THIS REPORT RELATES STIRLING COUNCIL TO ITEM 09 ON THE AGENDA EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND EDUCATION 10 MARCH 2016 NOT EXEMPT PLACING REQUESTS – RESERVED PLACES 1 SUMMARY 1.1 This paper identifies the number of places requiring to be reserved in Stirling’s schools during academic session 2016/17 to ensure there is sufficient provision for children at their local catchment schools. Reserving places allows the Education Authority to manage the admission to schools within the local area, ensuring that children arriving late in the catchment area can still be accommodated and that there is no detriment to provision of education. 1.2 The Council’s placing request policy takes account of reserved places. This paper updates the reserved places position for academic session 2016/17. 1.3 The list of schools at which reserved places are recommended is shown in Appendix 1. In addition some background information is provided in Appendix 2. 1.4 This year’s review takes account of the recently adopted Local Development Plan. 2 OFFICER RECOMMENDATION(S) The Education Committee agrees to: 2.1 approve the recommended places to be reserved for catchment area children for session 2016/2017 in the schools listed in Appendix 1 to this report. 2.2 delegate authority to the Director of Children, Young People and Education to determine the allocation of reserved places at specific year stages in each school. 3 CONSIDERATIONS 3.1 Under the terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, parents have the right to express a preference for their child to attend a school of their choice other than the local catchment school. The local authority accommodates these requests where it has no resource or other implication for the requested school. 3.2 The Education (Scotland) Act 1996, as amended by the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000, gives Education Authorities the power to reserve places at specific schools for children who move into school catchment areas after enrolment had been completed. In some schools these numbers can be significant through build or other factors. These reserved places may be allocated to particular year stages by the Director of Children, Young People and Education, or nominated officer. 3.3 Stirling Council continues to experience pressure on school rolls in some schools. Several schools are under pressure due to housing development within their catchment areas. Provision for pupils moving into the catchment area needs to be made by utilising the reserved places legislation to reserve spaces within establishments and reduce the potential for alternative placements having to be made. 3.4 The Education Service continues to work closely with colleagues in Planning over the educational implications of new housing development. Given the current housing market, it is recognised that the trends identified in previous years are likely to change. Updated figures from the housing land audit have been used in the calculation of these figures. 3.5 Places are reserved on a combination of factors including: • Anticipated capacity pressures due to planned house build within school catchment areas. Information on this is gathered from local land plan audit and meetings with the Council’s planning service. • A history of late enrolment. • A history of alternative placement of catchment pupils. • Other known local factors that significantly affect pupil numbers (e.g. University accommodation, homeless accommodation). • A review of the number of reserved places used in the current year. 3.6 The schools at which places will be reserved and the number of places to be reserved are reviewed annually. 3.7 Parents have a right to ask to place their child in a school of their choice. Placing requests are prioritised in accordance with Stirling Council policy. The Council does not have to accept a placing request where: • to do so they would have to employ an additional teacher or provide additional accommodation either in this year or future years. • If parents want their child to be admitted to a stage of education for which the child is not yet ready, or to a school which cannot meet the child's needs. • The school requested has been provided for children with additional support needs, and the child does not have additional support needs. • If they think that a child would be likely to disturb the order and discipline in that school, or the educational well-being of pupils attending the school. • accepting the request would prevent the council reserving a place at the school for a child likely to move into the area of the school in-year. • accepting the request would mean that the capacity of the school would be exceeded in terms of pupil numbers. 