DRAFT School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement October 2005 Education, Children’s Services & Libraries
© BFBC 1 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.
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Table of Contents 1 Introduction...... 4
1.1 Why Plan School Places?...... 4
1.2 The Purpose of the School Organisation Plan ...... 5
1.3 The School Organisation Committee ...... 6
1.4 The Timetable ...... 7
2 Information Relating to the Supply of School Places...... 8
2.1 Demographic Background ...... 8
2.2 2001 Census Data...... 8
2.3 Structure of School Provision...... 10
2.4 Provision of Early Education Places ...... 11
2.5 Post-16 Provision ...... 12
2.6 Pupil Mobility ...... 13
2.7 Pupil Ethnicity, Gender and Free School Meals Eligibility ...... 14
2.8 Provision for Pupils ‘Out of School’...... 15
2.9 Education Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS) ...... 16
2.10 Pupil Forecasting...... 17
2.11 Pupils in the Authority and Projected Pupil Numbers ...... 18
2.12 Housing development and phasings...... 39
2.13 Surplus Places ...... 40
2.14 Special Educational Needs...... 41
3 Changes since publication of 2004-2009 plan...... 45
4 Commentary and Conclusions ...... 46
4.1 Bracknell North...... 46
4.2 Bracknell South ...... 48
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4.3 Crowthorne and Sandhurst...... 51
4.4 Voluntary Aided Schools...... 52
4.5 Special and Additional Education Needs ...... 53
4.6 Excluded Pupils...... 55
4.7 Early Years...... 55
4.8 Extended Schools and Children’s Centres...... 56 Appendix 1...... 58
School Organisation Plan in the Borough Council’s planning framework ...... 58
Appendix 2...... 59
Admissions policy for Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools for 2005/2006 ...... 59
Appendix 3...... 63
Admissions Policy for Community Secondary Schools for 2005/2006 ...... 63 Appendix 4...... 65
Map of Primary School Designated Areas ...... 65 Appendix 5...... 66
Map of Secondary School Designated Areas ...... 66
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Why Plan School Places?
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. 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. 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. 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. There is also 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. 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. 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. 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. There are several ways in which the Borough Council can remove surplus places:
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• 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. 1.2 The Purpose of the School Organisation Plan
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. 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. The School Organisation Plan includes a specific section on post-16 provision setting out ways in which collaborative provision is to be fostered. 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: • policies and principles relating to the provision of school places within the Bracknell Forest area, specifically related to securing improved standards of achievement by pupils (this section only in full Plans and not included in this supplement) • demographic information relevant to the supply of school places; and • conclusions drawn from the above about the need to add or remove school places in particular areas of Bracknell Forest. As a result of the Children Act 2004, which came into force on 1st March 2005, LEAs no longer have a requirement to produce a School Organisation Plan, however as part of its school organisation and planning process, it is the intention of the Borough Council to continue to publish either a full Plan or a Supplement to the Plan detailing the updated pupil forecasts and commentary and conclusions. The School Organisation Plan was one of seven statutory plans repealed by the Children Act 2004, which now requires Children’s Services Authorities to prepare and publish a Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP). The Borough Council will continue to publish a Plan in draft form for consultation, with a two-month period to allow for comments or objections. Following the period of consultation, the Borough Council will publish a final Plan. A similar process will be followed for the Supplement to the Plan. The School Organisation Plan is one of a number of plans that the Borough Council produces. 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
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• Promoting innovation in the use of technology. The School Organisation Plan is produced in accordance with the Borough Council’s Medium Term Objectives included in the Bracknell Forest Borough Council Corporate Plan; specifically to raise achievement in schools; to review the provision of school places in Bracknell Forest; to achieve a better match of Special Education provision to need and to maintain quality and extend access to all services. The diagram at Appendix 1 demonstrates in detail how the School Organisation Plan currently fits into the Borough Council’s overall planning framework. 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 or 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. As mentioned above, with effect from April 2006, these plans will all be combined into the Children and Young People’s Plan, reflecting the increased emphasis on the Children’s Services agenda. 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. The School Organisation Plan aligns with the aims and strategies outlined in the ‘Learning & Skills Council Local Strategic Plan 2002-05’ and the key actions described in the ‘Berkshire Learning & Skills Council Annual Plan’ published in June 2003. The key strategies that relate to this plan are: • 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 year olds • increasing 16-18 year olds participation rates • raising level 3 achievement rates especially amongst 16-18 year olds. 1.3 The School Organisation Committee
The School Organisation Committee (SOC) 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. With effect from 1 st March 2005, SOCs are no longer required to approve School Organisation Plans. The School Organisation Committee is organised into groups, each with the single vote. There is a maximum of seven members in each group. For Bracknell Forest, five groups are appropriate. These groups represent:
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• 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. 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. The conduct of the Committee, including the appointment of Chairman, 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 which the budget applies. The Borough Council should agree the budget, or stipulate reasons for rejecting it and provide a revised budget. Whilst the School Organisation Committee no longer has a duty to approve the SOP or consider it when making decisions on statutory proposals for changes to schools, they will have the opportunity to review and consider the draft in detail with officers of the Borough Council at a meeting of the SOC held during the consultation period and comment on the final version.
1.4 The Timetable
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 and commentary and conclusions will continue to be updated on an annual basis and published as a Supplement to the full Plan. The timetable adopted by Bracknell Forest for the September 2005 Supplement to the Plan is as follows: 20 September 2005 Draft Supplement to Plan to Executive Member for approval
October-November 2005 Consultation of Draft Supplement to Plan
4 October 2005 Meeting of School Organisation Committee to review Draft Supplement to Plan
December 2005 SOC comment on Final Supplement to Plan
January 2006 Executive Member approves Final Supplement to Plan
February 2006 Final Supplement to Plan published Following the publication of the final Supplement to the Plan, there may be further developments at national and local level. These will be taken into account in future plans.
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2 INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SUPPLY OF SCHOOL PLACES
2.1 Demographic Background
Population Trends The estimated population of Bracknell forest for mid-2004 is 110,300 compared with 110,100 for mid- 2003 (source: Registrar General’s Population Estimates for mid-2004, Office of National Statistics). Out-migration continues to affect the rate of population growth, however, the population of the Borough is still expected to increase to 111,300 by 2010 (source: ONS 2003-based population projections). 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 Based on ONS 2003-based population projections the age structure of the Bracknell Forest population over the period of this plan breaks down approximately as follows: (thousands) AGE GROUP 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 AGES 0-4 7.1 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.1 7.1 7.0 7.0
AGES 5-9 7.6 7.4 7.4 7.3 7.0 6.8 6.8 6.8
AGES 10-14 7.7 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.3 7.3
AGES 15-19 7.3 7.8 7.7 7.6 7.4 7.2 7.1 7.0
AGES 20-24 6.3 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.6 7.0 7.2 7.2
AGES 25-44 37.3 36.6 36.3 35.9 35.4 34.9 34.2 33.9
AGES 45-64 24.7 25.2 25.8 26.5 27.1 27.7 28.2 28.7
AGES 65-74 6.7 6.7 6.8 6.7 6.8 6.9 7.2 7.3
AGES 75+ 5.7 5.7 5.8 5.8 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.2
2.2 2001 Census Data
Below are some statistics based on 2001 census data, which provide socio-economic context and background for Bracknell Forest. 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,
© BFBC 8 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT 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 and 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.
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2.3 Structure of School Provision
Numbers and Types of Schools The Borough Council maintains the following schools: Phase Number & Type Status 5 Community schools Secondary 6 comprehensive schools (all 11-18 years) 1 Voluntary Aided
5 Community schools 3 infant and 3 junior schools (transfer at 7 years) 1 junior school with Voluntary Controlled status Primary 16 Community , 3 with Voluntary 24 primary schools, Controlled status, and 5 with (all 5 -11 years) Voluntary Aided status.
