admissions from the Crown Wood designated area who previously may have chosen to attend Harmans Water Primary School. The development will be part of The Brakenhale School’s designated area. The pupil forecasts include an allowance for 730 houses.
47 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Special Educational Needs
2.41 There is a continuum of appropriate provision to address special educational needs (SEN) that includes local schools, agencies and support services (Educational Psychology Service, the Behaviour Support Service, the Pupil Referral Services, the Teaching and Support Services, the Language and Literacy Centre [primary age pupils], the Sensory Consortium Service for children with vision, hearing or multi-sensory needs, the Education Welfare Service and the Child and Family Consultation Service), as well as access to schools and services within the wider region and across the country.
2.42 There is a statutory duty for LEAs to have regard to the general principle that pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents “so far as that is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure”.
2.43 As set out in Section 4, the statutory framework requires all children with special educational needs but without a statement to be educated in a mainstream school. There is also a qualified statutory duty to educate children with statements in mainstream schools unless: • the parents want a special school and a mainstream school would not meet the needs of the child or the wishes of either the parent or the child (it is anticipated that there will be a continuing demand and need for high quality special education for some pupils) • or the placement in a mainstream school would demonstrably adversely affect the education of other pupils in that school • or the placement in a mainstream school would demonstrably represent an inefficient use of resources.
2.44 Section 4 proceeds to set out the duties on LEAs and schools to increase access for disabled pupils. It is important to realise that the definition of disability is not limited to a physical disability: • the Children Act 1989 states that a child is disabled if he is blind, deaf or dumb, or suffers from a mental disorder of any kind or is substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed • the Disability Act 1995 sets out that a person has a disability if he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
2.45 The guidance on disability in schools sets out that schools and LEAs must: • not treat disabled pupils less favourably, without justification, for a reason which relates to their disability; • make reasonable steps to ensure that disabled pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to other pupils (but there is no duty to remove or alter physical features) • plan strategically for and make progress in improving the physical environment of schools for disabled children, increased disabled pupils’ participation in the curriculum and improving ways in which written information is provided to pupils who are not disabled is also provided to disabled pupils. • there is no general duty on education providers to provide auxiliary aids and services for disabled children but there is an expectation that best practice will be generally adopted to ensure the equalisation of educational opportunities for disabled children
2.46 The Borough Council has engaged in a dialogue with headteachers/ governing bodies how to arrange for physical adaptations to schools to ensure they can accommodate pupils with SEN.
48 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
2.47 Mainstream schooling is therefore part of a continuum of provision for children with SEN that includes the possibility of placement at a: • an LEA-maintained mainstream school • a special resource attached to a mainstream school • a Language and Literacy Centre (LAL Centre) • a pupil referral unit (PRU) • a special day school within or outside the Borough • a mixed placement, outreach or partial reintegration • a day or residential special school outside the Borough for low incidence high disability SEN
2.48 Within this statutory framework, special educational provision will be made at the child's local school or college. Where this is not appropriate, a school or college placement will be made as close as possible to the pupil's home community. Where the special needs so require, specialist provision will be made in an appropriately resourced school.
2.49 Bracknell Forest Borough Council maintains special resources attached to three mainstream schools in partnership with their respective governing bodies. The special resources provide an opportunity for children with particular SEN to be supported by a specialist teacher in a mainstream setting. They will be on the roll of the school and will be registered with children in their year group. They may be withdrawn to receive specialist help, according to the degree and nature of their individual needs. Placement in a resource has the aim of enabling children to be integrated into mainstream classes as fully as possible. In this way, they will be given maximum access to the curriculum.
2.50 Kennel Lane School is the Borough’s special school, catering for pupils with moderate, severe, or profound and multiple learning difficulties, including those with more severe or significant autistic spectrum disorders. Pupils there enjoy learning and work hard. There are valued links with the local community, parents, and local schools and agencies. During the last few years the school has increasingly worked with children with the more complex difficulties, for two reasons:
• children with general learning difficulties, but without additional needs, have more often been included successfully in neighbourhood mainstream schools or special resources attached to mainstream schools, either on the basis of reintegration from a special school, or, now more commonly, because placement has not been sought in a special school; • as expertise in Kennel Lane School has developed in relation to the more complex difficulties, parents and the Borough Council has placed children there in preference to provision outside the Borough, which was often costly residential provision.
2.51 However, there has been pressure on placements at Kennel Lane, and numbers on roll have risen, for four main reasons • the school has developed its practices, and its relationship with families and the community, so that it is seen as an attractive, effective school, in which children are encouraged to suuceed, thereby increasing the level of parental preferences for placements there; • more children are surviving stormy peri-natal experiences, but often have severe or complex long-term difficulties requiring special school placements; • whereas traditionally Kennel Lane worked with children who had difficulties in cognition and learning (general learning difficulties), it has increasingly developed its capacity also to work with children with difficulties in communication and interaction, behavioural, emotional and social development, and physical or sensory difficulties; this has led to
49 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
higher expressions of parental preference from parents of children with these additional needs not just in Bracknell Forest, but also in neighbouring authorities and lower expressions of parental preference by parents living in Bracknell Forest for placements in special schools outside Bracknell Forest; • a higher proportion of young people remain at Kennel Lane post-16 than in neighbouring authorities, because of a perceived inadequacy by the Further Education sector to make appropriate provision.
2.52 These trends have implications for maintaining appropriate levels of funding in the special school, which is on the basis of planned place numbers established through dialogue between the Special Needs Section, the Finance Section and the Governing Body. There are also implications for accommodation at Kennel Lane, as those with more complex needs have a requirement for greater physical space and adapted facilities.
2.53 The Borough, in partnership with the governors of Kennel Lane School, is carrying out a review (which began in 2003) to secure its development as a ‘partnership school’, building on its strengths and making it an integral part of an inclusive education system in its area.
2.54 The following tables give a breakdown of SEN placements in January 2004:
Special Schools, Units and Resources in Bracknell Forest
School Category Places Attendance NOR FTE Special School Kennel Lane General Learning 168 School – all (see F/T and P/T 175 (“head age below) count”)
Special Resources * Great Hollands Social and Infant School Communication 6 1 F/T & 6 6 full time Difficulties P/T equivalent Meadow Vale Speech and Primary School Language 20 F/T and P/T 18 full time Difficulties equivalent Ranelagh CE Specific Learning School Difficulties 12 F/T 11
* The special resource for children with moderate learning difficulties at The Pines Junior School closed in March 2004.
School Category Places Attendance NOR FTE
Pupil Referral Units Adastron House On unit 3 PRU 8 register only Dually 12
50 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
registered pupils College Hall 30 (from On PRU 48 PRU Sept) register only Dually 9 registered
Language and Literacy Units Crown Wood Language and 10* P/T 50 Primary School Literacy
* Crown Wood LAL has 10 pupils per day over 5 days
Places at Kennel Lane School (Spring 2004)
34 places band 1/2 moderate learning difficulties 81.5 places band 3 severe learning difficulties 52.5 places band 4/5 profound learning difficulties
Total 175 pupils
Mainstream Schools in Bracknell Forest
Data in these tables are derived from the Pupil Level Annual School Census, submitted by schools. The figures showing those children with special educational needs but without a statement need to be treated with caution, as schools’ interpretation of the data requirements vary.
