HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EDUCATION & SKILLS CABINET PANEL

TUESDAY 5 FEB 2013 AT 10.00 a.m.

SCHOOL EXPANSIONS

Report of the Director Education and Early Intervention

Report Author: Pauline Davis, Head of School Planning

Tel: 01992 555865

Simon Newland, Assistant Director Education Provision and Access

Tel: 01992 515042

Executive Member: Frances Button (Education & Skills)

Local Members: David Andrews, Derrick Ashley, Maxine Crawley,

Terry Douris, Steve Drury, James Fraser, Deirdre Gates,

Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Bryan Hammond, Dave Hewitt,

Bernard Lloyd, Jan Maddern, Colette Wyatt-Lowe,

William Wyatt-Lowe,

1.  Purpose of report

1.1  To update the Education and Skills Panel on the primary expansion programmes for 2012 and 2013;

1.2 To seek the Panel’s recommendations to Cabinet on a potential programme for 2014 primary expansions and associated budget implications and to endorse the Director of Education and Early Intervention’s intention to initiate consultation on the expansion of school premises identified in the Report.

1.3 To update the Panel on the position in relation to the need for secondary school expansion, including the receipt of the Meeting the Rising Demand for secondary school places document.

2. Summary

2.1 There have been two education expansions programmes for the need identified within the primary sector in 2012 and 2013. All identified additional places necessary for 2012 were in place in time. All but one statutory proposal for the expansion of school premises for the 2013 programme have been approved and projects are progressing. Additional places may be required in areas where a case could not be made for permanent expansions and approval is sought to an allocation of funds for temporary accommodation to enable swift implementation once plans can be determined following the receipt of applications.

2.2 The main body of this report sets out the proposed primary expansion programme for September 2014, and agreement is sought for the Director Education and Early Intervention to start consultation.

2.3 Approval is also sought for capital investment in additional accommodation at a number of schools which have insufficient accommodation for their rising rolls.

2.4 The current position on the future need for additional secondary school places is explored by settlement in the Meeting the Rising Demand for secondary school places, attached as appendix A , and the formulation of a programme.

3. Recommendations

3.1  The Panel is asked to recommend to Cabinet:

(i)  approval to the list of proposed permanent and temporary primary school expansions relating to September 2013 and 2014 in paragraph 7.4, at a total programme cost of £30.99m, subject to the receipt of an appropriate level of basic need grant allocation.

3.2  The Panel is also asked :

(ii)  to endorse the Director of Education and Early Intervention’s intention to consult on proposals for the permanent expansion of primary school premises for 2014/15 following the Panel meeting;

(iii)  to note the Meeting the Rising Demand for secondary school places and the position on the formulation of a programme of secondary school expansions, and

(iv)  to note the steps being taken to implement the PEP1 and PEP2 programmes, and the financial risks remaining (paragraph 9.7).

(v)  to note that the final proposals for expansion will be subject to the available quantum of basic need grant which will not be known until end January 2013.

4. Background

4.1  The Panel received a report providing an update on the primary school expansions programmes at its meeting on 19 September 2012 (http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/civic_calendar/edskillcp/17446812/)

4.2 At the Panel meeting an updated ‘Meeting the Rising Demand for primary school places’ document was provided together with an indication of the level of need for 2014 and beyond.

4.3 This report provides a further update on previous programmes. It also seeks the Panel’s recommendation to Cabinet for a programme of primary school expansions for 2014 upon which the Director of Education and Early Intervention will consult on proposals for the expansion of school premises.

4.4 An updated Meeting the Rising Demand for secondary school places document is appended and this report updates the Panel on progress towards the formulation of a secondary programme.

5. Review of the 2012 primary school expansions programme (PEP1) and first wave of Free Schools

5.1 The PEP1 programme was previously approved by Cabinet for additional places in September 2012:

http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/civic_calendar/cabinet/15930991/

http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/civic_calendar/cabinet/16951676/

http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/civic_calendar/cabinet/16954169/

5.2 All pupils started school as planned in September 2012. Most approved building schemes have been completed. Permanent building schemes continue at those schemes approved later than the main programme (Martins Wood, St. Anthony’s and Samuel Ryder) and those which were delayed due to town planning difficulties (Brookland Infant and Junior Schools).