15 infant and primary schools have Early Years nursery classes
1 special 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 A total of 48 places in be part-time maintained schools resourced for special needs Special 2 primary schools resourced for special needs
1 secondary school (Voluntary Aided) resourced for special needs
1 primary school with a Language & 12 places Literacy Unit
A Pupil Referral Unit for secondary age pupils and a learning support unit PRUs for primary aged pupils. The service also encompasses a home tuition service. Additional providers: • 55 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.
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2.4 Provision of Early Education Places
The Bracknell Forest Early Years and Childcare 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 a place was 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 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. Uptake of places for four-year olds Summer Autumn Spring Term Term Term 2004 2004 2005 Pupils in the maintained 913 836 832 sector % pupils in maintained 67.7% 65.8% 64.2% sector Pupils in private, independent & voluntary 436 434 463 sector settings % pupils in private, independent & voluntary 32.3% 34.2% 35.8% sector settings
Total Number of Pupils 1349 1270 1295
Uptake of places for three-year-olds Summer Autumn Spring Term Term Term 2004 2004 2005 Pupils in the maintained 280 153 196 sector % pupils in maintained 25.4% 14.1% 18.4% sector Pupils in private, independent & voluntary 821 926 868 sector settings % pupils in private, independent & voluntary 74.6% 85.9% 81.6% sector settings Total Number of Pupils 1101 1079 1064
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Past Trends 3 YEAR OLDS Financial Summer Autumn Spring Years Term Term Term
Maintained sector 176 170 160
2001/2 Private, independent & 754 755 1027 voluntary sector settings Total Number of Pupils 930 925 1187
Maintained sector 247 167 165
2002/3 Private, independent & 991 1045 1066 voluntary sector settings Total Number of Pupils 1238 1212 1231
Maintained sector 306 195 208
2003/4 Private, independent & 967 995 1003 voluntary sector settings Total Number of Pupils 1273 1190 1211
Maintained sector 280 153 196
2004/5 Private, independent & 821 926 868 voluntary sector settings Total Number of Pupils 1101 1079 1064 (additional trend data on Early Years to be identified) Numbers of 3 and 4-year olds receiving funded early years education have been steadily increasing and this trend is set to continue, however this growth will not be spread evenly across the Borough. In the above table it is important to note that although figures for 4-year olds appear to have dropped, this is due to schools now accepting children at a younger age and not an indication of the over all trend. The Annual Childcare Audits will continue to provide the basis for detailed monitoring by the Early Years & Childcare Partnership. 2.5 Post-16 Provision
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. Actual Projected Numbers NUMBERS OF PUPILS IN SIXTH FORMS Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
The Brakenhale School 45 49 57 56 59 64
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Easthampstead Park School 170 161 156 154 153 154
Edgbarrow School 145 161 163 154 150 145
Garth Hill College 119 113 121 122 139 151
Ranelagh CE School 184 189 186 187 188 189
Sandhurst School 108 113 117 130 139 138
TOTALS 771 786 800 803 828 841 The staying-on rate in secondary schools has increased steadily over the last three years from 42% in Sept 2002 to 45% in Sept. 2004 (NB these numbers reflect pupils staying on in the same school and does not include those going on to other post-16 providers). Post-16 staying-on rate by school (NB within same school, as at Sept. 2004)
The Brakenhale School 26.7%
Easthampstead Park School 46.1%
Edgbarrow School 39.4%
Garth Hill College 36.6%
Ranelagh CE School 81.6%
Sandhurst School 44.7% 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 work 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. The Borough Council is playing a full role in the Strategic Area review that is being co-ordinated by the Berkshire Learning and Skills Council. 2.6 Pupil Mobility
In Bracknell Forest there are significant cross-border movements of pupils between the primary school they attended and the secondary school at which they were accepted The majority of movement is into and out of Wokingham, Windsor & Maidenhead, Hampshire and Surrey. Some of this movement is a result of parents seeking a denominational education. This makes it more difficult to track pupils between primary and secondary schools, and makes accurate target setting and pupil forecasting more difficult.
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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 and are typically in the region of: Primary Schools 16% Secondary Schools 9% However, the averages mask some significant differences between schools. Two schools in the south of the Borough regularly receive pupils unexpectedly from neighbouring military garrisons and therefore typically have pupil mobility in excess of 20%. 2.7 Pupil Ethnicity, Gender and Free School Meals Eligibility
The following tables provide analysis of pupil ethnicity, gender and free school meal eligibility taken from PLASC 2005 numbers on roll: GENDER FREE SCHOOL MEALS Male Female ELIGIBILITY
Primary 4156 51% 3957 49% 604 7%
Secondary 3027 50% 3078 50% 336 6%
Bracknell North 2131 51% 2064 49% 241 6%
Bracknell South 2198 50% 22507 50% 499 11%
Crowthorne & Sandhurst 2175 52% 1976 48% 151 4%
Aided 679 46% 788 54% 49 3% As shown below, Bracknell Forest has generally low levels of eligibility for Free School Meals (FSM), although within South Bracknell there are 3 primary schools with FSM eligibility in excess of 20%. PERCENTAGES OF PUPILS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS
2005 6.8%
2004 6.7%
2003 6.6%
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ETHNICITY (in main school only – does not include those refused or not obtained)
White Mixed Asian Black Other
Primary 8011 92% 286 3.3% 268 3.1% 112 1.3% 40 0.5%
Secondary 5251 93% 158 2.8% 115 2.0% 90 1.6% 28 0.5%
Bracknell North 3968 87% 116 2.5% 102 2.2% 63 1.4% 29 0.6%
Bracknell 4130 84% 154 301% 136 2.8% 99 2.0% 12 0.2% South
Crowthorne & 3820 87% 125 2.8% 120 2.7% 32 0.7% 21 0.5% Sandhurst
Aided 1344 89% 49 3.2% 25 1.7% 8 0.5% 6 0.4% As shown below, the proportion of minority ethnic pupils in Bracknell Forest schools has increased steadily over recent years. Minority Ethnic pupils in Bracknell Forest schools
2001 4.0%
2002 4.5%
2003 5.3%
2004 6.9%
2005 10.7%
2.8 Provision for Pupils ‘Out of School’
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. 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. 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.
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The Borough is also committed to providing suitable opportunities for other pupils not able to receive education in school, for example for medical reasons. 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 Unit for primary-age pupils, College Hall Pupil Referral Unit for secondary-age pupils or through individual and group tuition from tutors. 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. 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. 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 assist in further meeting targets for the reduction of exclusions. In addition, the unit for primary-age pupils offers 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. Provision for secondary-age 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.
2.9 Education Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS)
As shown in the table below, numbers of children being educated otherwise than at school are typically very small. They are distributed across the Borough and do not impact on the provision of school places to any degree.
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As a No. of EOTAS proportion of pupils total pupils in the Borough
Sept. 2005 28 0.19%
May 2005 30 0.20%
May 2004 45 0.30%
May 2003 35 0.23%
May 2002 32 0.22% Of the 28 children in the Borough whose parents were taking responsibility for their education in September 2005, eleven were of primary age and seventeen of secondary age. It should be noted that numbers of children educated other than at school typically fluctuate throughout the academic year. The Borough Council has a responsibility to monitor the education provided. 2.10 Pupil Forecasting
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 birth and population statistics, data relating to housing developments in the area and 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. 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. 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. The forecasts presented in this report are 2005-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
© BFBC 17 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT 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.