Statemented % of Without % of BRACKNELL NORTH Pupils pupils Statement pupils
Ascot Heath CE Junior (Vol Contr) 5 2.1 58 24.3 Ascot Heath Infant 2 1.0 37 18.8 Binfield CE Primary (Aided) 6 1.5 55 13.4 Cranbourne Primary 3 1.8 25 15.1 Holly Spring Infant & Nursery 1 0.8 12 9.4 Holly Spring Junior 1 0.5 42 20.9 Meadow Vale Primary 27 7.2 84 22.5 Sandy Lane Primary 6 1.5 97 24.1 Warfield CE Primary (Vol Contr) * 5 2.0 25 9.9 Whitegrove Primary * 4 1.0 48 11.5 Winkfield St. Mary CE Pr (Vol Contr) 1 0.5 25 12.7
TOTAL PRIMARIES 61 2.0 508 17.0
The Garth Hill College 17 1.4 30 2.5
Statemented % of Without % of BRACKNELL SOUTH Pupils pupils Statement pupils Crown Wood Primary 6 2.4 44 17.7 Fox Hill Primary 5 2.5 50 24.9 Harmans Water Primary 6 1.2 80 15.4 Wildridings Primary School 5 1.5 89 27.6 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 22 1.7 263 20.3 The Brakenhale School 18 3.4 159 29.8 Birch Hill Primary 16 3.9 54 13.2
51 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Great Hollands Primary 19 5.8 134 41.0 The Pines Infant & Nursery 0 0.0 34 26.8 The Pines Junior 9 4.5 90 45.5 Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery 3 1.1 51 19.0 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 47 3.5 363 27.3 Easthampstead Park School 26 1.9 236 17.5
TOTAL PRIMARIES 69 2.6 626 23.9 TOTAL SECONDARIES 44 2.3 395 21.0
Statemented % of Without % of CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST Pupils pupils Statement pupils Broadmoor Primary 3 1.7 28 15.8 Crowthorne CE Primary (Vol Contr) 3 1.6 33 17.1 New Scotland Hill Primary 6 3.0 44 21.9 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 12 2.1 105 18.4 Edgbarrow School 24 2.2 29 2.6 College Town Infant & Nursery 2 0.9 25 11.7 College Town Junior 5 1.6 60 18.8 Owlsmoor Primary 14 3.2 77 17.9 St. Michael's CE Primary (Vol Contr) 5 2.2 14 6.3 Uplands Primary * 2 0.9 25 11.8 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 28 0.8 202 5.5 Sandhurst School 18 1.6 153 14.0
TOTAL PRIMARIES 40 0.9 307 7.3 TOTAL SECONDARIES 42 1.9 182 8.3
Statemented % of Without % of AIDED Pupils pupils Statement pupils St. Joseph's Catholic Primary 7 3.6 15 7.7 St. Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary 4 2.2 42 23.1 St. Michael's Easthampstead CE Aided 2 0.9 34 15.7 Primary TOTAL PRIMARIES 13 2.2 91 15.4 Ranelagh CE School 19 2.3 46 5.5
Overall, 14% of pupils in mainstream schools in Bracknell Forest have special educational needs without a statement, compared to 14% nationally (DfES 2003 figure).
Overall, 3.2% of pupils in all schools in Bracknell Forest (including Kennel Lane) have a statement of special educational needs, compared to 3.0% nationally (DfES 2003 figure).
These figures need to be seen in a context where a rise in the identification of more complex SEN, such as autistic spectrum disorders and communication disorders, has been accompanied by greater inclusion of children with more complex needs in mainstream schools. The national and local strategies for SEN aim to reduce the reliance on statements, thereby releasing funding to schools to be used in more flexible ways and facilitating approaches that promote early interventions.
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Schools in other LEAs attended by pupils from Bracknell Forest
Area School Category Pupils Of which…
Wokingham Southfield EBD 17 6 residential Addington General 7 Learning Reading Avenue PD / MLD 8 Holy Brook EBD 2 Reading EBD 5 Alternative Slough Arbour Vale General 2 Learning Littledown EBD 2 Windsor & Holyport Manor General 21 4 residential Maidenhead Learning Surrey schools General 7 + 2 learning PD 1 Hampshire schools General (includes one learning 2 + 1 Social Services foster placement) Gloucestershire General 1 (Social school learning Services foster placement) Swindon School EBD 1 (Social Services foster placement) Wandsworth VI 2 1 residential school 68 Day pupils TOTAL 81 13 Residential
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Resources in other LEAs
Area School Category Pupils
Windsor & Maidenhead Altwood Secondary SLD 3 Charters Secondary PD 3 Wessex Junior HI 1 Reading Hugh Faringdon ASP 4 Secondary West Berkshire Westwood Farm HI 2 Wokingham Palmer Junior PD 7 Ryeish Green PD 5 Secondary Westende ASP 1 Whitelocke Infants PD 6
TOTAL 32 Day Pupils
Independent & non-maintained school (excludes children placed at parents’ expense)
Category Pupils Of which…
EBD 14 9 day pupils PD 1 HI 3 1 day pupil SPLD 5 3 day pupils VI 4 1 day pupil SLD 5 3 day pupils AUT 12 5 day pupils PMLD 2 MLD 1
TOTAL 47 22 day pupils
Categories: Abbreviations used:
EBD Emotional/behavioural difficulties PD Physical difficulties HI Hearing impairment PMLD Profound and multiple learning difficulties MLD Moderate learning difficulties SPLD Specific learning difficulties often of a dyslexic nature VI Visual impairment SLD Speech and language difficulties AUT Autistic Spectrum ASP Aspergers syndrome
Source for all data on Special Educational Needs: BFBC Education Dept, January 2004
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3 Changes since the publication of the 2003 – 2008 Plan
Reorganisation of primary school places (South Bracknell Review)
3.1 The number of surplus primary school places in South Bracknell was predicted to rise to over 22% by 2008 despite significant housing development in the area. This level across the area was not sustainable and therefore during November and December 2003, the Borough Council conducted a full public consultation on the options for the removal of approximately 500 surplus primary school places in South Bracknell. The outcomes of this were reported to the Executive Member for Education in February, who agreed to proceed to statutory consultation on the following proposals for change to primary school organisation in the area:
• the closure of The Pines Infant and The Pines Junior Schools and the opening of a new school to create a 210 place primary school on the Junior School site with effect from 1 September 2005, with a planned admission number of 30 with effect from 1 January 2006. • Fox Hill Primary School being reduced to a 210 place primary school with a planned admission number of 30 with effect from 1 January 2006. • The accommodation at Birch Hill Primary school being reduced to 449 places, as soon as circumstances allow, with a planned admission number of 60 being published for the school with effect from 1 January 2006.
Following the statutory consultation, these proposals were subsequently agreed by both the Executive Member for Education and the School Organisation Committee.
The Borough Council decided not to amalgamate Fox Hill Primary School and Wildridings Primary School, which was part of the Borough’s preferred option in the public consultation, in the light of consultation responses. It was possible to reduce the number of places at Fox Hill Primary School by taking the whole Key Stage 1 building out of operation and seeking an alternative use. This had been discussed during the consultation exercise and included in the Technical Background Document. However, to complete the necessary total reduction in places, the remaining reduction in this area of South Bracknell could only come from Wildridings Primary School. Because this element of the proposal had not been discussed in the original consultation, the Borough Council had to consult on this publicly as a separate exercise but still within the overall context of the South Bracknell Review. The public and statutory consultations on the proposal that Wildridings Primary School be reduced to a 315 place primary school with a planned admission number of 45 with effect from 1 January 2006 were undertaken during the first half of 2004 and the proposal was approved by the School Organisation Committee at its meeting in July 2004.
Change to Designated Area
3.2 The reorganisation of primary school places in South Bracknell also included the proposal that, from September 2005, the designated area currently shared between Harmans Water, Fox Hill and Wildridings Primary Schools will be solely within the Harmans Water Primary School designated area. This has been agreed by the Executive Member for Education
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Voluntary Controlled Schools seeking to become Voluntary Aided Schools
3.3 The School Standards and Framework Act allows for Voluntary Controlled schools to seek Voluntary Aided status. In May 2004, following a period of informal consultation, the Governing Body of St Michael’s C of E. Primary School, Sandhurst, published statutory notices to seek Voluntary Aided status with effect from September 2004 and is currently undertaking statutory consultation on this proposal. The purpose of this is to consolidate the strong links between the School, Church and the Diocese, whilst continuing to work closely with Bracknell Forest LEA.
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4 Policies and Principles Relevant to the Supply of School Places
Provision of Additional Places and Removal of Surplus Places
4.1 An analysis is undertaken which compares projected school rolls with the existing number of school places, using procedures established by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
4.2 Revised procedures are now in place for calculating sufficiency and the resulting new capacity assessments are included in this Plan. The outcome of the new assessments has seen a reduction in the number of surplus places at primary level and a very small increase at secondary level. Currently the DfES considers whether there is a “Basic Need” case (shortage of places) within a radius of 2 miles from a primary school or 3 miles in the case of a secondary school. Similarly the DfES expects LEAs to take action where there is a significant surplus of places in a school, i.e. over 25%.
Provision within the community
4.3 With the exception of some aided schools in Bracknell Forest, the location of schools is such that each serves a geographically defined designated area. For historical reasons, relating to the development of the new town, these schools are very closely related to their communities and identify with particular wards and parishes within the Borough. Schools are located so that they serve their local communities and wherever possible it is the intention of the Borough Council that the designated area boundaries of primary and secondary schools should reflect this. It follows that any new provision that might be necessary should also be positioned such that it serves its new community.
