HCC Property Representations to Broxbourne Council on behalf of HCC services Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan Consultation

Appendix A

Hertfordshire County Council’s Education Statement

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HCC Property Representations to Broxbourne Council on behalf of HCC services Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan Consultation

Hertfordshire County Council’s Education Statement for Broxbourne Borough

1.0 Introduction 1.1 To assist with interpreting the information provided, the background to the current situation regarding school places within the Borough, together with a definition of the terms used throughout this document, is given below.

1.2 Details of the known expansion potential of existing primary schools are provided. This information is based on existing feasibility work and does not take into account the cumulative effect of school expansion. For example, where schools are in close proximity to one another the expansion of one school may be limited by the expansion potential of another.

Role of the County Council 1.3 Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is the local education authority and is subject to a number of statutory duties and responsibilities including:  Promoting high standards of education  Planning and commissioning school places in its local authority area  Extending diversity and choice  Co-ordinating admissions in the normal admissions round for all maintained and some academy schools  Resourcing the shared maintenance, improvement to, and provision of, the built school environment, and securing value for money.

1.4 In coming to a view about the most appropriate strategy in response to development growth proposals, HCC is looking for a solution which takes into account each of these elements.

School Planning Context 1.5 HCC has a duty to secure sufficient school places in its area, ensuring that every child has access to a school place. HCC fulfils these planning responsibilities by forecasting the demand for school places in order to identify an appropriate balance between supply and demand. It negotiates the right number of places on an annual basis, whilst in parallel undertaking longer term strategic planning.

Rising Demand 1.6 Hertfordshire has experienced a significant rise in the demand for primary places across the County in recent years in line with the picture nationally. The rise is not consistent across the county, with some areas experiencing substantial increases in the primary aged population, whilst in some more rural areas demand is less pressing or currently remains fairly static. More information on the rising demand is available through HCC’s strategy document ‘Meeting the Demand for School Places’, available at

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http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/aboutstatesch/demand/

Forecasts 1.7 HCC produces pupil forecasts every six months for both Reception and Year 7 demand. At a primary level, HCC publish forecast four years ahead and secondary forecasts stretch to 10 years in the future.

1.8 These forecasts are based on actual data of 0-5 year olds in an area, historic pupil movement as well as an assumed pupil yield from new housing developments. The secondary forecasts take account of an assumed housing growth trajectory for the longer term, based on information provided by Hertfordshire’s District and Borough Councils.

1.9 Latest forecasts are provided within the body of this response. These project demand for admissions into Reception and Year 7 (or Reception, Years 5 and Years 9 in areas which operate a three tier system) and do not include any margin. HCC would normally plan a level of surplus across an area to allow for fluctuations in forecast demand.

1.10 Further information on the methodology around the pupil forecasts can be found at www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/aboutstatesch/planning/.

New Schools 1.11 The way in which new schools are set up has undergone significant change in recent years. The County Council’s role as a commissioner of places is such that where it considered there is a basic need for a new school it must:  Seek proposals to establish an academy/free school; or (if unsuccessful)  Hold a statutory competition; or (if unsuccessful)  Publish its own proposals for a new maintained school

1.12 The County Council remains responsible for providing the site and meeting all associated capital and pre/post-opening costs in instances where the new school provision is meeting basic need. Therefore, the County Council continues to hold the key role in negotiating S106 contributions for, and the provision of, all school infrastructure.

Principles Forms of Entry 1.13 School provision is often described in terms of ‘forms of entry’. 1 form of entry (FE) equals 30 places per year group.

1.14 Primary schools have seven year groups from Reception through to Year 6. HCC has a preference for primary schools of 2FE or more, as this larger size provides improved opportunities for delivery of a broad education curriculum and staff development, as well as offering the ability to better manage fluctuations in demand. A 2FE primary school

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HCC Property Representations to Broxbourne Council on behalf of HCC services Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan Consultation

will have 7 year groups of 60 pupils (420 in total), plus a Nursery class where offered.

1.15 Secondary schools have five year groups, from Year 7 through to Year 11. With few exceptions (such as Cheshunt School), the secondary schools within Hertfordshire operate sixth forms, providing lower and upper years groups at Years 12 and 13. HCC has a preference for secondary schools of 6 to 10f.e. as this offers improved opportunities for the delivery of a broad education curriculum. A 6FE school will have 5 year groups of 180 pupils (1080 in total) plus a Sixth Form.

