THIS REPORT RELATES COUNCIL TO ITEM 09 ON THE AGENDA

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND EDUCATION

10 MARCH 2016 NOT EXEMPT

PLACING REQUESTS – RESERVED PLACES

1 SUMMARY

1.1 This paper identifies the number of places requiring to be reserved in Stirling’s schools during academic session 2016/17 to ensure there is sufficient provision for children at their local catchment schools. Reserving places allows the Education Authority to manage the admission to schools within the local area, ensuring that children arriving late in the catchment area can still be accommodated and that there is no detriment to provision of education.

1.2 The Council’s placing request policy takes account of reserved places. This paper updates the reserved places position for academic session 2016/17.

1.3 The list of schools at which reserved places are recommended is shown in Appendix 1. In addition some background information is provided in Appendix 2.

1.4 This year’s review takes account of the recently adopted Local Development Plan.

2 OFFICER RECOMMENDATION(S)

The Education Committee agrees to:

2.1 approve the recommended places to be reserved for catchment area children for session 2016/2017 in the schools listed in Appendix 1 to this report.

2.2 delegate authority to the Director of Children, Young People and Education to determine the allocation of reserved places at specific year stages in each school.

3 CONSIDERATIONS

3.1 Under the terms of the Education () Act 1980, parents have the right to express a preference for their child to attend a school of their choice other than the local catchment school. The local authority accommodates these requests where it has no resource or other implication for the requested school. 3.2 The Education (Scotland) Act 1996, as amended by the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000, gives Education Authorities the power to reserve places at specific schools for children who move into school catchment areas after enrolment had been completed. In some schools these numbers can be significant through build or other factors. These reserved places may be allocated to particular year stages by the Director of Children, Young People and Education, or nominated officer.

3.3 Stirling Council continues to experience pressure on school rolls in some schools. Several schools are under pressure due to housing development within their catchment areas. Provision for pupils moving into the catchment area needs to be made by utilising the reserved places legislation to reserve spaces within establishments and reduce the potential for alternative placements having to be made.

3.4 The Education Service continues to work closely with colleagues in Planning over the educational implications of new housing development. Given the current housing market, it is recognised that the trends identified in previous years are likely to change. Updated figures from the housing land audit have been used in the calculation of these figures.

3.5 Places are reserved on a combination of factors including:

• Anticipated capacity pressures due to planned house build within school catchment areas. Information on this is gathered from local land plan audit and meetings with the Council’s planning service.

• A history of late enrolment.

• A history of alternative placement of catchment pupils.

• Other known local factors that significantly affect pupil numbers (e.g. University accommodation, homeless accommodation).

• A review of the number of reserved places used in the current year.

3.6 The schools at which places will be reserved and the number of places to be reserved are reviewed annually.

3.7 Parents have a right to ask to place their child in a school of their choice. Placing requests are prioritised in accordance with Stirling Council policy. The Council does not have to accept a placing request where:

• to do so they would have to employ an additional teacher or provide additional accommodation either in this year or future years. • If parents want their child to be admitted to a stage of education for which the child is not yet ready, or to a school which cannot meet the child's needs. • The school requested has been provided for children with additional support needs, and the child does not have additional support needs. • If they think that a child would be likely to disturb the order and discipline in that school, or the educational well-being of pupils attending the school. • accepting the request would prevent the council reserving a place at the school for a child likely to move into the area of the school in-year. • accepting the request would mean that the capacity of the school would be exceeded in terms of pupil numbers.

4 POLICY/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS

Policy Implications

Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment No Single Outcome Agreement Yes Diversity (age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation) No Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) Yes Effect on Council’s green house gas emissions No

Strategic/Service Plan Yes Existing Policy or Strategy Yes Risk No Resource Implications Financial Yes People No Land and Property or IT Systems Yes Consultations Internal or External Consultations Yes

Equality Impact Assessment

4.1 The policy presented in this report was considered under the Council’s Equalities Impact Assessment process and the Equalities Impact Assessment undertaken has determined that the review of the numbers associated with this policy will have a minor positive impact ensuring equality of access to groups who move into the area outwith the normal enrolment cycle who wish to access their catchment school (including Gypsy and traveller groups).

Strategic Environmental Assessment

4.2 The contents of this report were considered under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and a strategic environmental assessment is not required.

Single Outcome Agreement

4.3 Adopting the recommendations within this report support the Single Outcome agreements outcomes of Communities are well served better connected, improved support for disadvantaged and vulnerable families and individuals and improved opportunities for learning, training and work.

Other Policy Implications

4.4 Sustainability – This policy reduces the need to alternatively place pupils which can result in increased levels of transport.

4.5 Strategic Plan – ensuring that service delivery is effective and efficient.

4.6 Service Plan – to ensure provision of high quality learning and teaching environments. Resource Implications

4.7 By reserving places, it ensures that the service reduces potential expenditure on alternative placements and uses staffing and property resources efficiently.

