CONSULTATION DOCUMENT PROPOSED EXPANSION FOR

Hassall Road, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2HR Headteacher: Mr Richard Middlebrook Tel: 01270 871100 Email: [email protected]

Consultation document for a proposal to permanently expand Alsager School

Consultation period 26th June 2017 to 24st July 2017 This consultation document sets out:  Information about Alsager School  Why we need more school places in the Alsager area  Why we are proposing that Alsager School expands  The expansion proposal  How you can give your views  What happens after the consultation  The consultation timetable

Alsager School Alsager School is part of Alsager Multi Academy Trust and is located at Road, Alsager, Stoke- on-Trent ST7 2HR. The school normally would admit 235 children into the cohort of each year. Due to exceptional demand, appeals and an increase in Looked After Children and Children with an Education Healthcare Plan the school has admitted more than this number in 2 of the previous 3 years and will again for September 2017. Due to significant housing developments creating the need for additional places, as well as the current basic need for more pupil places as evidenced by applications over the past 3 years, the proposal is to permanently expand the school from a PAN (pupil admission number) of 235 to 265. This would start in September 2019 with Year 7 only.

Why do we need more secondary school places in Alsager? The council has a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient pupil places to meet the current and future demand for pupil places.

Similar to other areas in East, Alsager has been facing a growth in the demand for places driven by:

 Housing developments in the Alsager area  In the past three years and this current year the school has been oversubscribed

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CONSULTATION DOCUMENT PROPOSED EXPANSION FOR ALSAGER SCHOOL

The forecasts for pupil numbers in this area, based on October 2015 school census data, show a continuing need for growth. The 2% level of operational surplus is intended to facilitate admission mid year, some degree of parental choice and reasonable journey times to school.

Alsager Secondary - Pupil Forecasts (years7-11) Alsager Secondary - Pupil Forecasts (years7-11) Shortfall (-) or Surplus places (+) including 2% operational surplus 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 56 -1 -66 -105 90 -76 -71 33 -24 -89 -128 -113 -99 -94

Updated pupil forecasts using October 2016 School Census data further support the proposed change for Alsager of 150 additional places which, if approved, would allow for an increase of 30 places per year group, phased in on a yearly basis from 2019 to 2023. The 2016 interim forecasts, which include housing developments with planning approval at April 2017, indicate a shortfall in capacity of 63 places from 2018 increasing to a need for 124 pupil places by 2023. By including a 2% operational surplus for this planning area the need increases to 147 school places by 2023. This is shown in the table below.

Alsager Secondary - Pupil Forecasts (years7-11) Alsager Secondary - Pupil Forecasts (years7-11) Shortfall (-) or Surplus places (+) including 2% operational surplus 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 7 -63 -95 -114 -122 -127 -124 -16 -86 -118 -137 -145 -150 -147

Why are we proposing that Alsager School expands? There are several criteria looked at when deciding to expand a school.  Size of school site  Parental preference  Standards (OFSTED rating)  Proximity and catchment area of the housing developments  Alsager School is the only secondary school serving the Alsager area.

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CONSULTATION DOCUMENT PROPOSED EXPANSION FOR ALSAGER SCHOOL

The school has received more applications for places than the 235 PAN over the past three years. Our anticipated numbers on roll for September 2017 are:-

Year Group NOR 7 237 8 240 9 246 10 235 11 188 total years 7-11 1146

Sixth form 132 first preferences + 12 external 12 applications 13 112 Total sixth form 256

OVERALL TOTAL 1402* The school's current net capacity is 1377.

Alsager School is currently rated as ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED.

The expansion proposal If the proposal goes ahead, 30 additional places will be offered to children applying for year 7 places from September 2019. This means that construction will have to take place to enlarge the school ready for September 2019. This construction will create more teaching space and enhance/ facilities to the school. The school will eventually receive additional funding for the increase in pupils to allow for extra teachers and the resources and equipment needed to accommodate extra children. The school would continue to add an extra class every year until September 2023 where it will have 265 children per year group equating to 1325 children from year 7 to year 11 based on the PAN.

As a result of the increase in years 7-11, it is anticipated that post 16 numbers will also increase to approximately 250 students (currently approximately 225).

In considering this proposal a feasibility study has been commissioned to explore different options for the site and the possibilities for the construction project including all associated costs. The details of these options will be negotiated with the school’s representatives and their architects in partnership with to ensure minimum disruption to existing pupils in the creation of high quality learning spaces and facilities to meet the needs of the local community.

How can you give your views?

We will be holding a drop in session at the school on Tuesday 11th July 2017 at 5.00pm - 6.00pm. At this meeting representatives from the local authority and school will be available to talk about the proposal and seek views.

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CONSULTATION DOCUMENT PROPOSED EXPANSION FOR ALSAGER SCHOOL

You can also:  Complete the attached paper questionnaire and hand it into the school office or post it to , School Organisation and Capital Strategy, Floor 2. C/O Municipal Building, Earle Street, CW1 2BJ by the closing date of 24 July 2017.

 Complete the Electronic Survey on line at:- http://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/AlsagerConsultation/

What happens after the consultation?

All the feedback will be collated and reported back to the Governing Body of Alsager School. They will make a decision on whether to go ahead with the expansion based upon the feedback and the pressure of places in the area. In addition the Local Authority will consider the feedback received in order to approve the funding of the proposal.

If a decision to expand is taken* then the school will notify the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) which will include the responses to the consultation and the schools response to that. The Secretary of State will then consider the proposed expansion, and the EFA will notify the school of the Secretary of State’s decision regarding the proposal.

*This is all subject to the usual Section 77 requirements and relevant planning permissions.

Process 1. The school carries out a 4 week consultation with stakeholders including parents/carers and local residents 2. Drop in session at the school 3. Responses collated 4. Outcomes report produced 5. Secretary of State approval requested 6. Approval or rejection from the Secretary of State 7. ESFA notifies the school of the decision and takes necessary action 8. The school implements proposed change (if approved)

Timetable

Event When 1 Start of consultation 26 June 2017 2 Public drop in session 11 July 2017 3 Consultation closes 24 July 2017 5 Governing Body consider feedback 13th September 2017 6 Approval from Secretary of State TBC sought 7 Secretary of State considers proposal TBC 8 ESFA notifies school of decision TBC 9 Implementation of proposal September 2019

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