4 POLICY/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS Policy Implications Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment No Single Outcome Agreement Yes Diversity (age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation) No Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) Yes Effect on Council’s green house gas emissions No Strategic/Service Plan Yes Existing Policy or Strategy Yes Risk No Resource Implications Financial Yes People No Land and Property or IT Systems Yes Consultations Internal or External Consultations Yes Equality Impact Assessment 4.1 The policy presented in this report was considered under the Council’s Equalities Impact Assessment process and the Equalities Impact Assessment undertaken has determined that the review of the numbers associated with this policy will have a minor positive impact ensuring equality of access to groups who move into the area outwith the normal enrolment cycle who wish to access their catchment school (including Gypsy and traveller groups). Strategic Environmental Assessment 4.2 The contents of this report were considered under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and a strategic environmental assessment is not required. Single Outcome Agreement 4.3 Adopting the recommendations within this report support the Single Outcome agreements outcomes of Communities are well served better connected, improved support for disadvantaged and vulnerable families and individuals and improved opportunities for learning, training and work. Other Policy Implications 4.4 Sustainability – This policy reduces the need to alternatively place pupils which can result in increased levels of transport. 4.5 Strategic Plan – ensuring that service delivery is effective and efficient. 4.6 Service Plan – to ensure provision of high quality learning and teaching environments. Resource Implications 4.7 By reserving places, it ensures that the service reduces potential expenditure on alternative placements and uses staffing and property resources efficiently. Consultations 4.8 As part of this process Headteachers, Education Officers and Officers from Planning have been consulted in reviewing the levels of places. Tick ( ) to confirm and add relevant initials The appropriate Convener(s), Vice Convener(s), Portfolio Holder and AB Depute Portfolio Holder have been consulted on this report MB The Chief Executive or Director has been consulted on this report as DL appropriate 5 BACKGROUND PAPERS 5.1 The Education (Scotland) Act 1996 5.2 The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 5.3 The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 5.4 Placing Requests – Reserved Places, Education Committee 8 January 2015. 6 APPENDICES 6.1 Appendix 1 – Placing Requests - Reserved Places (Current and Proposed) 6.2 Appendix 2 – Placing Requests – School Analysis 6.3 Appendix 3 – EqIA Relevance Check Form 6.4 Appendix 4 – Equality Impact Assessment Form Author(s) Name Designation Telephone Number/E-mail Colin McMenemy Planning and Performance Ext33220 Officer [email protected] Michael Boyle Education Business Manager Ext33215 [email protected] Approved by Name Designation Signature David Leng Director of Children, Young People and Education Date 18 February 2016 Service Reference Appendix 1 STIRLING COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICES Placing Requests – Reserved Places (Current and Proposed) Reserved Reserved Late Reserved Places Places Enrolments Places Current Proposed 2014/2015 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 Secondary Balfron High School 16 17 17 17 Bannockburn High School 8 10 10 10 Dunblane High School 23 15 15 20 Stirling High School 16 20 20 15 St Modan’s High School 27 15 15 15 Wallace High School 34 15 15 20 Primary Allan’s Primary School 20 8 8 8 Balfron Primary School 11 6 6 8 Bannockburn Primary School 18 10 10 10 Braehead Primary School 16 10 10 10 Bridge of Allan Primary School 11 10 10 10 Callander Primary School 23 8 8 10 Cornton Primary School 7 10 10 7 Doune Primary School 14 10 10 10 Drymen Primary School 3 6 6 3 Dunblane Primary School 35 16 16 16 East Plean Primary School 6 10 10 5 Killearn Primary School 3 4 4 3 Kippen Primary School 6 4 4 4 Newton Primary School 21 12 12 14 Riverside Primary School 38 15 15 16 St Ninian’s Primary School 12 15 15 12 St Mary’s RC Primary, B’burn 6 10 10 8 Strathblane Primary School 13 3 3 3 St Margaret’s RC Primary 3 6 3 4 In proposing the number of reserved places for each school, account has been taken of specific local circumstances pertaining to each school. Also, the reserved places take account of particular pressures in relation to proposed new housing in certain school catchment areas. Appendix 2 STIRLING COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICES Placing Requests – School Analysis SECONDARY SECTOR BALFRON HIGH SCHOOL The occupancy level at Balfron High School remains high at 92%. Last session the school had 17 late enrolments, slightly lower than the previous year. It is recommended to retain reserved places at 16. BANNOCKBURN HIGH SCHOOL Bannockburn High School is at 71% occupancy, down from 73% occupancy. The school has a relatively low level of late enrolments, 8last session. It is recognised that Bannockburn High School will have substantial build within the school catchment as identified in the Local Development Plan.