Consultations

4.8 As part of this process Headteachers, Education Officers and Officers from Planning have been consulted in reviewing the levels of places.

Tick ( ) to confirm and add relevant initials The appropriate Convener(s), Vice Convener(s), Portfolio Holder and AB Depute Portfolio Holder have been consulted on this report MB The Chief Executive or Director has been consulted on this report as DL appropriate

5 BACKGROUND PAPERS

5.1 The Education (Scotland) Act 1996

5.2 The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000

5.3 The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010

5.4 Placing Requests – Reserved Places, Education Committee 8 January 2015.

6 APPENDICES

6.1 Appendix 1 – Placing Requests - Reserved Places (Current and Proposed)

6.2 Appendix 2 – Placing Requests – School Analysis

6.3 Appendix 3 – EqIA Relevance Check Form

6.4 Appendix 4 – Equality Impact Assessment Form

Author(s) Name Designation Telephone Number/E-mail

Colin McMenemy Planning and Performance Ext33220 Officer [email protected]

Michael Boyle Education Business Manager Ext33215 [email protected]

Approved by Name Designation Signature

David Leng Director of Children, Young People and Education

Date 18 February 2016 Service Reference

Appendix 1

STIRLING COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICES

Placing Requests – Reserved Places (Current and Proposed)

Reserved Reserved Late Reserved Places Places Enrolments Places Current Proposed 2014/2015 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017

Secondary

Balfron High School 16 17 17 17 Bannockburn High School 8 10 10 10 Dunblane High School 23 15 15 20 Stirling High School 16 20 20 15 St Modan’s High School 27 15 15 15 Wallace High School 34 15 15 20

Primary

Allan’s Primary School 20 8 8 8 Primary School 11 6 6 8 Bannockburn Primary School 18 10 10 10 Braehead Primary School 16 10 10 10 Bridge of Allan Primary School 11 10 10 10 Callander Primary School 23 8 8 10 Cornton Primary School 7 10 10 7 Doune Primary School 14 10 10 10 Primary School 3 6 6 3 Dunblane Primary School 35 16 16 16 East Plean Primary School 6 10 10 5 Primary School 3 4 4 3 Primary School 6 4 4 4 Newton Primary School 21 12 12 14 Riverside Primary School 38 15 15 16 St Ninian’s Primary School 12 15 15 12 St Mary’s RC Primary, B’burn 6 10 10 8 Primary School 13 3 3 3 St Margaret’s RC Primary 3 6 3 4

In proposing the number of reserved places for each school, account has been taken of specific local circumstances pertaining to each school. Also, the reserved places take account of particular pressures in relation to proposed new housing in certain school catchment areas.

Appendix 2

STIRLING COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICES

Placing Requests – School Analysis

SECONDARY SECTOR

BALFRON HIGH SCHOOL

The occupancy level at Balfron High School remains high at 92%. Last session the school had 17 late enrolments, slightly lower than the previous year. It is recommended to retain reserved places at 16.

BANNOCKBURN HIGH SCHOOL

Bannockburn High School is at 71% occupancy, down from 73% occupancy. The school has a relatively low level of late enrolments, 8last session. It is recognised that Bannockburn High School will have substantial build within the school catchment as identified in the Local Development Plan. It is unlikely that this will impact on the school enrolment for 2015-2016. It is recommended that reserved places remain at 10.

DUNBLANE HIGH SCHOOL

Dunblane High School is at 90% occupancy. The school continues to experience a history of late enrolments with 23 this session. This is nearly double the 12 of the previous year. It is recommended to increase the reserved places to 20.

STIRLING HIGH SCHOOL

The occupancy at Stirling High School remains stable at approximately 70% occupancy. Significant current and planned development is taking place within the school’s catchment area. The school continues to have a history of late enrolments, 16 last session, slightly higher than the previous year. The school, however, is not experiencing the historically high levels of late enrolment and it is therefore recommended to retain the number of reserved places at 15.

ST MODAN’S HIGH SCHOOL

St Modan’s High School is at 74% occupancy. The school had 27 late enrolments last session, over double the 12 from the previous year. Given its large geographic catchment area, the planned levels of housing across Stirling and Clackmannanshire are likely to result in a significant number of additional pupils over the next 10 years. It is proposed to increase the existing level of reserved places to 20 and continue to monitor the impact on the school roll. WALLACE HIGH SCHOOL

The roll of Wallace High School is rising and is at 76% occupancy. This year the school has continued to experience high levels of late enrolments with the level of late enrolments rising to 34, slightly higher than 28 in the previous year. A number of housing developments remain in the school catchment and current planning applications indicate the potential for other developments at the same level as the previous year. It is recommended to increase current levels of reserved places to 20 and continue to monitor the impact of build within the catchment area.