4.4 As part of a wider strategy to raise pupils standards of achievement the Council would wish to encourage governing bodies to consider widening the range of services and facilities that they offer for the benefit of pupils and their families within the local community. The Education Act 2002 includes a new power to enable governors to provide, in partnership with others, family and community services. There are many examples of relevant provision already located on Bracknell Forest school sites such as out of school clubs, homework clubs, study support, other forms of childcare, family and adult learning.
4.5 Schools have a key role to play in promoting community cohesion. To realise the benefits of living in a multicultural society there is a need for positive action. The Education Department has published guidance for schools on promoting equality of opportunity. Schools can provide opportunities for young people from different backgrounds to learn from each other: by encouraging through their teaching understanding of and respect for different cultures and faiths; and by activities in the community which help to build bridges between different ethnic groups. The ethos of provision within Bracknell Forest should emphasise shared values and common citizenship with a positive approach to celebrating diversity. 4.6 The policy for the provision of home-to-school transport is set at statutory distances. As a result of the location of schools, only a very small number of primary and secondary aged pupils qualify for assistance. Almost all secondary aged pupils qualifying for assistance for transport to a non-denominational maintained school attend Charters School in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. The majority of these children would also qualify for assistance if they attended their nearest school in Bracknell Forest.
4.7 In line with the Borough Council’s Local Transport Plan, efforts are made to reduce traffic congestion and to promote alternatives to the car. The Council has promoted ‘Safe Routes to
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School’ initiatives and other strategies to encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school. Schools are being encouraged and supported to develop School Travel Plans and a number of schools have now researched and published plans with more doing so in the coming year. It follows that plans for locating new provision should take into account public transport arrangements and alternative methods of pupils undertaking home to school journeys.
4.8 The picture is more complex with regard to education of a religious character. There is provision for children whose parents seek Roman Catholic provision for their children’s primary education both within the Borough and just over the Borough boundary in the south. There are also 3 CE aided primary schools. For pupils of secondary age, whilst there is provision for pupils seeking an education based in the Anglican tradition, there is no equivalent provision within Bracknell Forest for Roman Catholic children or children of other faiths. The home to school transport policy of the Borough Council covers situations in which parents are seeking a denominational education. A document outlining this policy is available from the Education Department. It is also published on the Council’s website www.bracknell- forest.gov.uk
Response to Parental Preference
4.9 It is the policy of Bracknell Forest Borough Council to meet parental preference wherever this is possible and in compliance with the law. The Borough Council has developed effective oversubscription criteria that are used in situations where the number of applications exceeds the Planned Admissions Number for a particular school. For some schools these have to be frequently applied in line with the requirement to provide an effective and efficient education. In all cases of oversubscription, officers of the Borough Council discuss the options with the headteacher and governing body of the school in question, bearing in mind the capacity of the school and the future impact of any short term decision. The oversubscription criteria are the subject of annual consultation. These are detailed in Appendices 1 and 2.
4.10 The governing body of the individual school makes decisions about the admission of children to Aided Schools in Bracknell Forest. These decisions are made on the basis of published admissions criteria. There are provisions for an annual dialogue between the governing bodies of these schools and the Borough Council over matters relating to the admissions criteria and their application.
4.11 The Borough Council carefully monitors applications for admission to all its schools and aims to meet parental preference wherever possible. Where applications for a school are consistently in excess of available places, the Council will work closely with the headteacher and governing body to assess the options available to meet parental preference. These options may include expansion. This option has to be balanced, however, against the requirement to use resources efficiently.
4.12 Where there is a need to establish a new secondary school within the Borough, the Borough Council is required to first seek proposals for the school from new providers before establishing the school itself. For the establishment of a new primary school, the Borough Council would work closely with existing partners, including the appropriate diocesan authorities to establish the new school.
School Performance and Improvement
4.13 Full details of how the LEA raises standards and improves outcomes for all pupils are set out in the Education Development Plan 2002-2007. Forty one action plans divided into eight priorities describe how standards will be raised and challenging targets met. Each plan has an assigned lead officer with detailed monitoring and reporting arrangements. Each school
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has an assigned attached adviser who uses the whole range of available data, including individual pupil level data and lesson observation information, to agree challenging but realistic targets on an annual basis with the headteacher and Governing Body. Each school is assigned to a category of need from 1 to 5 twice per year according to published and agreed criteria. Schools in the higher categories receive higher levels of support and monitoring by the LEA. This includes additional support from the Consultants for Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, science, behaviour and attendance and teaching and learning in the foundation subjects. Specified assistance is negotiated with individual schools to provide targeted support to improve outcomes for all pupils. This is reviewed at least annually.
4.14 A variety of measures are used to determine school performance including an analysis of end of Key Stage assessments and public examination results. The DfES publishes the test and teacher assessment data at the end of Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 for each school annually. The DfES publishes GCSE and A level results. In addition, reports are prepared for the Council, which provide an overview of school performance across the Borough. Information on school performance is also published by OFSTED, following inspection visits to schools. In addition, the LEA receives data from the Fischer Family trust which includes value added and data to assist target setting. Bracknell schools are involved in the Berkshire LSC Added Value Project.
4.15 Bracknell Forest has adopted a strategy of improvement at all of its schools and is seeking to make the designated school the first choice of parents (unless there are denominational reasons) in the area in order to strengthen communities within the Borough.
4.16 The School Improvement Policy, a key document within the Education Development Plan, sets out the procedures for taking action where standards are poor. This involves a process of increasing support and monitoring from the LEA. It involves discussion with the headteacher to agree a plan of action, followed by discussion with the Governing Body and further actions to agreed timescales if required. Each school is assigned to a category of need from 1 to 5 twice per year according to published and agreed criteria. Schools are informed of their individual category. The criteria include, amongst other significant issues, standards of attainment, achievement of agreed targets and judgements from OFSTED inspections. Schools in the higher categories receive higher levels of support and monitoring by the LEA. If schools do not respond to the higher levels of support and monitoring within an agreed timeframe, the Director of Education follows the LEA/Schools Code of Conduct and uses his powers under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to effect necessary improvements. This includes the use of the formal warning to governors and the appointment of additional governors. A group of senior officers meet twice termly with the Director of Education to discuss standards in schools and agree further actions as appropriate.
4.17 Whilst school performance is a factor in determining the location of additional places, in an area such as Bracknell Forest, with a growing population, it is likely to be a factor of lesser importance over the lifetime of this Plan. Over time, progress towards the targets in the Education Development Plan will influence decisions about school organisation.
Diversity of Provision
Secondary Education
4.18 Bracknell Forest Borough Council inherited a particular pattern of provision from the former Berkshire County Council. All of the secondary schools in the Borough are comprehensive co-educational schools. The Borough has no intention of changing this pattern of provision even if this were a realistic possibility. With the exception of the Aided Secondary School, they currently have the capacity to be of a roughly similar size. Through the delivery of its
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strategic objectives the Borough Council is seeking to assist all schools to raise standards to match the best.
4.19 Where secondary schools wish to apply for specialist schools status, the Borough Council will provide support to the Governing Body in the preparation of proposals. In doing so, the Council will take account of the needs of the whole community. A strategy has been developed in partnership with the headteachers of Bracknell Forest secondary schools which the Council adopted during the summer term, 2002. The aim of specialist schools developed in the Borough will be to raise pupils’ achievement across the ability range. They will do this by leading curriculum developments in their specialist areas, and by leading initiatives to improve the quality of teaching and learning, and the quality of management. Through sharing of resources and spreading good practice, they will also be active partners in a learning community with their local families of schools, their local areas and the wider Borough Council professional community. They will increase and improve participation in their specialist subject areas pre and post-16. They will model effective ways of ensuring that young people are provided with the skills (including ICT skills) needed to progress into employment, further training or higher education according to their individual abilities, aptitudes and ambitions. Four bids for specialist status have been successful; Garth Hill College became a Technology College from September 2002, Sandhurst School a Science College from September 2003. Early in 2004 Edgbarrow became a Business and Enterprise College, and Ranelagh a Business and Enterprise and Arts College. Two other schools are currently preparing bids to become specialist schools.
Primary Education
4.20 Provision of education for pupils aged 11 and under is more diverse in organisational terms. Some areas are served by primary schools, other areas by infant and junior provision on shared sites. Any decision about the creation of all through primary schools is usually one for governing bodies to initiate. The Borough Council would consider the relative merits of either form of organisation and consult as appropriate before making a decision on amalgamation of an infant and a junior school. One school, Sandy Lane Primary School, opened in September 2003 following such an amalgamation. Great Hollands Infant and Junior School amalgamated in April 2004 and one other infant/junior school pairing are currently considering amalgamation.