2.11 Pupils in the Authority and Projected Pupil Numbers
As at April 2005, there were 8602 primary-age pupils in schools in the Borough. This number is expected to increase by 0.2% to 8623 by April 2010. There were 6105 secondary-age pupils in schools in the Borough in January 2005, expected to rise by 11.7% to 6821 by 2010. 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 as they do have an impact on maintained secondary school admissions. 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 2005 2010 2005 2010 Bracknell North 3151 3096 -1.7% 1199 1546 28.9% Bracknell South 2730 2969 8.8% 1888 2170 14.9% Crowthorne & Sandhurst 2077 1928 -7.2% 2167 2228 2.8% Aided Schools 644 630 -2.2% 851 877 3.1% Totals 8602 8623 0.2% 6105 6821 11.7% Sources: Annual Schools Census Jan. 2005 & BFBC Education Dept, May 2005 The number of primary pupils and places in the three planning areas in April 2005 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 716 704 618 590 2496 2255 Bracknell North (19%) (20%) (16%) (17%) (65%) (64%) 3830 3549 0 0 438 458 2730 3511 Bracknell South (%) (%) (14%) (12%) (86%) (88%) 3168 3969 Crowthorne & 208 205 222 210 1647 1749 Sandhurst (10%) (9%) (11%) (10%) (79%) (81%) 2077 2164 Totals 924 909 1278 1258 6873 7515 9075 9682 Source: BFBC Education Dept, May 2005 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. There are two Aided primary schools in the Borough 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 8% of the pupil population. There is one
© BFBC 18 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
CE Aided school in the Crowthorne & Sandhurst planning area, accounting for 10% of the available places and 11% of the pupil population. 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.
© BFBC 19 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
© BFBC 20 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT 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
1.9.2005 2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Stat. Actual
BRACKNELL NORTH
3054 Ascot Heath CE Junior (Vol Contr) 240 242 243 249 254 252 249 242 -3 -9 -14 -12 -9 -2 -1.3% -3.8% -5.8% -5.0% -3.8% -0.8% 2135 Ascot Heath Infant 210 157 198 192 188 182 179 174 12 18 22 28 31 36 5.7% 8.6% 10.5% 13.3% 14.8% 17.1% 3076 Binfield CE Primary (Aided) 380 369 412 411 404 400 393 388 -32 -31 -24 -20 -13 -8 -8.4% -8.2% -6.3% -5.3% -3.4% -2.1% 2099 Cranbourne Primary 210 169 181 174 173 170 165 155 29 36 37 40 45 55 13.8% 17.1% 17.6% 19.0% 21.4% 26.2% 2060 Holly Spring Infant & Nursery 180 117 159 158 161 148 149 179 21 22 19 32 31 1 11.7% 12.2% 10.6% 17.8% 17.2% 0.6% 2059 Holly Spring Junior 240 195 197 195 199 193 185 225 43 45 41 47 55 15 17.9% 18.8% 17.1% 19.6% 22.9% 6.3% 2251 Meadow Vale Primary 420 360 404 395 388 378 389 385 16 25 32 42 31 35 3.8% 6.0% 7.6% 10.0% 7.4% 8.3% 2814 Sandy Lane Primary 583 395 419 400 397 432 477 554 164 183 186 151 106 29 28.1% 31.4% 31.9% 25.9% 18.2% 5.0% 3062 Winkfield St. Mary CE Pr (Vol Contr) 210 194 213 207 206 202 201 199 -3 3 4 8 9 11 -1.4% 1.4% 1.9% 3.8% 4.3% 5.2% 3047 Warfield CE Primary (Vol Contr) * 254 243 260 267 275 241 212 214 -6 -13 -21 13 42 40 -0.9% -1.9% -3.1% 1.9% 6.1% 5.8% 2813 Whitegrove Primary * 432 424 465 453 429 421 412 381 -33 -21 3 11 20 51 -7.6% -4.9% 0.7% 2.5% 4.6% 11.8%
TOTAL PRIMARIES 3359 2865 3151 3101 3074 3019 3011 3096 208 258 285 340 348 263 6.2% 7.7% 8.5% 10.0% 10.4% 7.8%
4059 GARTH HILL COLLEGE 1343 1199 1199 1228 1301 1379 1424 1546 144 115 42 -36 -81 -203 10.7% 8.6% 3.1% -2.7% -6.0% -15.1%
Note: Binfield CE Primary School is now an A ided 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.
© BFBC 21 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT Published ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OOFF PLACES Admission Number 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 1.9.2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
BRACKNELL NORTH 3054 Ascot Heath CE Junior (Vol Contr) 60 68 65 65 63 60 60 -8 -5 -5 -3 0 0 2135 Ascot Heath Infant 70 62 66 65 59 60 59 8 4 5 11 10 11 3076 Binfield CE Primary (Aided) 60 60 60 59 58 57 56 0 0 1 2 3 4 2099 Cranbourne Primary 30 25 23 22 22 22 21 5 7 8 8 8 9 2060 Holly Spring Infant & Nursery 60 47 58 49 50 49 59 13 2 11 10 11 1 2059 Holly Spring Junior 60 48 49 49 55 43 58 12 11 11 5 17 2 2251 Meadow Vale Primary 60 53 62 56 52 51 52 7 -2 4 8 9 8 2814 Sandy Lane Primary 90 70 40 44 53 62 77 20 50 46 37 28 13 3062 Winkfield St. Mary CE Pr (Vol Contr) 30 30 30 30 29 29 29 0 0 0 1 1 1 3047 Warfield CE Primary (Vol Contr) * 30 30 30 28 29 30 30 0 0 2 1 0 0 2813 Whitegrove Primary * 60 60 60 57 60 60 60 0 0 3 0 0 0 TOTAL PRIMARIES 610 553 543 524 530 523 561 57 67 86 80 87 49 4059 THE GARTH HILL COLLEGE 224 221 225 253 267 250 286 3 -1 -29 -43 -26 -62
* Shared designated area
© BFBC 22 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
BRACKNELL NORTH NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2001-2005 Forecasts 2006-10)
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009 Apr 2010
Primary Secondary
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23 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
© BFBC
24 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT PROJECTED NUMBERS ON ROLL SURPLUS / DEFICIT PERCENTAGE SURPSURPLUSLUS / DEFICIT CAPACITY NOR
as at JAN APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL APRIL
1.9.2005 2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Stat Actual
BRACKNELL SOUTH
2236 Crown Wood Primary 370 219 231 232 226 239 243 237 139 138 144 131 127 133 37.6% 37.3% 38.9% 35.4% 34.3% 35.9% 2057 Fox Hill Primary 297 (210) 200 218 202 200 186 178 175 79 8 10 24 32 35 26.6% 3.8% 4.8% 1.1% 15.2% 16.7%
2254 Harmans Water Primary ** 667 508 555 578 599 644 699 741 112 89 68 23 -32 -74 16.8% 13.3% 10.2% 3.4% -4.8% -11.1% 2250 Wildridings Primary School 420 (315) 318 337 337 325 331 328 332 83 -22 -10 -16 -13 -17 19.8% -7.0% -302% -5.1% -4.1% -5.4%
“Peacock Farm Primary” # 210 58 114 177 281 152 96 33 -71 72.4% 45.7% 15.7% -33.8% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 1725 (1772) 1245 1341 1349 1408 1514 1625 1766 413 213 364 258 147 6 23.5% 12.0% 20.5% 14.6 % 8.3% 0.3% 4030 THE BRAKENHALE SCHOOL 1096 536 536 610 669 734 807 871 560 486 427 362 289 225 51.1% 44.3% 39.0% 33.0% 26.4% 20.5% 2165 Birch Hill Primary 539 (449) 425 463 445 443 439 421 407 76 4 6 10 28 42 14.1% 0.9% 1.3% 2.2% 6.2% 9.4% 2815 Great Hollands Primary # 462 281 303 298 278 249 275 273 159 164 184 213 187 189 34.4% 35.5% 39.8% 46.1% 40.5% 40.9% 3357 The Pines Primary 413 (210) 297 320 326 310 296 284 263 93 -116 -100 -86 -74 -53 22.5% -55.2% -47.6% -41.0% -35.2% -25.2% 2228 Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery 343 268 303 291 284 277 270 260 40 52 59 66 73 83 11.7% 15.2% 17.2% 19.2% 21.3% 24.2% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 1757 (1464) 1271 1389 1360 1315 1261 1250 1203 368 104 149 203 214 261 20.9% 7.1% 10.2% 13.9% 14.6% 17.8% 4061 EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK SCHOOL 1362 1352 1352 1337 1326 1292 1282 1299 10 25 36 70 80 63 0.7% 1.8% 2.6% 5.1% 5.9% 4.6%
TOTAL PRIMARIES 3511 (3236) 2516 2730 2709 2723 2775 2875 2969 781 527 513 461 361 267 22.2% 16.3% 15.9% 14.2% 11.2% 8.3%
TOTAL SECONDARIES 2458 1888 1888 1947 1995 2026 2089 2170 570 511 463 432 369 288 23.2% 20.8% 18.8% 17.6% 15.0% 11.7% Revised capacities from Jan 2006 are shown in brackets. Where appropriate surplus/deficit/percentages are also calculated on this basis from Jan 2006. This particularly affects The Pines Infant and Junior Schools. # “Peacock Farm Primary” capacity is added into the calculations from 2006 onwards. New Peacock Farm school not likely to be operational until December 2008, pupils from Peacock Farm development 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 to include additional pupils from this site © BFBC 25 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT from January 2006 onwards.