5.3 Three free schools opened in the county for September 2012 intakes: Hatfield Community Free School; Alban City School; and the Harpenden Free School. In addition, the primary element of the Samuel Ryder Academy opened.

6. Progress on primary expansion programme for September 2013 (PEP2) and second wave of Free Schools

6.1 Statutory proposals are complete for those schemes where it was necessary : http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/civic_calendar/cabinet/17437799/ hertsdirect.org Cabinet 20130121. Scheme designs have been progressing and are working their way through the town planning system ready for delivery for September 2013.

6.2 As previously reported, having planned for permanent expansions only where a sustained need could be demonstrated, there were a number of areas where the forecast indicated a very close match between the supply and demand for places. The agreed strategy for dealing with those cases was to replicate the successful process undertaken for 2012 admissions. That involved waiting until the receipt of primary applications to determine whether temporary expansion was necessary and then making the places available at the first round of continuing interest, allowing parents to re-express preferences for the affected schools. As in previous years it would be prudent to make a capital allocation to cover a number of temporary expansions in order to ensure delivery on time. Potentially there may need to be a similar number to last year and so approval is sought to an allocation of £2.8m (see table in 7.4), subject to the receipt of basic need grant. An update will be provided in subsequent progress reports, as was done for 2012.

6.3 Cabinet in May 2012 (http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/civic_calendar/cabinet/16954169/) agreed to commission the development of three additional Free School proposals to open in September 2014, two in Watford and one in Hemel Hemsted. Bids have been prepared for submission to the DfE in early January, and a sponsoring trust established including membership from HCC, the University of Hertfordshire, West Herts College, Francis Combe academy and other bodies. The budget for PEP2 contains a provision for necessary site acquisition, enabling/design works, and a degree of contingency against the (considerable) risk that the DfE is unwilling to fund the costs of all three of the proposed schools in full.

7. Proposed primary expansion programme for September 2014 (PEP3)

7.1 Work has progressed since the September report to identify where expansions are required for 2014. Options within the areas of need have been assessed under the Director Education and Early Intervention’s four tests:

·  does it provide the right number of places in the right location?

·  does it support and not undermine school effectiveness?

·  are the implications for buildings, environment and cost feasible and affordable?

·  transitional implications.

7.2 The need for temporary expansions is indicated in a few areas and an allocation to cover those is also sought.

7.3 In addition, there are a number of schools which do not have sufficient accommodation to house all children within their PANs. This has not been an issue until now but with rising rolls accommodation will be required. Approval is therefore sought to rectify the position at those schools. Without it, there will be less places available.

7.4 A proposed programme of permanent primary school expansions is shown in the table in below, which also includes allowances for temporary expansions and schemes where accommodation is required to sustain current PANS.

Area / School name / Expansion by form of entry (FE) / Increase in admission number / Target capital cost £m
Permanent expansions for September 2014
Croxley Green / Yorke Mead / 1.0
(to 2 f.e.) / 30 / 3.24
Harpenden / High Beeches / 1.0
(to 2 f.e.) / 30 / 2.88
Hemel Hempsted West / Galley Hill / 0.5
(to 2 f.e.) / 15 / 1.1
Hemel Hempsted North West / South Hill / 1.0
(to 2 f.e.) / 30 / 2.88
South Oxhey / Oxhey Wood Primary / 0.3
(to 2 f.e.) / 9 / 0.72
Stevenage North / Letchmore Road Infants & Almond Hill Juniors;
Giles Infants and Giles Juniors; / 1.0
(to 3 f.e.)
1.0
(to 3 f.e.) / 30
30 / 2.12
2.98
Walkern / Walkern Primary / 0.3
(0.83 f.e.) / 10 / 0.72
Ware / St. Catherine’s CoE Primary / 0.5
(to 2 f.e.) / 15 / 1.89
Watford / Central Primary / 1.0
(to 2 f.e.) / 30 / 1.51
Wheathampstead / St. Helen’s CoE Primary / 0.7
(to 2 f.e.) / 20 / 1.44
Sub-total / 21.48
Contingency / 2.39
Total perm / 23.87
Temporary expansions
For September 2013 / c.2.8
For September 2014 / c.2.0
Existing PAN additional accommodation requirements
Cheshunt / Downfield / 3 classrooms / 0.9
Hitchin / Whitehill Juniors / 1 classroom / 0.28
Hemel Hempsted / The Reddings / 1 classroom / 0.3
Hemel Hempsted / Brockswood / 2 classrooms / 0.42
Harpenden / The Lea / 2 classrooms / 0.42
Total existing PAN req’ts / 2.32
Total programmecost / 30.99

7.5 The Panel is asked to support for the Director Education and Early Intervention consulting on any schools for the permanent expansion of school premises are required. The schools are aware of their potential inclusion in the proposed programme.