Pupil Yield 1.16 When undertaking high level school place planning related to new residential development, HCC determines child yield based on a ratio of 1FE per 500 dwellings to be 97.5% confident of not underestimating yield.

1.17 This is based on a study of 49 Hertfordshire developments undertaken by HCC’s demographer (c.2008). This work produced a yield range of 1FE per 500 dwellings (42 children per 100 dwellings/ 97.5% confidence) to 1FE per 850 dwellings (24.7 children per 100 dwellings/50% confidence).

1.18 The County Council applies the upper end of the range, 1FE per 500 dwellings, in the first instance to ensure prudent planning.

1.19 When considering actual proposals or planning applications, the County Council uses specific development forecasting models to ascertain more tailored demographic profiles, including pupil yields.

Developer Contributions 1.20 The co-ordination of new infrastructure provision to ensure that all development contributes appropriately to infrastructure requirements is an approach supported by HCC. We welcome an opportunity to continue with our joint working to determine the most effective trajectory for development. This will ensure that our services are able to deliver supporting infrastructure in a timely and efficient manner.

1.21 HCC is currently reviewing its Planning Obligations Toolkit to support the funding of infrastructure provision through S106 but we would seek to encourage the implementation of a CIL at the earliest opportunity. The cumulative impact of smaller sites can create additional demands and burdens on existing infrastructure which must be addressed through developer contributions. Since April 2015, the ability to pool S106 planning obligations is restricted and it is increasingly difficult to fund projects which mitigate the impact of smaller developments. The implementation of a CIL is currently the most viable option of supporting the development of these sites and the provision of infrastructure, particularly strategic infrastructure such as secondary schools.

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1.22 HCC encourage the development of masterplans for strategic sites. This assists in delivering a transparent process whereby each stakeholder is aware of their roles and responsibilities. This is particularly important where there are cross boundary issues associated with sites bordering neighbouring authorities, for example. It may also be necessary to consider how infrastructure contributions might be passed across administrative boundaries for cross boundary sites. For example, development directly adjacent to a settlement outside of your local authority administrative area might reasonably be expected to make contributions towards service provision at a neighbouring authority.

Site Size 1.23 School site standards have recently changed (School Premises Regulations 2012) and provide a much less stringent approach to school site standards. The County Council is now using the site areas that refer to Building Bulletin 103 area guidelines for mainstream schools.

Detached Playing Fields 1.24 A school should have all of the facilities it requires, including playing fields, provided on a single site.

1.25 There may, however, be situations where in order to provide additional school place capacity at an existing site a detached playing field may be required. For a primary school, this facility should ideally be located within 400 metres of the main school site and be appropriate to enable delivery of the PE curriculum.

Green Belt Boundaries 1.26 The Proposals Map appears to indicate that all school sites have been removed from the Green Belt.

Types of School 1.27 There is a diverse range of schools within Hertfordshire and HCC has the statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places within its area irrespective of how education is provided.

1.28 HCC is only the admitting authority for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools in the county.

1.29 All other schools (Academies, including Free Schools, Voluntary Aided and Foundation Schools) are their own admitting authorities, determining their own admissions policies and over-subscription criteria.

1.30 All admitting authorities’ admissions rules and policies must abide by the Admissions Code but HCC, in its role as commissioner of places rather than as a provider, has no power to direct schools that are their own admitting authority to provide additional places. Therefore, the

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provision of any additional places will require the support of the school at the appropriate time.

Education Planning Areas 1.31 For the purposes of school place planning, HCC is divided into geographical education planning areas (EPAs). There are a total of 22 secondary EPAs within the county and each of these contains one or more primary EPAs (PPAs). The forecasts are produced to planning area level, not to individual schools.

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HCC Property Representations to Broxbourne Council on behalf of HCC services Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan Consultation

2.0 Primary Schools 2.1 Officers in HCC Property have assessed the expansion potential in town planning terms of all primary schools in the Borough. The findings of these assessments are included in the information below.