PRIMARY SECTOR

ALLAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school is currently at 78% occupancy. The school has experienced 20 late enrolments, much higher than the 5 late enrolments last year. Given the level of occupancy and increase in late enrolments it is proposed to increase the number of reserved places to 8.

BALFRON PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school is currently at 86% occupancy. The number of late enrolments remained similar at 11, compared to 10 last year. As such the recommendation is to retain the number of reserved places at 8.

BANNOCKBURN PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 18 late enrolments last session, up from 9. The school is currently at 65% occupancy, but significant development is identified in the Local Development Plan within the Bannockburn area. It is proposed to retain the number of reserved places at 10 this year.

BRAEHEAD PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school remains at 82% occupancy. The school continues to experience late enrolments up from 11 last year to 16 this year. It is recommended to retain reserved places at 10.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 11 late enrolments this session, which is slightly higher than last year. The school is currently at 77% occupancy. In addition, the school is the catchment primary school for children resident on the Stirling University Campus. It is proposed to retain the level of reserved places at 10.

CALLANDER PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school is currently at 80% occupancy. The school had 23 late enrolments last year, up from 12 the previous year. The National Park plan identifies the potential for significant housing build within the village, however this is unlikely to make any impact on session 2015-2016 enrolments. It is recommended to increase reserved places to 10. CORNTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school has had 7 late enrolments this session, identical to the previous session. The school is currently at 70% occupancy, down from 72%, with the addition of the former nursery accommodation to the school capacity. There is no substantial planned development within the catchment area. On the basis of a reducing number of late enrolments, placing requests and house builds it is recommended to reduce the number of reserved places to 7 and continue to monitor future rolls, migration and late enrolment.

DOUNE PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school remains at 78% occupancy. Last year the school experienced 2 late enrolments. There is continuing build within the village and this is likely to continue for a number of years. There has also been a substantial reduction in migration from the catchment area of Deanston Primary School. As such it is recommended to retain the number of reserved places to 7 to accommodate late enrolment and ongoing house build.

DRYMEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school has had 3 late enrolments this session, which is up from 2 last year. Some build is timed over the next academic year and as such is likely to generate a number of pupils. The school is currently at 71% occupancy. It is recommended to reduce reserved places to 3.

DUNBLANE PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 35 late enrolments last session, up from 15 the previous year. There remains some housing development within the school catchment area. The school is currently at 89% occupancy. It is recommended to increase the number of reserved places to 16 for session 2016 – 2017.

EAST PLEAN PRIMARY SCHOOL

East Plean Primary School had 6 late enrolments similar to the previous year. The school is currently at 68% occupancy. Whilst there is substantial planned housing development within the school catchment area, there is no sign of this starting at present. As such it is proposed to retain the number of reserved places at 5.

KILLEARN PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 3 late enrolments compared to 1 in the previous year. The school is currently at 67% occupancy. The local development plan highlights a small amount of development within the village, which can be accommodated within the existing capacity. It is therefore proposed to retain the number of reserved places at 4.

KIPPEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 6 late enrolments last session compared to none in the previous year. The school is currently at 73% occupancy. There is little planned housing in the village over the early years of the Local Development Plan. It is therefore recommended to retain reserved places to 4.

NEWTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 21 late enrolments last year, up from 15 the previous year. The school is currently at 84% occupancy. No significant build was completed during the year. A number of small developments are planned within the catchment area. It is recommended to increase the number of reserved places to 14. RIVERSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Riverside Primary School had 38 late enrolments over the last year, up from 14 in the previous year. The school is currently at 91% occupancy. Both planned and current housing development within the catchment area is significant. Recognising the level of late enrolments, it is recommended to increase to 15 reserved places across all levels within the school. If required, a small allocation can be used towards Gaelic Medium or Language and Communication provision.

ST NINIAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had similar numbers of late enrolments last session – 12, compared to 13 the previous year. The school is currently at 79% occupancy. There is ongoing development at the former Stirling High School site and planned housing development at the Stirling Royal Infirmary site. It is recommended to retain reserved places at 15.

ST MARY’S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL, BANNOCKBURN

The school had 6 late enrolments last session, up from 5 in the previous year. A substantial amount of development is also taking place in the extended catchment area of the school. The school is currently at 74% occupancy. It is proposed to reduce reserved places to 8.

STRATHBLANE PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 13 late enrolments, up from 5 in the previous year. There is no substantial build within the area. It is proposed to retain the number of reserved places at 3. The school is currently at 75% occupancy.

ST MARGARET’S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school had 5 late enrolments last session, up from 1 the previous year. The school is currently at 52% occupancy. An initial planning application for approx. 400 houses has been submitted and this is likely to increase the occupancy of the school. It is recommended to increase the number of reserved places to 4.