© BFBC
26 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT Published ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OF PLACES Admission Number 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 1.9.2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
BRACKNELL SOUTH
2236 Crown Wood Primary 60 45 34 30 39 37 35 15 26 30 21 23 25 2057 Fox Hill Primary 42 / 30 24 30 27 27 26 26 18 0 3 3 4 4
2254 Harmans Water Primary ** 90 83 81 86 99 100 102 7 9 4 -9 -10 -12 2250 Wildridings Primary School 60 / 45 45 47 46 46 41 43 15 -2 -1 -1 4 2
“Peacock Farm Primary” # 30 8 18 21 31 30 30 22 12 9 -1
SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 252 / 255 197 192 197 229 225 237 55 63 58 26 30 18
4030 THE BRAKENHALE SCHOOL 210 104 126 131 136 141 146 106 84 79 74 69 64 2165 Birch Hill Primary 77 / 60 67 66 63 59 58 55 10 -6 -3 1 2 5
2815 Great Hollands Primary # 60 36 45 37 50 46 48 24 15 23 10 14 12 3357 The Pines Primary 30 37 44 37 35 35 34 -7 -14 -7 -5 -5 -4 2228 Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery 49 44 46 44 41 37 38 5 3 5 8 12 11
SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 216 / 199 184 201 181 185 176 175 32 -2 18 14 23 24
4061 EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK SCHOOL 240 239 234 234 207 232 254 1 6 6 33 8 -14 TOTAL PRIMARIES 468 / 454 381 393 378 414 401 412 87 61 76 40 53 42
TOTAL SECONDARIES 450 343 360 365 343 373 400 107 90 85 107 77 50 Revised PANs from Jan 2006 are shown in brackets. Where appropriate surplus/deficit/percentages are also calculated on this basis from Jan 2006. This particularly affects The Pines Infant and Junior Schools. # “Peacock Farm Primary” capacity is added into the calculations from 2006 onwards. New Peacock Farm school not likely to be operational until December 2008, pupils from Peacock Farm development 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 to include © BFBC 27 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT additional pupils from this site from January 2006 onwards.
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28 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
BRACKNELL SOUTH NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2001-2005 Forecasts 2006-2010)
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009 Apr 2010
Primary Secondary
© BFBC 29 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
© BFBC
30 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT PROJECTED NUMNUMBERSBERS 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
1.9.2005 2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Stat Actual
CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST
2065 Broadmoor Primary 190 168 189 183 214 203 191 183 1 7 -24 -13 -1 7 0.5% 3.7% -12.6% -6.8% -0.5% 3.7% 3023 Crowthorne CE Primary (Vol Contr) 205 204 208 224 220 215 209 203 -3 -19 -15 -10 -4 2 -1.5% -9.3% -7.3% -4.9% -2.0% 1.0% 2154 New Scotland Hill Primary 210 209 218 217 217 208 197 192 -8 -7 -7 2 13 18 -3.8% -3.3% -3.3% 1.0% 6.2% 8.6% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 605 581 615 624 651 626 597 578 -10 -19 -46 -21 8 27 -1.7% -3.1% -7.6% -3.5% 1.3% 4.5% 4032 EDGBARROW SCHOOL 980 1095 1095 1109 1112 1125 1116 1081 -115 -129 -132 -145 -136 -101 -11.7% -13.2% -13.5% -14.8% -13.9% -10.3% 2087 College Town Infant & Nursery 231 206 222 215 220 216 216 216 9 16 11 15 15 15 3.9% 6.9% 4.8% 6.5% 6.5% 6.5% 2126 College Town Junior 388 325 324 315 314 312 294 292 64 73 74 76 94 96 16.5% 18.8% 19.1% 19.6% 24.2% 24.7% 2138 Owlsmoor Primary 490 444 479 487 481 479 466 454 11 3 9 11 24 36 2.2% 0.6% 1.8% 2.2% 4.9% 7.3% 3038 St. Michael's CE Primary (Vol Aided) 210 219 222 223 217 207 203 198 -12 -13 -7 3 7 12 -5.7% -6.2% -3.3% 1.4% 3.3% 5.7% 2113 Uplands Primary * 240 209 215 212 211 205 201 190 25 28 29 35 39 50 10.4% 11.7% 12.1% 14.6% 16.3% 20.8% SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 1559 1403 1462 1452 1443 1419 1380 1350 97 107 116 140 179 209 6.2% 6.9% 7.4% 9.0% 11.5% 13.4% 4058 SANDHURST SCHOOL 1136 1072 1072 1117 1134 1127 1133 1147 64 19 2 9 3 -11 5.6% 1.7% 0.2% 0.8% 0.3% -1.0% TOTAL PRIMARIES 2164 1984 2077 2076 2094 2045 1977 1928 87 88 70 119 187 236 4.0% 4.1% 3.2% 5.5% 8.6% 10.9% TOTAL SECONDARIES 2116 2167 2167 2226 2246 2252 2249 2228 -51 -110 -130 -136 -133 -112 -2.4% -5.2% -6.1% -6.4% -6.3% -5.3% 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 Designate d Area Admission Policy it is included in the Crowthorne & Sandhurst group of schools.
© BFBC 31 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
Published ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OF PLACES Admission Number 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 1.9.2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST
2065 Broadmoor Primary 28 24 28 31 29 20 21 4 0 -3 -1 8 7 3023 Crowthorne CE Primary (Vol Contr) 30 29 32 30 29 28 28 1 -2 0 1 2 2 2154 New Scotland Hill Primary 30 30 30 34 23 21 21 0 0 -4 7 9 9
SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 88 83 90 95 81 69 70 5 -2 -7 7 19 18
4032 EDGBARROW SCHOOL 180 207 210 185 189 183 183 3 0 25 21 27 27 2087 College Town Infant & Nursery 90 63 70 69 70 67 68 27 20 21 20 23 22 2126 College Town Junior 97 88 80 75 73 70 75 9 17 22 24 27 22 2138 Owlsmoor Primary 70 58 76 60 63 60 59 12 -6 10 7 10 11 3038 St. Michael's CE Primary (Vol Aided) 30 32 30 30 28 28 28 -2 0 0 2 2 2 2113 Uplands Primary 30 29 30 37 29 29 29 1 0 -7 1 1 1 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 317 270 286 271 263 254 259 47 31 46 54 63 58 4058 SANDHURST SCHOOL 210 201 210 190 186 205 214 9 0 20 24 5 -4 TOTAL PRIMARIES 405 353 376 366 344 323 329 52 29 39 61 82 76 TOTAL SECONDARIES 420 408 420 375 375 388 397 12 0 45 45 32 23
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32 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2001-2005 Forecasts 2006-2010)
3 0 0 0
2 5 0 0
2 0 0 0
1 5 0 0
1 0 0 0
5 0 0
0 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009 Apr 2010
P rim ary Secondary
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33 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
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34 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
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
1.9.2005 2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Stat Actual
AIDED
Catholic Schools
3333 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary 210 202 206 207 210 207 205 202 4 3 0 3 5 8 1.9% 1.4% 0.0% 1.4% 2.4% 3.8% 3344 St. Margaret Clitherow Cathol ic Primary 210 190 198 200 194 193 192 186 12 10 16 17 18 24 5.7% 4.8% 7.6% 8.1% 8.6% 11.4%
Church of England Schools
3313 St. Michael's Easthampstead CE Aided Primary 248 224 240 242 245 243 244 242 8 6 3 5 4 6 3.2% 2.4% 1.2% 2.0% 1.6% 2.4%
TOTAL PRIMARIES 668 616 644 649 649 643 641 630 24 19 19 25 27 38 3.6% 2.8% 2.8% 3.7% 4.0% 5.7%
4603 RANELAGH CE SCHOOL 834 851 851 865 867 872 876 877 67 53 51 46 42 41 7.3% 5.8% 5.6% 5.0% 4.6% 4.5% 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 Admi ssion 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 i ncluded in the Bracknell North group of schools.