Denominational Schools
4.21 Primary sector - there is a range of provision for those parents seeking a denominational education for their children. This provision is situated across the Borough. There are two Catholic Aided primary schools and one CE Aided primary school in the Bracknell town area. There is a CE Aided primary school in the southern part of the Borough in Sandhurst and one in the north of the Borough in Binfield. Three primary schools and one junior school have Voluntary Controlled status. They are all Church of England schools.
Secondary sector – as far as provision for children aged 11 and over is concerned, secondary provision for those seeking a CE Aided school exists, but there is no Catholic Aided secondary school. Parents seeking this type of education for their children look to Reading, Slough, Surrey or Hampshire for appropriate provision.
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Early Years Provision
4.22 Early Years provision in the Borough is varied, as is shown in paragraph 2.5. There is an established Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership which is seeking to ensure diversity of provision in order to meet parents’ preferences and needs. In planning future provision the Borough Council will always seek the views of the Partnership and incorporate them into any proposals that it makes.
Specialist Provision for Pupils with SEN
4.23 Provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs includes an all age Special School, and a number of special resources attached to mainstream schools. Provision is also made outside Bracknell Forest.
Encouraging collaboration between schools
4.24 All schools are encouraged to share good practice and work collaboratively together. This is effected through a variety of networks which the LEA facilitates, including: Beacon Schools, Specialist Schools, Leading Teacher Schemes, Support Departments, Advanced Skills Teachers, residential conferences, Consortium working and the Leadership Incentive Grant. All schools receive information from School Improvement Plans on the priorities for improvement selected by other schools to promote partnership working. Secondary schools are collaborating in the 14 -19 arena and a steering group is coordinating these arrangements. Three of the six secondary schools are part of a collaborative plan approved by the DfES. In addition, meetings of teachers from every level of responsibility take place at least termly with senior officers from the LEA; these meetings promote learning within and between schools and frequently result in joint activities. Headteachers meet termly with the Director of Education where further networking is promoted. The LEA supports successful schools in their applications for Leading Edge, Training Schools and Specialist status, which require further sharing of expertise and collaboration with both local and other schools. Berkshire LSC has supported 2 Post-16 collaborative projects. The first involved a partnership of several Bracknell schools with Bracknell & Wokingham College to develop a 1/2 course for September 2005. The second involved 2 schools exploring the use of video- conferencing to deliver A-level teaching.
Appropriate Size of School
4.25 The size of primary schools (including infant and junior schools) in the Borough ranges from 139 to 572 on roll (April 2004). In organisational terms, this represents a range from under one form of entry to three forms of entry.
4.26 The Audit Commission defines a small primary school as one with fewer than 90 pupils on roll. Below this number unit costs start to rise steeply and it is difficult to support four or more teachers. With this in mind, the Borough Council has not sought to determine that a particular size of school is the most appropriate, but that each case will be considered on its merits. Given the current and predicted pattern of demand for school places in Bracknell Forest, the Council has not developed criteria that would prompt the review of the viability of a small school. The Council has determined, however, that the minimum size for a new school should be one form of entry (1FE).
4.27 Secondary schools also vary in size in Bracknell Forest. The range is from 534 to 1347 on roll (January 2004). Demographic features relating to Bracknell as a New Town have had a
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particular impact on schools within Bracknell itself over the years as a result of the close relationship between secondary schools and the communities that they serve. In considering the minimum size for a secondary school, the Borough Council would wish to be satisfied that numbers were sufficient to ensure curriculum provision to be sufficient to meet the needs of the pupils and comply with any statutory requirements related to curriculum provision.
4.28 The Audit Commission describes a small secondary school as one with fewer than 700 pupils for schools with sixth forms. It is the view of Bracknell Forest that a reduction in pupil numbers below 3FE for a secondary school would normally prompt a review. As far as maximum size is concerned, the Authority would fix the upper limit at 8FE, unless there were exceptional circumstances.
4.29 When assessing the viability of sixth forms, there are a number of issues to consider. The quality of outcomes for students is paramount, but other considerations such as the overall provision of appropriate courses and the impact of small group sizes on availability of resources for the rest of the school, need to be taken into account. Where numbers in the sixth form fall below a certain level it is likely that maintaining post-16 provision will require a subsidy from the rest of the school budget. This subsidy needs to be balanced against the other advantages having a sixth form may bring, such as attracting more pupils and better qualified staff.
4.30 In partnership with the Governing Body, the accommodation needs of the Borough’s Special School are closely monitored. The pattern of provision at the school is changing to reflect the greater integration or inclusion of some children into mainstream education and this process will continue.
Appropriate Size of Class/Teaching Group
4.31 The requirement to limit infant class sizes to 30 was statutory from 1 September 2001. There is a clear expectation that reducing infant class sizes will not adversely impact on classes in Key Stage 2. The Borough Council would not expect to see KS2 classes significantly greater than 30.
4.32 Decisions about the appropriate size of teaching groups are matters for individual governing bodies and relate to the internal management of the school. Teaching group sizes can vary depending on the setting policies of a school. Depending on the size of year groups, some children are taught in mixed age classes.
4.33 The Borough Council monitors class size within Bracknell Forest and provides analyses for headteachers and governing bodies through its Quarterly Operations Report.
4.34 The Borough Council, when determining provision for expanding an existing school, or for the provision of a new school, will use the guidance provided by the DfES related to classroom size and accommodation needs.
Post-16 Education
4.35 Following the publication by the DfES of ‘14-19: opportunity and excellence’ in January 2003, the Bracknell Forest 14-19 Steering Group was formed, with representation from all providers and partner organisations. The Steering Group adopted the Policy Statement for 14-19 Education, which embraced and expanded the principles outlined in the Review of Post-16 Education (2002).
4.36 The resulting strategy for post-16 education is designed to;
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• Increase participation and retention rates
• Raise the achievement of all post-16 students
• Develop efficient, integrated and high quality provision through cooperation and partnership, which ensures that the broadest possible range of courses and pathways are available to students
• Ensure that, through appropriate and impartial advice and guidance, students embark on the course most suited to their individual interests, needs and aptitudes.
• Ensure the viability of provision in terms of: - size of sixth form, as a whole and as separate year groups - group sizes that are appropriate for effective teaching and learning - the cost effectiveness of individual courses - value for money judgements for each institutions
• Ensure that the full range of achievements and contributions of young people to their school and the wider community are recognised, valued and rewarded.
4.37 The strategy proposes maintaining a sixth form in each secondary school, with options for collaboration between institutions, including a joint post-16 centre at Wick Hill. A range of approaches to collaborative working, including the development of e-learning, will be explored in liaison with all providers and the local Learning and Skills Council.
4.38 The LEA has established the mechanisms to facilitate the strategic planning of collaboration between schools, including the appointment of a General Adviser 14-19 and the establishment of a 14-19 Steering Group and a Curriculum Planning Group.
4.39 The Policy for 14-19 Education adopted by the Steering Group includes a commitment to develop approaches to collaborative working between schools and Bracknell & Wokingham College in delivering post-16 provision, including the development of e-learning. This is further reinforced by the agreement on the creation of a post-16 centre at Wick Hill. The new Centre would be under the Governance of Bracknell and Wokingham College but its main partner in the management of the Centre would be The Garth Hill College. This development is dependent on securing sufficient external funding.
14-19 Education
4.40 The LEA has instituted the organisational framework to take forward the 14-19 agenda, including the appointment of a General Adviser (14-19) and the formation of a 14-19 Steering Group. The membership of the Steering Group includes all providers and partners, including the local Learning and Skills Council, EBP and Work Experience Team and Connexions. A Curriculum Planning Group has also been formed and this will be supplemented by working groups to address specific issues as required, including value-added analysis, work-related learning and enhanced advice, support and guidance.
4.41 The Steering Group has adopted a Policy for 14-19 Education in Bracknell Forest which includes the principles guiding provision, an entitlement statement for all students and targets for development. Key issues have been identified as;
• the development of collaborative working at post-16 in order to enhance the range of provision, increase participation rates and raise achievement
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• the development of alternative approaches to the Key Stage 4 curriculum in order to promote flexibility and responsiveness to the individual interests, needs and aptitudes of students
• the development of teaching staff to enable them to become more skilled in managing and delivering a wider variety of different programmes and pathways for their students and in advising and supporting young people in making learning and career choices
• the development of work-related learning.