2.2 The methodology that has been used to analyse the current position regarding primary school places in Broxbourne is as follows:  Assess school capacity/Planned Admission Number (PAN) as at July 2016.  Use pupil forecasts to 2019/20 based on children aged 0-5 using GP data; known housing developments; and mobility trends over the past three years.  Look at the possible effect on places within a reasonable distance of a school of any housing development proposed in the Local Plan.

2.3 It should be noted that the tables in the main body of text are there to illustrate which schools are located closest to proposed developments. The identification of these schools does not mean that they can expand if the proposed development goes ahead.

Strategic Locations/Larger Developments Brookfield Riverside and Garden Village 2.4 The proposals for Brookfield Garden Village include the provision of a 3FE primary school to meet the needs arising from the 1,250 dwellings allocated at this site and the 250 units at Brookfield Riverside.

Proposed No Proposed Primary School Provision Allocation Dwellings Brookfield 1,500 HCC would expect this development to Riverside provide for its own school capacity. A new and 3FE primary school is proposed at Garden Brookfield Garden Village to be well located Village to be accessed by all families living in the new housing.

1,500 dwellings equates to 3FE

Rosedale Park 2.5 Rosedale Park North includes the provision of a new 2FE primary school to meet the demand from Rosedale Park.

Proposed No Proposed Primary School Provision Allocation Dwellings Rosedale 715 HCC would expect this development to Park provide for its own school capacity. A new 2FE primary school is proposed at Rosedale Park.

715 dwellings equates to 1.43FE

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HCC Property Representations to Broxbourne Council on behalf of HCC services Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan Consultation

High Leigh Garden Village 2.6 Planning permission has been granted for the High Leigh Garden Village which includes up to 523 new homes. A new primary school site is included within the development.

Proposed No Proposed Primary School Provision Allocation Dwellings High Leigh 523 HCC would expect this development to Garden provide for its own school capacity. A 1FE Village site with the option to acquire land for a 2FE site

523 dwellings equates to 1FE

Cheshunt Lakeside 2.7 A new urban village is proposed at Cheshunt Lakeside to include 1,000 new homes. The development proposals include a new 2FE primary school.

Proposed No Proposed Primary School Provision Allocation Dwellings Cheshunt 1,000 HCC would expect this development to Lakeside provide for its own school capacity. A new 2FE primary school is proposed within the site.

1,000 dwellings equates to 2FE

Settlements by Primary School Place Planning Area 2.8 The information regarding the existing primary schools is provided below. It is given in Primary Place Planning Areas (PPA).

Cheshunt East, Turnford North and Turnford South

Proposed No Nearest Primary Schools Allocation Dwellings

Cheshunt 120 Holy Trinity or new school at Albury Football Club Rise SLAA Sites 47 Depends upon site location TOTAL 167

167 dwellings equates to 0.35FE

2.9 Owing to pupil movement across Cheshunt East, Turnford North and Turnford South, it is appropriate to consider these three planning areas together. There are seven primary schools providing a total of 285 reception places.

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2.10 The Cheshunt East PPA includes Holy Trinity (C of E) Primary (1FE), Millbrook (1FE) and Downfield JMI (2FE).

2.11 Turnford North PPA contains one school Longlands Primary School and Nursery (1FE).

2.12 Turnford South contains three schools Churchfield (C of E) primary school and Nursery (1½FE), Brookland Infant and Nursery (3FE) and Brookland Junior (3FE).

Cheshunt East Turnford North & Turnford South 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 Primary Schools PAN Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Total 285 251 252 243 259

2.13 Since 2010, in order to meet the rising demand for primary school places, there have been several school expansions within this PPA offering both temporary and permanent places. This has resulted in the number or reception places available across the area being permanently increased to 285 through the provision of an additional 49 places.

2.14 The current forecast indicates that there are sufficient places to meet demand. This will continue to be monitored. There is limited further expansion capacity within this area. Churchfield may have capacity to expand by 0.5FE to 2FE but no feasibility work has been undertaken to confirm this.

2.15 Cheshunt Lakeside lies within the Turnford South PPA. As stated above a new primary school is to be provided to serve this development. If this school is not provided there would be insufficient capacity within existing schools to meet the need arising from this development.

