The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 17^th January 2019. The relevant Minute and report has been referred direct to the People Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 614 of Cabinet held on 17th January 2019, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to the People Scrutiny Committee together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This presented the results of the consultation to permanently set the pupil admission number (PAN) at St Mary’s Prittlewell Church of England (CofE) Primary School at 90 pupils per year group, starting from admission into the reception year in September 2019.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the pupil admission numbers (PAN) at St Mary’s Prittlewell CofE Primary school be set at 90 pupils per year group, starting from admission to the reception year in September 2019 and work up through the school year on year until all year groups are at 90.”

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Boyd

Report of Deputy Chief Executive (People) attached

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) presenting the results of the consultation to permanently set the pupil admission number (PAN) at St Mary’s Prittlewell CofE Primary School at 90 pupils per year group, starting from admission into the reception year in September 2019.

Resolved:

That the pupil admission numbers (PAN) at St Mary’s Prittlewell CofE Primary school be set at 90 pupils per year group, starting from admission to the reception year in September 2019 and work up through the school year on year until all year groups are at 90.

Reasons for decision:

Returning to the admission number 60 could leave a shortage of places in the north/south corridor, especially once all the current new housing developments are completed along Victoria Avenue.  Forecasts indicate that agreeing to 90 will allow the Local Authority to meet its surplus margin of 5% to give parental choice across a wider selection of schools.

Other options:

To hold the school at its previous admission number of 60 or agree to increase to a higher admission number of 120.  The lower number could lead to future shortage in places in the central area of the borough.

Setting the admission number at 120 across all year groups would require capital investment by the local authority to increase the schools accommodation.  Current pupil planning does not identify a need for 120 places across all year groups and places a risk of unused places either at St Mary’s or other surrounding schools.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Referred direct to People Scrutiny Committee

Cabinet Member: Cllr Boyd