The development of alternative approaches to the Key Stage 4 curriculum, including the Increased Flexibility Programme, has broadened the opportunities for joint in-service training in partnership with Bracknell & Wokingham College. Bracknell and Wokingham College is working in partnership with local schools to provide vocational courses to pupils in year 10 and 11. The Increased Flexibility Programme is in its third year and is currently funded by the Learning and Skills Council. Pupils are able to study a vocational subject, leading to an appropriate GCSE or vocational qualification, alongside their other school-based subjects.
Alternative provision will also be available through Accelerator: The Bracknell Forest Motor Vehicle Project from September 2004. This joint initiative between Bracknell and Wokingham College and Bracknell Forest Borough Council will provide young people with vocational courses in motor vehicle related subjects. The project will offer both long and short term courses, providing flexible and tailored learning experiences for a range of learners.
4.44 The LEA is working closely with the local Learning and Skills Council in order to develop a strategy for 14-19 education in Bracknell Forest which is fully integrated into the Berkshire- wide context. This will be informed by the Strategic Area Review (StAR) which is currently underway and represents a comprehensive review of all post-16 education and training provision, outside higher education, in Berkshire. As an integral part of the Government's 'Success For All' strategy, this aims to raise standards, increase participation and improve outcomes for learners and employers.
In addition to supporting and responding to the Strategic Area Review, the LEA has facilitated the self-evaluation of 14-19 planning and provision by Bracknell Forest schools. This will support the work of the 14-19 Steering Group in developing the local strategy and preparing for the area-wide inspection of 14-19 provision.
Policy on Inclusion
4.45 The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 requires all children with special educational needs but without a statement to be educated in a mainstream school.
4.46 If a statement is maintained, the general requirement is that the child must be educated in a mainstream school unless that is incompatible with the wishes of the parent or the provision of efficient education for other children (which is taken to mean cases where attendance at the school would adversely affect the education of other pupils with whom s/he would be educated or would be incompatible with efficient use of the Authority's resources).
4.47 If the parent expresses a preference for a particular LEA-maintained mainstream school for a child who has a statement, the Authority must make the placement, unless the school is unsuitable to the child’s age, aptitude, ability or to his/her special educational needs, or the attendance of the child at the school would be incompatible with the provision of efficient
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education for the children with whom s/he would be educated or the efficient use of resources.
4.48 If the parent expresses a preference for a special school the Authority must meet the placement, unless the school is unsuitable to the child’s age, aptitude, ability or to his/her special educational needs, or the attendance of the child at the school would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for the children with whom s/he would be educated or the efficient use of resources.
4.49 Within this statutory framework, the Borough offers education in a mainstream school to all children whose parents wish this. It regards placement in mainstream schools as part of a continuum of provision for children with special educational needs. This includes special resources attached to mainstream schools; a special day school within or outside the Borough; a mixed placement, outreach or partial reintegration; day or residential special schools outside the Borough for low incidence high disability special educational needs.
4.50 The SEN and Disability Act 2001 requires each LEA and each school to prepare and implement in relation to schools an accessibility strategy to: • increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the curriculum • improve the physical environment of schools • improve the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is provided in writing for pupils who are not disabled.
4.51 Each governors’ report must include information on • the arrangements for the admission of disabled pupils • the steps taken to prevent less favourable treatment • the facilities provided to assist access • the plan to improve accessibility.
4.52 The Borough Council tries wherever possible to meet the physical requirements of inclusion in mainstream education for pupils with special educational needs. The Borough’s SEN review considered how to maximise support to schools for pupils at Stage 3 Code of Practice (now SEN Code of Practice School Action Plus or Early Years Action Plus) so as both to raise the standards of such pupils and to release funds otherwise needed for statements into such Stage 3 (School Action Plus or Early Years Action Plus) support. This is achieved through the work of the Educational Psychology Service, the Behaviour Support Service, the Pupil Referral Services, the Teaching and Support Services, the Language and Literacy Centre (primary age pupils), the Sensory Consortium Service the Education Welfare Service and the Child and Family Consultation Service.
• The Borough Council received support through the Standards Fund for a three-year pilot project (1999-2002) to develop inclusion and collaboration between mainstream and special schools. This was subsequently extended and is being evaluated and reviewed further.
• The Borough Council is developing use of the expertise of the special school for example through teacher exchange, joint or shared training and direct work in mainstream schools
• The Borough Council is developing the expertise of schools to address the needs of children with speech, language and communication difficulties through a pilot project whereby a specialist speech and language therapist trains school staff and works alongside them to assess and set programmes for children with these needs, with school staff then taking the main responsibility for work with children with less severe or
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complex speech and language needs. This is funded through the Standards Fund and takes place in two tranches, each of three primary schools, initially.
4.53 In April 2003 the Borough Council published its Accessibility Strategy, which plans for. • Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school curriculum. • Improving the physical environment of schools to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services. • Improving the delivery to disabled pupils of written information which is provided to pupils who are not disabled. This should be done within a reasonable period of time, and in formats which take account of views expressed by the pupils or parents about their preferred method of communication.
The Borough Council has also undertaken a survey of all school buildings to ascertain the necessary improvements required to allow for full disabled access. The results of these surveys have been used to prioritise resources available for this purpose as detailed in the strategy.
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5 Commentary and Conclusions
5.1 Overall in the Borough over the last five years the primary school population has fallen by 171 pupils (-1.9%) and the secondary pupil population has increased by 49 pupils (0.8%).
The forecasts for the next five years show the primary age population to be falling by 563 pupils (-6.5%) and the secondary age population to be increasing by 213 pupils (3.5%)
5.2 There is a predicted surplus of accommodation in both sectors by 2009, 1301 places, 13.8%, in primary and 491 places, 7.2%, in secondary. This reflects a significant increase in surplus primary accommodation on current figures and a reduction in secondary surplus accommodation.
5.3 Bracknell Forest is an area of potential housing growth, which will have a significant effect on the numbers of pupils. The effects of population changes and housing growth have to be assessed at local area level to provide sufficient suitable school places.
Bracknell North (pages 27-30)
Recent patterns trends in admissions
5.4 There has been an overall increase in numbers on roll in primary schools in the area over the last 5 years 340 pupils (12.1%). The majority of this is accounted for by the rapid increase in size of the new Whitegrove Primary School and a significant increase in pupil numbers at Warfield and Cranbourne Primary schools.
5.5 Whitegrove Primary School has taken additional pupils for the last three years, in excess of its published admission number in order to meet the demand for places for children reaching statutory school age within its designated area. Similarly, Warfield CE Primary School has also previously taken children in excess of its published admission number for two years in order to meet demand from the designated area.
5.6 The Garth Hill College roll has fallen significantly since 2000 but has now stabilised. Over the five-year period it has fallen by 53 pupils (-4.2%).
Previous changes in accommodation/capacity
5.7 Whitegrove Primary school was extended from I form of entry (1 FE) to 2 forms of entry (2 FE) in September 1999. In April 2001 an additional 60 places were provided at the school to accommodate pupils previously admitted in excess of the School’s Standard Number.
5.8 In 2000 Warfield CE Primary school was extended by 30 places to accommodate an additional 30 pupils from within the School’s designated area. The following year, 2001, a further 30 places were created through internal modifications to accommodate further additional pupils from within the designated area.
5.9 Sandy Lane Infants and Nursery and Sandy Lane Junior School were amalgamated to form Sandy Lane Primary School. No additional pupil accommodation is required as yet, but the new primary school has a new reception area, joint staffroom, central main entrance and administrative facility. The School has sufficient Key Stage 1 accommodation for 3 Forms of Entry but should Key Stage 2 require 3 Forms of Entry, two further classrooms would be required.
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Projected numbers on roll
5.10 The total roll of the Bracknell North primary schools is expected to decrease over the next five years by 258 pupils (-8.2%). Given past experience of the numbers of pupils produced from new housing developments, which are prevalent in North Bracknell, this will have to be monitored very carefully, particularly in the Warfield/Whitegrove area.
5.11 Due to various housing developments in the designated area, the numbers for Ascot Heath Junior School are expected to increase slightly by 3% over the next four years.
5.12 The roll for Sandy Lane Primary School is also expected to increase over the period, due to housing development in the designated area (redevelopment of the Town Centre).
5.13 Overall, the numbers on roll are falling in the other primary schools in the area, however the figures relating to Warfield and Whitegrove should be viewed with caution. The forecasts relating to these schools may now be overstated because they are heavily weighted in favour of the high trends shown over the last 5 years. We are now reasonably confident that there are sufficient places for all children at school entry age from the designated area to be admitted to Warfield and Whitegrove.