Cheshunt West

Proposed Allocation No Nearest Primary Schools Dwellings Theobalds Brook Field 100 New school at Rosedale Park Dark Lane 60 New school at Rosedale Park SLAA Sites 71 Depends upon site location TOTAL 231

231 dwellings equates to 0.5FE

2.16 There are five primary schools within the Cheshunt West PPA providing a total of 240 reception places. These are Dewhurst St Mary (C of E) Primary (1FE), Burleigh Primary (2FE), Bonneygrove County

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HCC Property Representations to Broxbourne Council on behalf of HCC services Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan Consultation

Primary (2FE), Andrew's Lane Primary (1FE) and Fairfields Primary & Nursery (2FE).

Cheshunt West Primary 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 Schools PAN Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Total 240 254 276 216 251

2.17 The number of places available across the area was permanently increased to 240 in September 2014 when Bonneygrove expanded to become 2FE.

2.18 Although the forecast indicated a shortage in 2016/17, analysis of actual primary applications following the deadline confirmed there are sufficient places to meet actual demand.

2.19 The current forecast indicates a shortage of places in all years except in 2018/19. Forecasts will continue to be monitored to ensure there are sufficient places available in the local area to meet need. The County Council will work with schools to agree temporary arrangements, if required, to meet immediate need.

2.20 Initial feasibility indicates that both Burleigh and Andrew’s Lane Primary Schools may have capacity to expand on a permanent basis by 1FE if required.

2.21 Rosedale Park lies within the Cheshunt West PPA. As stated above a new primary school is to be provided to serve this development. If this school is not provided there would be insufficient capacity within existing schools to meet the need arising from this development.

Flamstead End Ridgeway East 2.22 There are three primary schools within the Flamstead End Ridgeway East PPA. These are Flamstead End Primary (2FE), St Paul's RC Primary (1FE) within Broxbourne Borough, while Ponsbourne St Mary's (C of E) VC Primary (PAN 12), lies within Welwyn Hatfield Borough.

Flamstead End Ridgeway East Primary 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 Schools PAN Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Total 102 97 115 91 95

2.23 A shortage of places of 0.4FE is forecast in 2017/18 only. Forecasts will continue to be monitored to ensure there are sufficient places available in the local area to meet need. There are places available in the adjacent PPA of Cheshunt West and there is pupil movement across the area. The County Council will continue to work with schools across the wider area to agree temporary arrangements, if required.

2.24 There is no new housing proposed in this PPA.

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Goffs Oak Ridgeway South

Proposed Allocation No Nearest Primary Schools Dwellings North of Goffs Lane 80 Woodside South of Goffs Lane 45 Woodside Newgatestreet Road 25 Woodside North of Cuffley Hill - 3 sites 46 Woodside Oak Field 8 Woodside TOTAL 204

204 dwellings equates to 0.4FE

2.25 There are four primary schools within the Goffs Oak Ridgeway South PPA. Goffs Oak Junior Mixed Infants and Nursery School (1FE) and Woodside Primary (1FE) are within Broxbourne Borough, whilst Northaw C of E Primary (0.5FE) and Cuffley (2FE) lie within Welwyn Hatfield Borough.

Goffs Oak Ridgeway 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 South Primary Schools PAN Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Total 135 146 108 124 124

2.26 The current forecast indicated a shortage of places of in 2016/17. However, analysis of actual primary applications following the deadline confirmed there were sufficient places to meet actual demand.

2.27 To accommodate demand arising from new housing in Goffs Oak land is to be allocated adjacent to Woodside Primary School to enable it to expand to 2FE.

Hoddesdon

Proposed Allocation No Nearest Primary Schools Dwellings Turnford Surfacing Site 40 Cranbourne or Forres Rye Park 60 Cranbourne or Forres Broxbourne School 153 Broxbourne or Wormley SLAA Sites (Broxbourne) 72 Depends upon site location SLAA Sites (Hoddesdon) 158 Depends upon site location TOTAL 483

483 dwellings equates to 1FE

2.28 There are 10 primary schools within the Hoddesdon PPA. Wormley Primary (2FE), Broxbourne (C of E) Primary (1FE), St Catherine's VC (C of E) Primary (1½FE), St Augustine RC Primary (1FE), Westfield Community Primary (1FE), St Cross RC Primary (1FE), Sheredes Primary (2FE), Forres Primary (2FE), Cranbourne Primary (2FE) and Roselands Primary (1½FE).