© BFBC
35 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT Published Admission ACTUAL PROJECTED INTAKE SURPLUS or DEFICIT OF PLACES Number 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 1.9.2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
AIDED
Catholic Schools
3333 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary 30 30 30 29 28 28 28 0 0 1 2 2 2 3344 St. Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary 30 29 27 29 30 28 28 1 3 1 0 2 2
Church of England Schools
3313 St. Michael's Easthampstead CE Aided Primary 35 35 35 35 34 35 34 0 0 0 1 0 1 TOTAL PRIMARIES 95 94 92 93 92 91 90 1 3 2 3 4 5
4603 RANELAGH CE SCHOOL 128 137 142 140 138 137 137 -9 -14 -12 -10 -9 -9
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36 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
AIDED SCHOOLS NUMBERS ON ROLL (Actuals 2001-2005 Forecasts 2006-10)
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009 Apr 2010
Prim ary Secondary
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37 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT 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
1.9.2005 2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Stat BRACKNELL FOREST PRIMARY TOTALS 9702 (9427) 7981 8602 8535 8540 8482 8504 8623 1100 892 887 945 923 804 11.3% 9.5% 9.4% 10.0% 9.8% 8.5%
BRACKNELL FOREST SECONDARY TOTALS 6835 6105 6105 6266 6409 6529 6638 6821 730 569 426 306 197 14 10.7% 8.3% 6.2% 4.5% 2.9% 0.2% Note: Primary school numbers do not include Nursery Class pupils. Secondary school numbers include sixth form pupils.
BRACKNELL FOREST SCHOOLS NUMBERS ON ROLL (A ctuals 2001-2005 Forecasts 2006-10)
1 0 0 0 0
9 0 0 0
8 0 0 0
7 0 0 0
6 0 0 0
5 0 0 0
4 0 0 0
3 0 0 0
2 0 0 0
1 0 0 0
0 Apr 2001 Apr 2002 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Apr 2005 Apr 2006 Apr 2007 Apr 2008 Apr 2009 Apr 2010
T otal P rim ary T otal S econdary
© BFBC
38 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT 2.12 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 dwellings 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 housing developments by school designated area. Financial Years Dwellings in 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - Designated Area 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 BRAKENHALE Fox Hill Total dwellings 63 40 0 0 0 Great Hollands/ Peacock Farm Total dwellings 30 270 250 200 200 Harmans Water Total dwellings 0 100 200 200 230 Brakenhale Total 1783 93 410 450 400 430 EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK Easthampstead Park Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 EDGBARROW Broadmoor Total dwellings 0 0 106 0 0 Crowthorne Total dwellings 151 0 0 0 0 Edgbarrow Total 257 151 0 106 0 0 GARTH HILL Binfield Total dwellings 82 16 0 0 0 Holly Spring Total dwellings 55 40 28 0 0 Meadow Vale Total dwellings 10 24 0 0 0 Sandy Lane Total dwellings 0 0 250 210 360 Warfield/Whitegrove Total dwellings 72 27 0 0 0 Garth Hill Total 1174 219 107 278 210 360 NB: Since the 2005 pupil forecasts were completed the Met Office site has full permission for 262 flats and 6 houses in the Holly Spring designated area. These are not included in the above figures. SANDHURST St Michael's, Sandhurst Total dwellings 8 0 0 0 0 Sandhurst Total 8 8 0 0 0 0 CHARTERS NB Charters School is in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead not Bracknell Forest Ascot Heath Total dwellings 17 24 0 0 0 Cranbourne Total dwellings 0 23 0 0 0 Charters Total 64 17 47 0 0 0 BRACKNELL FOREST TOTAL 3286 488 564 834 610 790 SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION STATUS (of above) Under Construction 273 19 0 0 0 With Full permission or Reserved Matters 45 64 28 0 0 With Outline Permission only 54 384 556 400 430 Committee Resolution 12 57 0 0 0 Application Submitted Urban Potential Sites 84 0 0 0 0 Pre- application discussions/Masterplans 20 40 250 210 360 Totals 488 564 834 610 790
© BFBC 39 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
2.13 Surplus Places
The number of surplus places in Bracknell Forest schools has increased slightly on the previous year as shown below: April 2005 April 2004
No. of No. of % % places places
Primary 1100 11.3% 1013 10.5%
Secondary 730 10.7% 704 10.3% As at April 2005, five schools in the Borough have over 25% surplus places. These are: Fox Hill Primary School 26.6% Crown Wood Primary School 37.6% Sandy Lane Primary School 28.1% Great Hollands Primary School 34.4% The Brakenhale School (secondary) 51.1% • The implementation of the South Bracknell Review (a major consultation and review of school organisation and surplus places undertaken in 2003/04) will reduce the capacity at Fox Hill Primary School substantially with effect from September 2005. There is an anticipation of pupils from future housing developments in the local area and places will be required in the medium term as follows: • Crown Wood Primary School (housing development on former Joint Services Staff College site of 730 dwellings will displace pupils from Harmans Water Primary School and increase numbers on roll at Crown Wood) • Sandy Lane Primary School will accommodate additional pupils generated by new housing in Bracknell Town Centre (redevelopment scheduled to commence 2006/07) • Great Hollands Primary will accommodate pupils from the Peacock Farm housing development (1500 dwellings, scheduled to begin construction 2006/07) temporarily until the new Peacock Farm Primary School is built. • Brakenhale School will accommodate secondary age pupils from the Peacock Farm development and from the Joint Services Staff College site.
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2.14 Special Educational Needs
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, and the Education Welfare Service, as well as access to schools and services within the wider region and across the country. A new outreach service for children with social and communication difficulties will begin work in 2006. 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”. The following table shows trends in numbers of statemented children in Bracknell Forest in recent years: Numbers of statemented children in Bracknell Forest 1999 589 2000 586 2001 580 2002 610 2003 606 2004 600 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. 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. Good teaching promotes pupils’ learning well, and they make good progress. The very positive ethos means that pupils achieve very well in their personal development. 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.
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The Borough, in partnership with the governors of Kennel Lane School, is carrying out a review 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. The table below provides a breakdown of SEN placements in January 2005: Special Schools, Units and Resources in Bracknell Forest School Category Places Attendance NOR FTE Special School Kennel Lane School – all ages General Learning 168 F/T and P/T 183 Special Resources Great Hollands Social and Primary School Communication 6 1 F/T & 6 P/T 6 full time Difficulties equivalent Meadow Vale Speech and Primary School Language Difficulties 20 F/T and P/T 19.5 full time equivalent Ranelagh CE Specific Learning School Difficulties 12 F/T 8 Units Adastron House On unit register 3 8 only Dually 12 registered pupils College Hall On PRU 48 Pupil Referral 30 register only Unit Dually 9 registered pupils Language and Literacy Units Crown Wood Language and 10 P/T 50 Primary School Literacy
SEN in 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.