5.14 The numbers on roll at Garth Hill College are predicted to increase slightly over 4 years reflecting the increasing numbers of potential pupils of secondary age in the designated area.
Accommodation plans
5.15 There are currently plans to marginally increase the accommodation at Ascot Heath Junior School using Section 106** contributions from a development in Windsor and Maindenhead. However, the pressure for places at the School will have to be monitored carefully.
**Under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, councils are able to seek contributions from developers at the planning stage to fund additional infrastructure eg roads, schools or other community facilities.
5.16 Similarly, the accommodation at Sandy Lane Primary School will also have to be monitored, as the School does not currently have sufficient capacity to support its Published Admission Number. This will only be required with the development of new housing in the Town Centre.
5.17 There is no spare capacity at Whitegrove Primary School or Warfield CE Primary School and neither school can be expanded due to site limitations. In addition, some of the classrooms at Warfield CE Primary School are very small and cannot accommodate a full class effectively. There are sufficient places available in surrounding schools to accommodate pupils from this area who cannot be accommodated at either school if required. However, it is not anticipated that this will continue to be a problem.
5.18 There is pressure on the accommodation at Cranbourne Primary School due to the increasing numbers on roll over the last five years. In addition the site is limited and there are old temporary buildings on site which need to be replaced. A masterplan for the site has been prepared to illustrate how these issues can be addressed, and how the pupils can best be accommodated. A temporary classroom will be replaced with new build in 2004/05.
5.19 The Garth Hill College has agreed a collaborative sixth form centre with Bracknell and Wokingham College on the Garth Hill/Wick Hill site under the governance of Bracknell & Wokingham College. This would provide a new sixth form centre for pupils from both establishments and would require significant new buildings and reorganisation of existing buildings. The new 16-19 Centre was the subject of a bid for funds to the LSC and the new school building was at the forefront of the Borough Council’s Building Schools for the Future bid
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to the DfES. The predicted increase in numbers of pupils seeking places at the school will be carefully monitored should any additional accommodation be required.
Future requirements
5.20 North Bracknell is an area of significant potential housing development, including the town centre, and the current pupil projections will be revised in the light of detailed information on planning applications, as this becomes available.
5.21 The number of surplus primary school places is predicted to increase over the next five years by 468 places to 13.9%. This is particularly apparent at Holly Spring Infant and Juniors, Meadow Vale Primary and Sandy Lane Primary schools.
Bracknell South (pages 31-34)
Recent trends/patterns in admissions
5.22 The primary school roll has steadily fallen over the last five years by 383 pupils (-11.9%). A number of schools have seen their roll fall by over 16%; The Pines Junior School (-21.9%); Harmans Water Primary School (-16.9%); Wildridings Primary School (14.8%) and Great Hollands Primary School (16.8%). This has been caused by a number of factors; the falling birth rate in the older communities and minimal housing development in the area. The closure of the Joint Services Staff College has also particularly affected Wildridings Primary School.
5.23 In the secondary sector, Easthampstead Park School’s roll fell by 14 Pupils (–1.0%). During the same period the roll at The Brakenhale School fell by 139 pupils (-20.7%). The numbers of first preference applications for Easthampstead Park School have been constant for a number of years and the numbers for The Brakenhale School are increasing for September 2004.
Previous changes to accommodation/capacity
5.24 The Great Hollands Infants and Junior schools have been amalgamated to form Great Hollands Primary School. No additional pupil accommodation is required, and the new primary school has a new learning corridor, joint staffroom and revised administration areas. The School has sufficient accommodation for 2 Forms of Entry.
5.25 The accommodation at the Pines Infant School and the Pines Junior School has been remodelled to provide a more suitable environment for teaching the National Curriculum. This has reduced the capacity at both schools.
5.26 The accommodation at Birch Hill Primary School is being remodelled to provide a more suitable environment for teaching the National Curriculum. The capacity of the School will have to be reassessed on completion.
5.27 Wooden Hill Primary School has had an additional classroom under the infant class size initiative to limit classes below 30. It has also had additional accommodation to support the change in policy to allow earlier age of entry to school. Similarly, there have been some minor changes to the accommodation at The Pines Infants School to support this policy. Neither of these changes has a significant impact on either schools’ capacity.
5.28 A new library and ICT suite have been provided at Harmans Water Primary School.
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5.29 Crown Wood School has let part of the School’s surplus accommodation to SWAAY, an independent organisation providing education to a small number of challenging young people. Additional surplus accommodation at the school has also been taken up by basing the LEA’s Language and Literacy (LAL) Unit and Behaviour and Educational Support Team (BEST) project on site.
5.30 Taking the Annex out of use for music has reduced the capacity of The Brakenhale School. The Year 7 has been relocated into the main building from September 2003 and the School has now discontinued the use of the Annex accommodation. The Master Plan for The Brakenhale School identified a number of important improvements for the school in terms of access and the management of pupils’ behaviour. The first three phases of this have been implemented; the pupil social areas and entrance, the new reception area and new administrative area.
Projected roll
5.31 There is significant housing development planned in South Bracknell over the next five years; Peacock Farm (1,500 houses); Joint Services Staff College site -Ramslade (730 Houses); conclusion of the Church Hill House development (355 houses).
5.32 The total primary roll is expected to fall by 45 pupils (1.6%). This fall would be even greater if not for the substantial housing development in the designated area of Harmans Water and temporarily Great Hollands. Following the review of accommodation in South Bracknell primary schools, it is anticipated that the pupils from the Joint Services Staff College site will be accommodated at Harmans Water Primary School. The pupils from Peacock Farm will in the short term be accommodated at Great Hollands Primary. However, it is not anticipated that Great Hollands Primary will take the pupils from Peacock Farm in the longer term, as the new development will have its own school.
5.33 The housing development is all in the designated area of The Brakenhale School so its pupil numbers are expected to rise by 344 (64.4%) over the next five years. The Brakenhale School is also now the designated school for those areas of Bracknell that were previously in the designated area of Charters School in Windsor and Maidenhead.
5.34 On the basis of pupil numbers in the designated area, the roll at Easthampstead Park School is expected to fall slightly over the period by 149 pupils (-11.1%). However, it is anticipated that if the current level of over subscription at the School continues, this will not happen.
Accommodation Plans
5.35 As discussed earlier in this document, a major review of surplus primary places in South Bracknell was undertaken during 2003/04. The outcomes of the review are set out below and will have a significant impact on accommodation at several primary schools:
5.36 The amalgamation of The Pines Infant and The Pines Junior Schools to create a new Primary School with 210 places on the Junior School site with effect from 1 September 2005, with a published admission number of 30 with effect from 1 January 2006. This will involve modification to the office accommodation in the Junior building and provision of temporary accommodation for 2-3 years for the surplus of pupils in the amalgamated school. The Nursery would have to be relocated to the Junior school site, it could be a modular building, as in many other schools, or a permanent addition to the main school. Additional hard play area would be required. The details of these alterations and manner of provision for the temporary accommodation will be subject of consultation with the new amalgamated school governing body during the summer of 2004. The surplus vacated infant building will be available for suitable alternative education use.
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5.37 Fox Hill Primary School will be reduced to a 210 place primary school with a planned admission number of 30 with effect from 1 January 2006. This will allow for vacation of surplus space for alternative education use. The School can be accommodated in the Key Stage 2 building with some alterations. More detailed discussions are underway with the Governing Body regarding the practical aspects of accommodation use.
5.38 The accommodation at Birch Hill Primary School will be reduced to 449 places, as soon as circumstances allow, with a planned admission number of 60 being published for the school with effect from 1 January 2006. This will reduce the number of classrooms and allow for the removal of the double modular building.
5.39 In July 2004 the School Organisation Committee approved the proposal to reduce Wildridings Primary School to a 315 place primary school with a planned admission number of 45 with effect from 1 January 2006. The School will lose one single modular classroom and two other classrooms will be identified for an alternative use.
5.40 The Master Plan for The Brakenhale School identified a number of important improvements for the School in terms of access and the management of pupils’ behaviour. Some of these have been implemented and there are plans to proceed to complete these improvements as well as improvements to the sports facilities at the school and suitability improvements. These improvements are dependent on a capital receipt from the sale of part of the School’s site.