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Hoddesdon Primary 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 Schools PAN Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Total 450 471 460 467 393

2.29 Although the forecast indicates a shortage in 2016/17, analysis of actual primary applications confirmed there are sufficient places to meet actual demand for September 2016. The current forecast indicates a shortage of places until 2019/20 when a surplus of 1.9FE is shown.

2.30 In recent years fluctuations in demand within this PPA have been managed by temporary expansions. In September 2016 Forres Primary School was permanently expanded by 0.5FE to 2FE.

2.31 Forecasts will be monitored closely to ensure sufficient places are available to meet local need. Initial feasibility concludes that both Cranbourne and St Catherine’s have site capacity to expand to 3FE on a permanent basis.

2.32 In addition, The Rivers ESC is located on a former primary school site at Essex Road. Feasibility work has been undertaken to demonstrate that, if required, a 2FE primary school could be located on this site either with or without the ESC. However, with other expansion options available in the locality, it is anticipated that this site would not be required to meet a need for primary school places within the plan period.

2.33 The additional demand arising from the 483 dwellings proposed in the Local Plan can be met through the expansion of existing schools.

2.34 The demand arising from the 537 units granted planning permission at High Leigh Garden Village and Kennedy Road will be met through new primary provision within the development.

Waltham Cross Proposed Allocation No Nearest Primary Schools Dwellings Northern High Street 300 Holy Trinity or new school at Albury Ride SLAA Sites 336 Depends upon site location TOTAL 636

636 dwellings equates to 1.3FE

2.35 There are four schools within the Waltham Cross PPA. These are Four Swannes Primary (1FE), St Joseph's RC Primary (1FE), Hurst Drive Primary (2FE) and Holdbrook Primary (1FE).

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Waltham Cross Primary 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 Schools PAN Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Total 150 139 146 146 163

2.36 This PAN was permanently increased to 150 following the expansion of Hurst Drive to become 2FE.

2.37 The current forecast indicates a small surplus of places until 2019/20 when a shortage of 0.4FE is forecast. Planning permission was granted in 2015 for the temporary expansion of Four Swannes although this has not been implemented as it has not yet been required to meet need. High level feasibility has indicated that it would be possible to permanently expand both Four Swannes and Holdbrook by 1FE.

2.38 The proposed additional places required as a result of the 90 units at Britannia Nurseries can therefore be accommodated by the expansion of existing schools in Waltham Cross.

2.39 HCC own a site at Albury Farm which is to be allocated in the emerging for a new primary school. It is proposed that this school could meet demand arising from the new developments proposed in Waltham Cross and Cheshunt East.

Summary Regarding Primary School Places 2.40 HCC consider that through the provision of the new school sites and proposed expansion of schools identified in the plan there should be sufficient primary school places to serve both the existing and new population.

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Table 1 Primary School Capacity September 2016

School Education Planning Current Expansion Comments Area Capacity Capacity Cheshunt West 1FE +1FE 1FE school in 2FE Andrews Lane Primary buildings Bonneygrove Primary Cheshunt West 2FE 0 No expansion potential Brookland Infant and Nursery Turnford South 3FE 0 No expansion potential Brookland Junior Turnford South 3FE 0 No expansion potential Broxbourne CE Primary Hoddesdon 1FE 0 No expansion potential Burleigh Primary Cheshunt West 2FE +1FE Listed building on site Churchfield CE VA Primary Turnford South 1.5FE 0.5FE Further feasibility required Cranbourne Primary Hoddesdon 2FE +1FE Initial feasibility undertaken (Hoddesdon) Dewhurst St Mary CE Cheshunt West 1FE 0 No expansion potential Primary Downfield Primary Cheshunt East 2FE 0 No expansion potential Fairfields Primary School & Cheshunt West 2FE 0 No expansion potential Nursery Flamstead End Primary & Flamstead End 2FE 0 No expansion potential Nursery Ridgeway South Hoddesdon 2FE 0 Permanently expanded to Forres Primary 2FE September 2016. Four Swannes Primary Waltham Cross 1FE +1FE Initial feasibility undertaken Flamstead End 1FE 0 No expansion potential Goffs Oak Primary & Nursery Ridgeway South Waltham Cross 1FE +1FE Requires use of detached Holdbrook Primary playing field Holy Trinity Church of Cheshunt East 1FE 0 No expansion potential. England Primary Highways issues Hurst Drive Primary Waltham Cross 2FE 0 No expansion potential Longlands Primary School & Turnford North 1FE 0 +1FE temporary expansion Nursery only subject to feasibility Millbrook Primary & Nursery Cheshunt East 1FE 0 No expansion potential Roselands Primary Hoddesdon 1.5FE 0 No expansion potential Sheredes Primary School & Hoddesdon 2FE 0 No expansion potential Nursery St Augustine's Catholic Hoddesdon 1FE 0 No expansion potential Primary St Catherine's Hoddesdon Hoddesdon 1.5FE +1.5FE Further feasibility required VC C of E Primary St Cross Catholic Primary Hoddesdon 1FE 0 No expansion potential St Joseph's Catholic Primary Waltham Cross 1FE 0 No expansion potential (Waltham Cross) St Paul's Catholic Primary Flamstead End 1FE 0 No expansion potential (Cheshunt) Ridgeway South Westfield Community Primary Hoddesdon 1FE 0 No expansion potential Flamstead End 1FE +1FE Requires additional land to Woodside Primary Ridgeway South be allocated in emerging local plan Wormley C of E Primary Hoddesdon 2FE 0 No expansion potential School (VC)

