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That pupil roll projections and other trend
data set out in Report CEF23112 be noted.
 
That the continued increase in the number
of children and young people with an Education Health and Care Plan
above demographic trends be noted.
 
That a planning margin of 5% above the GLA
School Roll Projections continues to be implemented to provide for
local variations in need and to meet parental preferences.
 
That it is noted that School Census,
Admissions and the GLA School Roll Projections now indicate a
sustained reduction in the need for primary school places in future
years, with a significant surplus of Reception Year places from
September 2024 in some primary planning areas.
 
Based on the analysis undertaken within this
report, that officers take the action set out below, working with
local schools, academy trusts and where relevant the Department for
Education to:
 
Primary Planning Area 1:
No immediate need to reduce
numbers. Recommendation to watch situation with potential need to
reduce places after 2026.
 
Primary Planning Area 2:
Recommend reducing capacity by
1 form of entry and then keep under review for possible further
reduction from 2028 onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 3:
Recommend reducing capacity by
1 form of entry and then keep under review for possible further
reduction from 2028 onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 4:
Recommend reducing capacity by
1 form of entry and then keep under review for possible further
reduction from 2027 onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 5:
Recommend taking out 1 form of
entry and then keep under review for possible further reduction
from 2027 onwards.
 
Primary Planning Area 6
Look at reducing capacity by 2
forms of entry initially but keep under review for further
changes.
 
Primary Planning Area 7
Look at taking out 2 forms of
entry initially but keep under review for further future
reductions.
 
Primary Planning Area 8:
Keep capacity at current level
and keep under review.
 
Primary Planning Area 9:
Seek to reduce capacity by 1
form of entry.
 
That, in delivering reductions in primary
rolls, consideration should be given to the need to safeguard the
school estate.
 
That there remains pressure on secondary
school rolls in the west of the Borough, and that secondary school
rolls are not projected to experience any significant reduction
until the end of the decade.
 
That there are specific pressures for
placements for pupils with an Education Health and Care Plan, and
that the Council works with local schools, trusts and the
Department for Education to bring proposals forward to increase
capacity and improve provision where necessary. The High Needs
Funding and Estates Review will be a key route for identifying
opportunities to bring forward additional capacity.
 
That discussions be undertaken with schools,
multi academy trusts and the Department for Education to ensure a
sufficient supply of mainstream school places in the Borough,
including through expansions and opening new schools.
 
That there has been delay in the progress in
the delivery of Redwood Academy special free school, and that the
Council engages in conversation with both the trust and Department
for Education to ensure that the school opens at the earliest
opportunity.
 
That it be noted that the proposed Harris Kent
House free school was cancelled by the Harris Federation.
 
That the Council should actively seek to
increase the capacity of in-borough specialist provision.
 
That, where expansion is agreed, to implement
through the education capital programme (subject to the
availability of funds).
 
That the change in primary and secondary
planning areas be noted. The Council will remain in dialogue with
the Department for Education about the Borough’s primary and
secondary planning areas.
 

Reasons for the decision

Bromley Council has established policies and
processes in place for the review and strategic planning of school
places and related school organisation to ensure it meets its
statutory responsibilities to secure sufficient school places as
well as to make appropriate provision for children and young people
with special educational needs.  This
work also helps deliver the priority within the Local
Authority’s Making Bromley Even Better 2021/31
strategy which aims to ensure that children and young people are
supported to grow up, thrive and have the best life chances in
families who flourish and are happy to call Bromley home.