Future requirements
5.41 The Peacock Farm development is expected to provide 1500 houses in a new settlement. This will require a new 2 Form Entry primary school within the settlement reflecting the policies of providing schools for local communities and sustainable development. The development is due to begin on site in 2004, completing in 2012. To minimise the effect of a new school on the neighbouring schools, it will be built in stages and only commence after a certain number of new houses have been built. The Section 106 agreement with the developer allows for temporary accommodation to be provided on the Great Hollands School site whilst the new primary school is being built.
5.42 The Church Hill House development of 393 houses in the Fox Hill area is proposed to be complete in 2004. The primary pupils can be accommodated in the nearby Fox Hill Primary School and Wildridings Primary School. The secondary pupils can be accommodated at The Brakenhale School.
5.43 There are now 730 houses proposed on the Ramslade site, which was previously the Joint Services Staff College site. Following the South Bracknell Review of primary places it is anticipated in the pupil projections that the primary pupils from the development will be accommodated in Harmans Water Primary School. There will be a number of pupils subsequently displaced from Harmans Water Primary who are from the designated area of Crown Wood Primary. Should numbers at Crown Wood increase, there will need to be substantial remodelling of the School to ensure the accommodation is suitable. The secondary age pupils can be accommodated at The Brakenhale School.
5.44 There are 149 houses proposed on the Wykery Copse site and it is anticipated that the children from these dwellings will be accommodated in temporary accommodation at Great Hollands Primary School before transferring to the new Peacock Farm Primary school when this is completed.
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Crowthorne and Sandhurst (pages 35-38)
Recent trends/patterns in admissions
5.45 Over the previous five years the primary roll in Crowthorne and Sandhurst has decreased by 104 pupils (-4.8%). The fall has been mainly in the Sandhurst area (-7.4%) with the Crowthorne schools being relatively stable.
5.46 Most schools in the Sandhurst area have followed the declining trend to a greater or lesser extent, however, Broadmoor Primary School has increased by 19 pupils (11.2%).
5.47 The total secondary roll has risen by 244 pupils (12.5%), with both Edgbarrow School and Sandhurst School increasing by over 12%.
Previous changes to accommodation/capacity
5.48 An additional classroom was provided at Broadmoor Primary School through the infant class size initiative. Further modifications to the School have also taken place, to extend the teaching accommodation, funded through the Key Stage 2 class size initiative. These measures have slightly increased the capacity of the School.
5.49 Surplus accommodation from Uplands has been relocated to Wooden Hill Primary School to provide accommodation for its Nursery and to allow the School to accommodate the change to the earlier age of admission. This has led to a reduction in the number of places at Uplands Primary School.
5.50 The accommodation at New Scotland Hill Primary School has been partly remodelled to provide a more suitable environment for teaching the National Curriculum and improve the management and administration facilities for the School. This has not changed the capacity at the School.
5.51 A surplus double modular building at Owlsmoor Primary School has been relocated to Kennel Lane Special School to provide additional teaching space in response to rising pupil numbers.
5.52 The consultation in 2003/04 over the proposed amalgamation of College Town Infant and Junior schools concluded with a decision not to amalgamate. There are therefore no alterations to accommodation, with no changes in capacity.
Projected roll
5.53 The total primary roll shows a decline of 225 pupils (-10.9%) over the next five-year period.
5.54 The projections for the two secondary schools show an increase of numbers by 27 pupils (1.2%).
Accommodation plans
5.55 The remodelling of the accommodation at College Town Infants will proceed during 2004/05 to address suitability issues affecting the capacity of the School.
5.56 At College Town Junior school the predicted falling numbers on roll will lead to significant surplus accommodation, (over 25%). The Borough Council will be working with the school to seek to reduce this however, it would be imprudent to reduce any surplus at College Town Junior School
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due to the unpredictable nature of the influx of pupils from the garrison. The numbers on roll therefore need to be closely monitored.
5.57 There will be a significant increase in primary surplus accommodation in the Sandhurst area over the next five years. This will have to be carefully monitored in light of any prospective housing development.
Future requirements
5.58 A number of housing developments are proposed on the Broadmoor Estate that are not represented in the projections. These would have a considerable impact in Crowthorne as neither the primary schools nor the secondary school have any surplus accommodation in the short term. A further complicating factor is that the primary schools have limited scope for expansion on existing sites. These development proposals will have to be carefully monitored as to their impact on the schools concerned.
5.59 There are also proposals for a small development south of the Yorktown Road in Sandhurst. It should be possible to accommodate any additional pupils from this development in existing provision.
5.60 The number of surplus primary places in the area will need to be closely monitored and, where feasible, action taken to remove this on a school by school basis.
Voluntary Aided Schools (pages 39-42)
Recent trends patterns in admission
5.61 Over the last five years the number on roll at all three primary VA schools has declined, in total by 24 pupils (-3.6%).
5.62 The roll at Ranelagh CE School has increased slightly over the period by 11 pupils (1.3%).
Previous changes to accommodation/capacity
5.63 The accommodation at St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary School has been completely remodelled to provide a more suitable environment for teaching the National Curriculum. This reduced the overall capacity of the School. An additional classroom has also been provided to allow the School to comply with the infant class sizes requirement. In the last year, the administration area and staffroom have been remodelled to provide better disabled access.
5.64 The accommodation at St Joseph’s RC Primary School has been modified to provide for the teaching of a visually impaired child
5.65 The accommodation at St Michael’s CE Easthampstead has been remodelled in the last five years to provide a more suitable teaching environment. Further improvements and adaptations have been made to provide a more accessible environment and an SEN room.
5.66 There have been a number of building works at Ranelagh School, the objective being to improve the suitability, disabled access and management facilities at the School and not to expand its capacity.
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5.67 Ranelagh’s new sports hall was completed at Easter 2004. It has no effect on the level of accommodation at the School.
Projected roll
5.68 The Voluntary Aided schools are expected to continue to attract a high number of applications in the coming years, indicating that they will reach capacity and need to apply their individual admissions criteria. All the schools are likely to be over-subscribed, however all primary schools will still be affected by the general fall in pupil numbers in South Bracknell.
Accommodation plans
5.69 Ranelagh School has applied for and received funding from the DfES to increase the size of the School by approximately one form of entry. Preparatory design work for this additional accommodation is currently underway. It is hoped that the new accommodation will be available from September 2006.
5.70 Proposals for accommodation changes at the voluntary aided schools are the responsibility of the respective governing bodies and are discussed with the appropriate diocese and the Borough Council. Officers of the Council have termly discussions with the officers of the dioceses about accommodation matters.
Future requirements
5.71 The expansion of all the Voluntary Aided schools in Bracknell Forest is limited by their site areas. The governing bodies of the schools may consider future changes to their sites and would discuss this through the usual channels.
Special and Additional Education Needs
Access
5.72 All the Borough’s secondary schools, special school, Pupil Referral Units and primary schools were surveyed in 2003 to identify the improvements required to allow for greater access for disabled pupils and pupils with SEN. In line with the Borough Council’s Accessibility strategy, the priorities have been identified and resources targeted to these through the Borough Council’s capital programme and schools’ use of their devolved capital.
5.73 All current improvement projects for schools’ accommodation incorporate features to improve access to mainstream schools for pupils with disabilities or with special needs.
Special Education
5.74 The Best Value review of Special Education recommended that the Borough Council could significantly improve provision for pupils with severe educational and behavioural needs possibly by providing a local special school facility. Studies took place that identified that the financial cost benefits were potentially advantageous, whereas hidden costs in terms of management, recruitment and retention of staff especially senior staff, and maintaining viable numbers on roll were potentially disadvantageous. Work is therefore not proceeding to establish a special school for this group of pupils. As part of the Social Services Best Value
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Review of Children’s Services, consideration is being given to enhancing local provision for children with severe or complex needs both within and outside school.
5.75 There is currently a review underway of the future development of the Borough’s special school, Kennel Lane, and its accommodation requirements. This is due to present initial findings shortly, prior to consultation.
Excluded pupils
5.76 From September 2002, the Borough Council was required to provide full time education for all excluded pupils. To facilitate this, the secondary Pupil Referral Unit, College Hall, was extended by 15 places.
Early Years
5.77 In April 2003, the Borough Council opened the Family Tree Nursery in Bracknell Town Centre
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Appendix 1- : The position of the School Organisation Plan in the Borough Council’s planning framework
‘Shaping tomorrow together’ – a Community Plan for Bracknell Forest
The Community Plan provides the long term vision and ambitions for improving quality of life in the Borough. Responsibility for its development and delivery is shared by a range of stakeholders, including the Council, through the Bracknell Forest Partnership.