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3.0 Secondary Schools

Current Demand for Places 3.1 There are seven secondary schools across the Borough of Broxbourne, between them offering 1394 Year 7 places for September 2016, equating to 46FE. For school planning purposes, Broxbourne is divided into two secondary education planning areas, Hoddesdon and Cheshunt. There is currently surplus Year 7 capacity across the area, however there has been a significant rise in the primary population, with around 3FE of permanent primary capacity added and further additional temporary capacity in order to ensure access for every child to a local school place.

3.2 Despite this, the surplus is currently concentrated mainly in Robert Barclay Academy to the north and more significantly in Cheshunt School in the south of the area.

3.3 The table below details the schools and places available in the year of admission across the Borough of Broxbourne:

School 2016/17 Year 7 places available Cheshunt 150 Goffs 210 St Marys 240 Haileybury Turnford 182 The Broxbourne* 216 Robert Barclay Academy 171 John Warner 225 Total 1394 (46FE) *The Broxbourne School offered 216 places in 2016, an additional 10 places over PAN

3.4 The County Council is aware that a number of local Academies (who are their own admitting authorities) plan to increase the number of places available in coming years. Any additional places being considered by these schools are not included in the current forecast.

3.5 Current forecasts project a rising demand for Year 7 places across the area in line with the rise in demand experienced within the primary phase. These cohorts will work their way through to secondary, with the latest 2016/17 summer term forecast indicating Year 7 demand rising with a small deficit at peak demand (based on current PANs) forecast for 2022/23.

3.6 This forecast can be found at: http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/edlearn/aboutstatesch/plannin g/

3.7 The rise in forecast demand is supported by analysis of the cohort sizes currently living across the Borough which indicates around an

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8FE increase in the actual number of current reception aged children compared with the current number of Year 7 children. This cohort of reception aged children (totalling around 46FE) will be seeking a secondary school place in 2022/23.

3.8 Even without further demand arising from new housing, the actual existing overall school aged population living in the Borough is set to rise in coming years.

3.9 The forecast methodology includes a level of assumed new housing growth which remains uncertain pending Borough of Broxbourne’s strategic housing growth proposals through the adoption of its Local Plan.

3.10 Forecasts modelled to assume no housing growth at all indicate peak demand of around 44FE in 2022/23, which accounts for no surplus to reflect parental preference or fluctuations in demand.

Demand From New Housing 3.11 The Broxbourne Local Plan indicates a level of growth of 7000 homes to 2031. This could equate to a maximum of 14FE of new secondary demand (based on a calculation of 500 new homes equating to 1FE).

3.12 With the latest forecast projecting a peak demand from the existing community of 44FE, and the potential for a further 14FE of demand yielding from proposed new housing within the Plan period, potential secondary capacity for 58FE needs to be identified to ensure sufficient secondary places are available for the area in the long term.

3.13 It should be noted that the Local Plan period extends beyond the lifecycle of HCC pupil forecasts and therefore the demand from both the population (the pupils of which are not yet born) as well as new housing will continue to impact demand beyond 2025/26.