Costs and value for money

7.6 The total programme costs are based on the value engineered tender costs within the PEP2. They have been set at a target figure with an overall programme contingency. Scheme costs will vary between individual schools depending on the amount of existing accommodation available (and therefore the resulting level of build required) as well as the need to replace temporary accommodation to address earlier ‘bulge’ management.

Future timetable

7.7 The timetable of future action would be:

Public consultation / 6 Feb – 20 March
Cabinet / 25 Feb 2013
Panel (to receive the outcome of the consultation) / April (tbc)
Cabinet (to approve the publication of statutory notices) / 22 April
Statutory Notice period / Late April - May
Cabinet (for final approval if objections received) / 15 July
Implementation / September 2014

8. Secondary schools

8.1 Secondary place requirements are set out in the Meeting the Rising Demand for secondary school places document attached as appendix A which can also be found at (http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/aboutstatesch/planning/). (Note, the primary version of that document was considered by Panel in September 2012 and can be found in the same location.)

8.2 Since the last report to Panel further work has been carried out to begin to formulate a potential secondary expansion programme. The first priority areas will include those indicated as having a shortfall of places up until 2015/16 has been identified.

8.3 The programme will also include those areas where further work is required to commission new provision where it is likely to be required in the longer term (such as in south-west Hertfordshire, Harpenden, and Stevenage). Considerable work has already been undertaken. Site allocations are being sought for new schools in the context of the districts’ Local Development Framework processes. Enabling work needs to continue if provision is to be in place within an appropriate timescale.

8.4 Existing schools which, on the basis of survey work available at this point in time are indicated to have the potential capacity to expand, are currently engaging in further analysis to identify and cost potential needs. Further work should inform which schools have the capacity and willingness to expand in order to inform a prioritised and costed programme.

8.5 The emerging programme will be reported back to the Panel at an appropriate stage.

9. Financial implications

Revenue funding

9.1 Revenue funding has been made available to support the feasibility work for the school expansion programme.

Capital funding

9.2 The current estimated cost of the PEP3 programme including permanent and temporary expansions, and additional accommodation for existing PANS is £30.99m, as broken down in the table in para. 7.4. The costs of this programme will need to be met from the annual allocation of “Basic Need” capital grant from the DfE. We expect the Council’s allocation for 2013/14 to be announced in late January or possibly February. Depending on the timing of the announcement Panel or Cabinet will be updated as appropriate.

9.3 For 2012/13 Hertfordshire received a basic allocation of £22.45m and a supplementary allocation of £15.3m. In addition, it has been indicated that there is likely to be a further one year Locally Co-ordinated Voluntary Aided Programme (LCVAP) allocation and we continue to engage with the Dioceses on the expectation that it will contribute to the expansion of church schools within the proposed programme.

9.4 It is therefore reasonable to be confident that the costs of the PEP3 programme are affordable. In order to maintain programme momentum and to ensure delivery on time, it is therefore intended to commence public consultation immediately after the Panel meeting, using the Director’s delegated powers. It is also necessary immediately to commence design work at risk pending formal project approvals at Cabinet. However, the absence of information on the final grant award at this time could result in some revision to the final schemes to ensure that they are deliverable within the available grant.

9.5 Approval is therefore sought to the schemes outlined in section 7 to a total programme cost of £30.99m, subject to an appropriate level of basic need grant allocation.

Risks

9.6 It should be noted that all the main capital grant allocation for Basic Need for 2012/13 has been allocated to the September 2012 programme, and that the 2012/13 “top-up” announced in mid-April continues to be used as previously reported. In due course the extent to which Free School proposals will successfully meet Basic Need will be established.