Corporate Plan ‘All of Us’ – The Community Cohesion Strategy
The Borough council’s key document to review all services and The Council’s approach to promoting community provide short and medium team policy direction. cohesion in the Borough in the medium and short term.
Education and Libraries Service Plan Produced annually, providing a description of education services, a review of progress over the last three years and objectives, plans and targets for the short and medium terms.
Education School Early Years Special Behaviour Library and Youth Adult and Asset Accessibility Development Organisation and Educational Support Information Service Plan Community Management Strategy Plan Plan Childcare Needs Review Plan Service Learning Plan Plan Development and Strategy Annual Plan Position Statement Brings together all Concerns the Sets out the Policies and Strategy for Plan for the Plan for the The strategic Strategy for the Plan for the action funded provision of plan for principles dealing with development development plan for improvement of ensuring that and managed by school places services for concerning the pupils with of library and of youth developing educational all schools the LEA to in terms of young provision for behavioural information provision. lifelong buildings and and the support school quality and children. children with difficulties. services. learning. sites. curriculum improvement and quantity. special are fully ensure that educational accessible. targets for pupil needs. achievement are met or exceeded.
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Appendix 2 Admissions policy for Community and Voluntary Controlled
Infant, Junior and Primary Schools for 2004/2005
Admissions process
Governors of Bracknell Forest Community and Voluntary Controlled infant, junior and primary schools will consider first those applications which are received by the published admission deadline.
Over subscription criteria
Children with statements of Special Educational Needs that names the school must, by law, be admitted. Any request for the allocation of a place to a child who is in the care of the local authority or provided with accommodation in that authority in accordance with Section 22 of the Children Act 1989 will be considered next.
If the number of requests exceeds the number of places (PAN) the following criteria will then apply, in order of priority:
For Community primary schools
1) Children who live in the ‘designated appropriate’ area of the school.
2) Children who have a brother(s) or sister(s) at the school, and who will still be attending school at the time of the applicant’s admission (excluding nursery classes). This will be checked as necessary before an offer is made. These siblings include children living as siblings in the same family unit and at the same address as the child and for whom the applicant has parental responsibility.
3) Children who have either strong medical or strong social grounds for admission to a particular school. (for example, a chronic medical condition affecting the pupil or any serious social problems in the family). These grounds must make it essential that they attend the preferred school rather than any other. These reasons must be fully supported in writing by the professional person involved in the case. Documentation must be attached to the application form. The LEA’s decision in these matters is final.
4) In the case of a junior school, children who have attended an infant school with close links with the school.
5) Children whose parents have any other reason for their choice.
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For Voluntary Controlled primary schools
1) Children who live in the ‘designated appropriate’ area of the school.
2) Children who have a brother(s) or sister(s) at the school, and who will still be attending school at the time of the applicant’s admission (excluding nursery classes). This will be checked as necessary before an offer is made. These siblings include children living as siblings in the same family unit and at the same address as the child and for whom the applicant has parental responsibility.
3) Children whose parents choose the school on denominational grounds (* see below). At least one parent or guardian must attend, or have significant involvement with, a church on a frequent basis. Confirmation from local clergy will be required.
4) Children who have either strong medical or strong social grounds for admission to a particular school. (for example, a chronic medical condition affecting the pupil or any serious social problems in the family). These grounds must make it essential that they attend the preferred school rather than any other. These reasons must be fully supported in writing by the professional person involved in the case. Documentation must be attached to the application form. The LEA’s decision in these matters is final.
5) In the case of a junior school, children who have attended an infant school with close links with the school.
6) Children whose parents have any other reason for their choice.
The following points should be noted for both community and voluntary controlled schools. If a school does not have places for all the children in one of the above categories, priority will be given to children who fulfil more than one of the admission criteria within each preference category. After this, if there are still insufficient places, and no distinction can be made between the applicants, a final decision will be made on the radial distance between the home and the school.
Where demand exists, schools admit up to their Published Admission Number and no places are reserved for pupils moving into their designated area.
Where schools operate waiting lists these will be constructed using the same order of priorities as set out in the admissions over subscription criteria.
Choosing a school on denominational grounds
• What is meant by denominational grounds?
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*It will be necessary for at least one of the parents or guardians of the pupil concerned to attend, or have significant involvement with, a church on a frequent basis.
“Frequent” is defined as at least twice a month for at least 8 months of the year in the twelve months prior to the published closing date for admissions or the date of application if it is an in year application.
“Significant involvement” is defined as follows, but must always be at the same level as frequent: a) Actual church attendance – where a parent or guardian takes part in a service of worship. b) Where the parent or guardian leads or takes part in Sunday School, or another church activity, involving religious instruction of children and young people where this takes place at the same time as the church’s regular service of worship. c) Where the parent or guardian is a member of a house church, with organised weekly sessions of open Christian worship, their attendance will also qualify providing it is endorsed by a letter from the house church leader. d) A parent or guardian who is house bound and who either receives the sacraments/communion or a service in their own home twice a month for 8 months of the year, or as regularly as the administering clergy supporting the application is able to provide it. e) A parent or guardian who has work commitments that preclude them from two attendances each month on the usual day of worship, can make up the aggregate figure by combining church attendance with house group attendance as long as they attend church on one occasion a month for at least 8 months of the year. A house group is defined as people meeting together to study the bible or pray or both, at times other than the weekly services of worship. A house group covers people who meet either in the home of one of the church members, the vicarage, church hall or other places where the attendance is open to all who worship at the church under whose auspices the house group is set up.
• How will proof of attendance be confirmed?
Application forms for voluntary controlled schools will all include the following section:
“I/we confirm that at least one parent or guardian attends, or has significant involvement with, a church on a frequent basis. I/we understand that frequent is defined as at least twice a month for at least 8 months of the year in the twelve months prior to the published closing date for admissions or the date of application if it is an in year application.”
If the applicant is applying to the school on denominational grounds they will then be required to sign or tick by this statement on the application form. In addition it will be necessary for them to pass the form to their local clergy for verification.
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There will be a section on the application form for the applicant’s vicar, minister or priest to sign to say that they can verify, to the best of their knowledge, the statement that the applicant is making.
The LEA does not include sub criteria which allow links between any particular church and any particular school. The denominational criteria purely relates to attendance at a recognised Christian church as defined above.
It is the responsibility of all parents who wish their child’s application to be considered under this criteria to ensure that their local clergy signs the appropriate confirmation and that it is submitted to the school by the appropriate closing date. Neither schools (nor the LEA) will chase up the information prior to making their allocation of school places.
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Appendix 3
Admissions Policy for Community Secondary Schools for 2004/2005
Consideration of first preferences
When places are allocated, priority is given initially to ‘first preference’ applications and then to second preferences and finally to third preference applications.
Allocation of places – over subscription criteria
Where the number of first preferences is equal to or less than the number of places available (PAN) all first preference applicants will be offered a place.
Children with statements of Special Educational Needs that names the school must, by law, be admitted. Any request for the allocation of a place to a child who is in the care of the local authority or provided with accommodation in that authority in accordance with Section 22 of the Children Act 1989 will be considered next.
If the number of first preferences is greater than the number of places available, the school is described as ‘over-subscribed’. The following criteria will then apply. They are set out in descending order of priority: a) Children who live in the ‘designated appropriate’ area of the school. b) Children who have a brother(s) or sister(s) at the school, and who will still be attending school at the time of the applicant’s admission. This will be checked as necessary before an offer is made. These siblings include children living as siblings in the same family unit and at the same address as the child and for whom the applicant has parental responsibility. c) Children who have either strong medical or social grounds for admission (for example, a chronic medical condition affecting the pupil or any serious social problems in the family). These reasons must be fully supported in writing by the professional person involved in the case. Documentation must be attached to the application form. The LEA’s decision in these matters is final. d) Children who attend a primary school that is formally linked with the secondary school. e) Children whose parents have selected the school for co-educational or single-sex educational reasons when the local alternative is respectively single-sex or co-educational.
81 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval f) All other applicants.
If a school does not have places for all the children in one of the above categories, priority will be given to children who fulfil more than one of the admission criteria within each preference category. After this, if there are still insufficient places, and no distinction can be made between the applicants, a final decision will be made on the radial distance between the home and the school within each preference category.
Second and third preferences will only be considered after all first preferences for a particular school have been met. All of the available places are allocated. Places are not held back for children who move into the area after the closing date for applications.
Where the LEA or schools operate waiting lists, these will be constructed using the same order of priorities as set out in the admissions over subscription criteria.
82 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Appendix 4
83 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2004-2009- final draft for SOC approval
Appendix 5
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