Capacity at Existing Schools 3.14 As indicated above, currently not all schools across the area are full to PAN and current forecasts indicate a continuing surplus of places across the area in the short-medium term. Significant surplus capacity in a school can place undue pressure on a school’s finances, negatively impacting on its ability to maintain a balanced budget and creating challenges to delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum for its pupils.

3.15 On 1 September 2016, HCC made public the work it is undertaking in partnership with Cheshunt School to explore options for its future, in light of its financial difficulties. (Updates on that ongoing work can be found at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/cheshuntschool.)

3.16 Initial property advice indicates that, subject to further detailed feasibility, there may be up to 9FE of expansion potential over and

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above the existing capacity provided (based on current PANs) in the existing secondary schools across the Hoddesdon and Cheshunt Education Planning Areas.

3.17 Should all expansion potential be deliverable and achievable across all the school sites in the Borough, this could increase the secondary capacity available to 55FE.

3.18 It is therefore vital that all existing secondary school sites across the Borough are retained and remain ‘designated for education use’ and that flexible policies are included in the Local Plan to facilitate development of school sites within the Green Belt.

Strategy to Meet Secondary Demand for the Future 3.19 With an assessed maximum potential expansion capacity of 55FE and a need to plan capacity to meet the potential for up to 58FE, HCC officers conclude that potential additional capacity at local schools is likely to be insufficient to meet the future demand for secondary provision across the Borough, beyond the lifecycle of the current forecast. Moreover, the potential expansion capacity in existing schools cannot be guaranteed and may not all be deliverable as this is dependent upon both the willingness and support of schools across the area and firm confirmation of expansion of buildings through town planning consents.

3.20 The County Council therefore seeks a reserve secondary school site to ensure sufficient capacity to meet anticipated future need beyond our current forecast period. The following section responds to the site search work commissioned by Vincent & Gorbing and its conclusions.

Response to site search 3.21 There is secondary pupil movement across the area with pupils travelling within the Borough to access a school place as well as coming into the area from Enfield and Essex.

3.22 Although it is recognised that both parental preference and admissions criteria impacts migration patterns, the County Council in its strategic planning role aims to ensure a well located spread of schools which encourages sustainable modes of transport and matches as closely as possible school provision with population demographic.

3.23 Analysis of where the current reception aged children live across the area suggests future pressure is greater in the Cheshunt secondary education planning area. When this analysis is overlaid with the location of proposed new housing growth, this suggests an appropriate match between the school capacity and demand to the north, with greater pressure in the south of the area, particularly round Goffs and Haileybury Turnford.

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3.24 Taking into account the geography and spread of the existing schools in the Borough (including the need for the Cheshunt site to meet future secondary demand), the preferred location of a new secondary school would be in the centre of the Borough close to the area of proposed significant strategic housing growth including sites being proposed at Greater Brookfield (3FE), Cheshunt Lakeside (2FE) and Rosedale Park (1.2FE).

3.25 Dependent on further feasibility work to confirm deliverability, the County Council welcomes the allocation of a secondary school site at Church Lane, Wormley within the draft Broxbourne Local Plan to secure secondary provision for the long term future.

3.26 In order to support the deliverability of this site for secondary provision in relation to financial sustainability, the county council requests this site is allocated as a school site but remains in the Green Belt apart from the build zone area.

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Appendix 1

School Expansions Process – School enlargement (prescribed alteration)

. Identification of need o Meeting the Rising Demand for School Places o Pupil forecasts o Engage with local Head Teacher groups

. Analysis of need in identified areas o Analysis of demand o Property feasibility work on potential for school sites to expand o Work with multi-disciplinary teams to identify possible options o Engage with schools in area of need to explore options

. Options Recommendation and decision to consult o Assessment of options against the Director’s Four Tests which considers whether the options: . Provide the right number of places in the right place to meet demand . Enhance capacity to raise educational standards, reduce risk of under-performance or serious weakness, and offer extended schools . Have acceptable implications for building design, environmental impact, and cost . Have acceptable transitional arrangements for affected pupils

. Statutory consultation on enlargement proposal

. Engagement with School on building design for enlargement

. Formal statutory decision taken by County Council

. Submission of town planning application for building enlargement, including external play areas and associated car parking requirements

. Project completion and additional places made available

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