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BRACKNELL NORTH Statemented % of Without % of Pupils pupils Statement pupils Ascot Heath CE Junior (Vol Contr) 5 2.1 53 21.9 Ascot Heath Infant 2 1.0 38 19.8 Binfield CE Primary (Aided) 5 1.2 44 10.8 Cranbourne Primary 3 1.7 25 13.9 Holly Spring Infant & Nursery 1 0.6 14 8.0 Holly Spring Junior 2 1.0 46 23.6 Meadow Vale Primary 25 5.9 80 19.0 Sandy Lane Primary 4 0.9 102 22.8 Warfield CE Primary (Vol Contr) * 3 1.2 28 11.2 Whitegrove Primary * 7 1.6 50 11.4 Winkfield St. Mary CE Pr (Vol Contr) 0 0.0 16 7.9 TOTAL PRIMARIES 57 1.8 496 15.7 The Garth Hill College 23 1.9 131 10.9 BRACKNELL SOUTH Statemented % of Without % of Pupils pupils Statement pupils Crown Wood Primary 5 1.9 56 21.4 Fox Hill Primary 9 4.2 37 17.3 Harmans Water Primary 7 1.2 94 16.2 Wildridings Primary School 4 1.1 65 17.6 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 25 1.8 252 17.7 The Brakenhale School 16 3.0 166 31.0 Birch Hill Primary 13 2.7 40 8.4 Great Hollands Primary 15 4.5 104 31.0 The Pines Infant & Nursery 0 0.0 27 16.8 The Pines Junior 6 3.2 70 37.4 Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery 3 0.9 69 21.8 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 37 2.5 310 21.0 Easthampstead Park School 38 2.8 293 21.7 TOTAL PRIMARIES 62 2.1 562 19.3 TOTAL SECONDARIES 54 2.9 459 24.3 CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST Statemented % of Without % of Pupils pupils Statement pupils Broadmoor Primary 4 2.0 25 12.7 Crowthorne CE Primary (Vol Contr) 4 2.0 30 14.7 New Scotland Hill Primary 3 1.1 43 16.5 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 11 1.7 98 14.8 Edgbarrow School 24 2.2 64 5.8 College Town Infant & Nursery 1 0.4 33 13.0 College Town Junior 3 0.9 61 18.8 Owlsmoor Primary 13 2.6 87 17.5 St. Michael's CE Primary (Vol Contr) 4 1.8 18 8.2 Uplands Primary * 3 1.4 31 14.8 SUB TOTAL PRIMARIES 24 0.6 230 5.9 Sandhurst School 23 2.1 144 13.4 TOTAL PRIMARIES 35 0.8 328 7.2 TOTAL SECONDARIES 47 2.2 208 9.6
AIDED Statemented % of Without % of Pupils pupils Statement pupils St. Joseph's Catholic Primary 9 4.5 19 9.4 St. Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary 4 2.1 37 19.5 St. Michael's Easthampstead CE Aided 4 1.8 42 18.8
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Primary TOTAL PRIMARIES 17 2.8 98 15.9 Ranelagh CE School 19 2.3 46 5.5 Currently 67 SEN pupils from Bracknell Forest attend schools outside the Borough primarily in other Berkshire authorities, Surrey and Hampshire.
KENNEL LANE NUMBERS ON ROLL Actual Numbers on Roll Projected NOR 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 144 131 140 131 141 154 183 183 190 191 As shown in the table above there has been pressure on placements at Kennel Lane. Numbers on roll have risen and are projected to increase still further. There are four main reasons for this: • 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 succeed, 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 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. 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.
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3 CHANGES SINCE PUBLICATION OF 2004-2009 PLAN
Reorganisation of primary school places (South Bracknell Review) There have been no significant changes since the previous plan. Change to Designated Area There have been no changes since the previous plan. Voluntary Controlled Schools seeking to become Voluntary Aided Schools None since the previous plan.
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4 COMMENTARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Overall in the Borough over the last five years the primary school population has fallen by 77 pupils (0.9%) and the secondary pupil population has increased by 83 pupils (1.4%). The forecasts for the next five years show the primary age population to be increasing by 21 pupils (0.2%) and the secondary age population to be increasing by 716 pupils (11.7%) There is a predicted surplus of accommodation in both sectors by 2010, 804 places, 8.5%, in primary and 14 places, 0.2%, in secondary. This reflects a significant increase in surplus primary accommodation on current figures and a reduction in secondary surplus accommodation. The availability of places in secondary schools is going to be very tight within the Borough. 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 4.1 Bracknell North
Recent patterns trends in admissions There has been an overall increase in numbers on roll in primary schools in the area over the last 5 years of 233 pupils (8%). 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. Whitegrove Primary School has taken additional pupils in the past, 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. The Garth Hill College roll has fallen since 2001 but has now stabilised. Over the five-year period it has fallen by 42 pupils (-3.4%). Previous changes in accommodation/capacity Whitegrove Primary school was extended from 1 form of entry (1 FE) to 2 forms of entry (2 FE) in September 1999. In April 2001 additional places were provided at the school to accommodate pupils previously admitted in excess of the School’s Standard Number. In 2000 Warfield CE Primary school was extended to accommodate an additional 30 pupils from within the School’s designated area. The following year, 2001, further places were created through internal modifications to accommodate further additional pupils from within the designated area. 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
© BFBC 46 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT 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. Projected numbers on roll The total roll of the Bracknell North primary schools is expected to decrease slightly over the next five years by 55 pupils (-1.7%). 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. 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). The numbers on roll at Holly Spring Infants and Juniors are expected to increase in the next five years due to housing development within the designated area. 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. However, this area has been very difficult to predict in the past. The numbers on roll at Garth Hill College are predicted to increase substantially by 28.9% (347 pupils) over 5 years reflecting the increasing numbers of potential pupils of secondary age in the designated area and improved popularity of the School. Accommodation plans There are currently plans to marginally increase the accommodation at Ascot Heath Junior School using Section 106** contributions from a development in Windsor and Maidenhead. 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. The numbers on roll at Holly Spring Infants and Juniors are expected to increase in the next five years due to housing development within its designated area. 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. 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. 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. Phase 1 of this plan will be implemented in 2006.
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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 to the DfES. Neither of these bids was initially successful, but both have been resubmitted in 2005. It is planned to add some modular classroom accommodation to the school in 2006. The predicted increase in numbers of pupils seeking places at the School will require further extension of the School to provide sufficient accommodation. Future requirements 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. The number of surplus primary school places is predicted to increase over the next five years by 263 places to 7.8%. This is particularly apparent at Ascot Heath Infants, Cranbourne Primary, Meadow Vale Primary and Whitegrove and Warfield primary schools. However, the situation at the last two schools has been historically difficult to predict due to the nature of the area. Increases to accommodation will probably be required at Holly Spring Infants and Juniors, Sandy Lane Primary School and Garth Hill Secondary School. 4.2 Bracknell South
Recent trends/patterns in admissions The primary school roll has fallen steadily over the last five years by 291 pupils (-9.6%). Two schools have seen their roll fall by over 16%; The Pines School (-17.3%); and Great Hollands Primary School (-22.9%). 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. In the secondary sector, Easthampstead Park School’s roll fell by 3 pupils (-0.2%). During the same period the roll at The Brakenhale School fell by 84 pupils (-13.5%). The numbers of first preference applications for Easthampstead Park School have been constant for a number of years and the numbers of applications for The Brakenhale School have increased for September 2005. Previous changes to accommodation/capacity The Great Hollands Infants and Junior schools were amalgamated to form Great Hollands Primary School. No additional pupil accommodation was 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. 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 reduced the capacity at both schools.
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The accommodation at Birch Hill Primary School is being remodelled in phases to provide a more suitable environment for teaching the National Curriculum and to remove surplus places. The capacity of the School will have to be reassessed on completion. 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. A new library and ICT suite have been provided at Harmans Water Primary School. 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 at the school. Taking the Annex out of use for music has reduced the capacity of The Brakenhale School. Year 7 was relocated into the main building from September 2003 and the School 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 There is significant housing development planned in South Bracknell over the next five years; Peacock Farm (1,500 houses) and the former Joint Services Staff College site – ‘Ramslade’ (approximately 730 dwellings). Due to these housing developments the total primary roll is expected to rise by 239 pupils (8.8%). The majority of the substantial housing development is 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. The housing development is all in the designated area of The Brakenhale School so its pupil numbers are expected to rise by 335 (62.4%) 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. 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 53 pupils (-3.9%). Accommodation Plans 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:
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• The amalgamation of The Pines Infant and The Pines Junior Schools to create a new Primary School with, eventually, 210 places on the former Junior School (upper 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 upper school building and provision of temporary accommodation for 2-3 years for the surplus of pupils in the amalgamated school. The Nursery will also be relocated to the upper school site, a permanent addition to the main school. Additional hard play area may be required. The details of these alterations and manner of provision for the temporary accommodation are the subject of consultation with the new amalgamated school governing body. The surplus vacated lower school building will be available for suitable alternative education use in phases. • 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 upper school building with some alterations. More detailed plans are in place with the approval of the governing body regarding the practical aspects of accommodation use. • 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. Remodelling will reduce the number of classrooms and allow for the removal of the double modular building, which will then be surplus. • 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 has lost one single modular classroom and two other classrooms have been identified for an alternative use by the School at a later stage. 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 and changes to the Open Learning Centre. Future requirements 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 2006, completing in 2013. 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, if this is required. There are currently around 730 houses proposed on the Ramslade site, (previously the Joint Services Staff College). 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. Whilst having sufficient capacity on paper, the current accommodation is not suitable for teaching the curriculum for increased pupil numbers. The secondary age pupils can be accommodated at The Brakenhale School. There are 150 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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Great Hollands Primary School is expected to provide the first full service Extended School in the Borough. This will require some adaptations to existing buildings to facilitate the new users.
4.3 Crowthorne and Sandhurst
Recent trends/patterns in admissions Over the previous five years the primary roll in Crowthorne and Sandhurst has decreased by 39 pupils (-1.8%). The fall has been mainly in the Sandhurst area (-4.6%) with the Crowthorne schools being relatively stable. Most primary schools in the Sandhurst area have followed the declining trend to a greater or lesser extent. Broadmoor Primary School has increased by 23 pupils (13.9%). The total secondary roll has risen by 196 pupils (9.9%), with both Edgbarrow School and Sandhurst School increasing. Previous changes to accommodation/capacity 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. Surplus accommodation from Uplands was 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 led to a reduction in the number of places at Uplands Primary School. The accommodation at New Scotland Hill Primary School was 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. A surplus double modular building at Owlsmoor Primary School was relocated to Kennel Lane Special School to provide additional teaching space in response to rising pupil numbers. The remodelling of the accommodation at College Town Infants was completed to address suitability issues affecting the capacity of the School. Projected roll The total primary roll shows a further decline of 149 pupils (-7.2%) over the next five-year period, with the majority being within the Sandhurst area. The projections for the two secondary schools show an increase of numbers by 61 pupils (2.8%). Accommodation plans 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
© BFBC 51 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT this however, it would be imprudent to reduce any surplus at College Town Junior School due to the unpredictable nature of the influx of pupils from the garrison. The numbers on roll therefore need to be closely monitored. 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 A number of housing developments are proposed on the Broadmoor Estate but these are not represented in the projections as they have no firm implementation date. 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 their existing sites. These development proposals will have to be carefully monitored as to their impact on the schools concerned. 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. 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. The shortfall of places in the secondary sector is also one which may need to be addressed. The majority of the shortfall is at Edgbarrow School and this will need to be monitored carefully.
4.4 Voluntary Aided Schools
Recent trends patterns in admission Over the last five years the number on roll at all three primary VA schools without designated areas has increased, in total by 20 pupils (3.2%). The roll at Ranelagh CE School has increased slightly over the period by 16 pupils (1.9%). Previous changes to accommodation/capacity 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. The administration area and staffroom were also remodelled to provide better disabled access. The accommodation at St Joseph’s RC Primary School has been modified to provide for the teaching of a visually impaired child. There have been a number of building works at Ranelagh School, to improve the suitability, disabled access and management facilities at the School.
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Ranelagh’s new sports hall was completed at Easter 2004. It had no effect on the level of pupil accommodation at the School. There are now two further VA primary schools, Binfield CE Primary and St Michael’s Sandhurst CE Primary. Both schools have retained their previous admissions arrangements. Projected roll 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 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. Additional teaching space and a new ICT suite have been provided at Binfield Primary School by infilling central courtyard spaces with new construction. 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 The expansion in accommodation 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. 4.5 Special and Additional Education Needs Accessibility 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. All current improvement projects for schools’ accommodation incorporate features to improve access to mainstream schools for pupils with disabilities or with special needs.
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Kennel Lane Special School Recent trends patterns in admission Over the last five years the numbers on roll at Kennel Lane Special School have increased by 43 pupils (30.7%). This reflects an improvement in the popularity of the school with parents and also the success of the strategy for decreasing out of Borough placements where appropriate provision exists within the Borough. The number of post-16 students at the school has increased by 100% over the last three years. The school has both expanded in terms of numbers on roll and in relation to the range of special needs for which it caters. The increase in those with more complex needs means more space is needed for equipment and aids, such as wheelchairs, special setting and communication equipment, as well as space for a higher proportion of care assistants. Previous changes to accommodation/capacity In the last two years three additional classrooms have been provided on the school site in modular buildings. In addition the school has developed existing classrooms to make these larger and more suitable to the needs of the pupils. The School has also reorganised the post-16 area and created a specialist music area. Projected roll It is anticipated that the number on roll is now relatively stable. However, work is underway with Bracknell and Wokingham College to develop transition programmes so that more Post-16 students at Kennel Lane move into Further Education or education-related training at an earlier age. The outcome of this will hopefully be a reduction in the accommodation requirements for these pupils at Kennel Lane School. Accommodation plans An additional double modular classroom is planned for the school early in 2006 to relieve the pressure on existing accommodation. Future requirements Kennel Lane is the second highest priority for the Borough for a new school building. There are significant capacity and suitability issues in the current accommodation which only a new school can address. Within the school itself the highest priority area is the primary block. A masterplan is currently being drawn up to see how a new school could be developed on the site. This will inform the work of the Review group looking at the SEN provision in the Borough. Provision for SEN pupils outside Kennel Lane 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 Review of Children’s Services and work on the Change for Children agenda, consideration is being given to ways of enhancing local provision for children with severe or complex needs both within and outside school.
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4.6 Excluded Pupils
Recent trends/patterns During the period 1998/99 – 2004/05 Bracknell Forest succeeded in reducing the permanent exclusion from school by 17%. The permanent exclusion rate in secondary schools increased noticeably in 2004/05. Exclusions in primary schools have reduced significantly and the expectation is that this pattern will be maintained. Previous changes to accommodation/capacity From September 2002, the Borough Council was required to provide full time education for all excluded pupils. The expectation is that most of these pupils will be reintegrated into an alternative mainstream school. To facilitate this, the secondary Pupil Referral Unit, College Hall, has been extended by 15 fte (full time equivalent) places to 30 fte places. Projected roll It is anticipated that the numbers of permanently excluded pupils in secondary schools will reduce over the next three years. Additional funding has been provided to support behaviour strategies in three secondary schools and further funding provided to the remaining three secondary schools to provide in-school Learning Support Units. Accommodation plans Learning Support Units are planned in 2005/6 at Brakenhale, Garth Hill and Easthampstead Park schools. In order to comply with Government guidelines to supply a hot meals service on all school premises, plans are currently underway to design and build a servery at College Hall Pupil Referral Unit. Future requirements The number of permanent exclusions has been difficult to anticipate over the last few years and consequently difficult to provide for appropriately. The Borough Council continues to work closely with secondary schools to monitor the situation and seek to reduce the numbers of permanent exclusions. 4.7 Early Years Recent trends patterns in admissions The number of 3 year olds in education in the Summer Term has increased over the last 5 years from 930 to 1101 (18%). The number of private sector early years providers has also increased and there are currently 55 in the Borough. In addition, due to the changes in the age of admission to schools, many school based nursery classes have admitted younger pupils. Previous changes to accommodation/capacity In April 2003, the Borough Council opened the Family Tree Nursery in Bracknell Town Centre .
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Projected roll According to Government population projections (Office of National Statistics), the number of 0-4 year olds in the Borough will remain fairly stable over the next five years, however it is anticipated that the take-up of childcare places will increase and therefore additional capacity will be required. Accommodation plans The new redevelopment of Bracknell Town Centre will mean that the Family Tree Nursery will have to be re-provided in the new centre. Plans are underway for this. The nursery currently has 55 places but is likely to expand to 70+ places in line with the development of Children’s Centres. Future requirements With the introduction of the government’s 10-Year Childcare Strategy, which includes a ‘universal offer’ of a childcare place from 8am-6pm all year round, considerable expansion of childcare places in the Borough will be required. There is currently some spare capacity in Early Years’ Integrated Care and Education provision to meet these additional demands, although the places are not necessarily always in the areas of highest demand. Future childcare requirements will be addressed as part of Bracknell Forest’s ‘Extended Schools and Children’s Centres Strategy’ (see below). The other strand of the government’s 10-Year Childcare Strategy which will impact Early Years is the planned implementation of Early Education Funding, which will greatly increase the entitlement in terms of number of hours of childcare for 3 and 4-year olds.
4.8 Extended Schools and Children’s Centres
The Borough Council wants to make further progress in schools towards meeting the five ‘key outcomes’ for children: be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. In order to help authorities, the Government is supporting the development of ‘extended’ services to children or the wider community outside of normal school time - after school, at weekends or in the holidays. Typical initiatives will include childcare, parenting support, family learning, facilitating access to specialist support agencies and opening up the facilities (such as sports, arts or ICT) on school sites for wider use. The Borough Council undertook a survey early in 2005 which showed that all our schools are currently offering at least one ‘extended’ service. From this base, schools will be encouraged and facilitated to enhance existing services and develop in new areas. A Strategy for Extending Provision through extended schools and children’s centres is due to be published in October 2005. The Council’s vision is: “The Borough Council is committed to the development of extended provision through both schools and children’s centres as a means of achieving better outcomes for all children in Bracknell Forest. By 2010, all schools in Bracknell Forest will be offering core services and at least six Children’s Centres will be set up, with additional support provided for rural areas in the north of the Borough. Both schools and centres will reflect the needs of their neighbourhoods and provide tailored services to children, families and the wider community. The pattern of demand and provision will be in equilibrium. The schools and centre in each neighbourhood will provide between them a varied range of services – all schools will not provide the same services, and in some instances schools will act as a signpost to services or specialist support available at a different location.” It proposed that support to the community will be provided based on secondary schools’ designated areas, working out of a school identified as the ‘hub’ for the community. All schools in the local
© BFBC 56 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT community will be included, and advice provided to extend services on a co-ordinated basis. Implementation will be phased over three years in the following way: • Phase 1: Working in South Bracknell in the communities of Great Hollands, Hanworth and Birch Hill, and working out of two hub schools – Great Hollands Primary and The Pines School. Start in September 2005. • Phase 2: Working in Sandhurst community. Start in January 2006. • Phase 3: Working in South Bracknell in the designated area of Brakenhale School. Start in April 2006. • Phase 4: Working in North Bracknell in the designated area of Garth Hill College. Start in September 2006. • Phase 5: Working in the Crowthorne community in the designated area of Edgbarrow School. Start in April 2007.
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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 provide The Council’s approach to promoting community cohesion in short and medium team policy direction . the Borough in the medium and short term. Education and Libraries Service Plan (NB pre-merger with Children’s Services May 2005)
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. Library and Early Years Special Information Education School and Behaviour Adult and Asset Educational Service Youth Accessibility Development Organisation Childcare Support Community Management Needs Review Annual Service Plan Strategy Plan Plan Development Plan Learning Plan Plan and Strategy Position Plan Statement Plan for To support school Concerns the Policies and Sets out the Strategy for Plan for the The strategic Strategy for the ensuring that improvement and provision of principles for Plan for the plan for dealing with development plan for improvement of all schools ensure that school places children with development services for pupils with of library and developing educational and the targets for pupil in terms of special of youth young behavioural information lifelong buildings and curriculum achievement are quality and educational provision. children. difficulties. services. learning. sites. are fully met or exceeded. quantity. needs. accessible. © BFBC 58 Bracknell Forest LEA School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 Supplement DRAFT
APPENDIX 2
Admissions policy for Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools for 2005/2006
Admissions process Applications for all Bracknell Forest Community and Voluntary Controlled schools will be considered under the Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme as ‘equal preferences’. This scheme allows each school named as a preference to be considered as if it were a stand alone application. The LEA 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 whose home address is in the area served by the school. (2) Children who have siblings, brother(s) or sister(s), at the school, and who will still be attending the school at the time of the child’s admission. In circumstances where: (a) the sibling is an older sibling and is attending the school because he or she was not able to secure a place at his or her designated school ; and (b) as a consequence is attending the school which is in an adjacent designated area the applicant will be treated as a ‘preferential sibling’ and will be considered before other non-designated area applicants who have siblings at the school. (3) Children who have strong medical or strong social grounds for admission (4) In the case of a junior school, children who have attended the 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 whose home address is in the area served by the school. (2) Children who have siblings, brother(s) or sister(s), at the school, and who will still be attending the school at the time of the child’s admission. In circumstances where: (a) the sibling is an older sibling and is attending the school because he or she was not able to secure a place at his or her designated school ; and (b) as a consequence is attending the school which is in an adjacent designated area the applicant will be treated as a ‘preferential sibling’ and will be considered before other non-designated area applicants who have siblings at the school. (3) Children whose parents choose the school on denominational grounds (4) Children who have strong medical or strong social grounds for admission (5) In the case of a junior school (Ascot Heath Junior), children who have attended the infant school (Ascot Heat Infant) 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? *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.
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“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 2005/2006
Admissions process Applications for all Bracknell Forest community schools will be considered under the Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme as ‘equal preferences’. This scheme allows each school named as a preference to be considered as if it were a stand alone application. The LEA 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. After these two requirements have been satisfied and, if the number of requests exceeds the number of places (PAN), the following criteria will 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 brother(s) or sister(s) at the school (including sixth form) 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 strong 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. This must show that the school named is the only school that the child can attend because of the strong social/strong medical problems. 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.
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(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. (F) All other applicants. After the closing date all applications received will be sorted into the appropriate criteria above. If more than one criteria is fulfilled then your application will be considered as a combined criteria application. The greater the combination of criteria the higher the priority. If there are still insufficient places and no distinction can be made between applicants a final decision will be made on a radial distance between the home and the school within each category. Radial distance will be based on the co-ordinates for the property as defined in the Local Land and Property Gazetteer and based on the Ordnance Survey’s national system.
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APPENDIX 4 Map of Primary School Designated Areas
NB The Pines Infant and Junior Schools were amalgamated on 1 Sept 2005 to become The Pines School
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