Consultation on the Expansion of School Premises at Great Denham School Background Notice is given in accordance with the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 that, on behalf of the Governors of the school and Biddenham Campus Trust, Bedford Borough Council (‘Local Authority’) intends to make a prescribed alteration to Great Denham Primary School from 1 September 2018. It is proposed that, with effect from the 2018/2019 school year intake, the school should be expanded and its admission number should be permanently increased from 60 to 90. The current permanent capacity of the school is 420. The proposed final capacity will be 630. The current number of pupils registered at the school (as at October 2016) is 435. The current admission number for the school is 60 and the proposed admission number will be 90. R 1 2 3 4 5 6 Capacity 2016 60 60 60 90 60 60 60 450 2017 60 60 60 60 90 60 60 450 2018 90 60 60 60 60 90 60 480 2019 90 90 60 60 60 60 90 510 2020 90 90 90 60 60 60 60 540 2021 90 90 90 90 60 60 60 570 2022 90 90 90 90 90 60 60 600 2023 90 90 90 90 90 90 60 630 2024 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 660 The fact that the capacity of the school will increase by over 30 pupils and by 25% or 200 pupils (whichever is lesser) means that the Local Authority must follow a statutory process as set out in the Prescribed Alterations Regulations – the process is set out in the table below. Why expand on our current site? There is population expansion in the area around the school and the Local Authority has a duty to secure a sufficiency of school places. We wish to further improve the school by offering the current and future pupils improved facilities. Whilst there have been significant improvements to the curriculum and learning environment in the past ten years, there is a wish to expand and reshape the buildings to further develop the innovative provision. The school is popular and successful. Expansion will give the school a larger budget, which will enable it to have a broader curriculum, with a greater variety of teaching expertise and specialisms; and enable more collaboration and sharing and observation of good practice by year‐group teachers and teaching assistants The total capital cost of the project is £1,905,838 with all costs being met by the Local Authority. Please note this consultation is about the educational decision to expand the school. Any building works that may be required will be subject to the planning process in accordance with Bedford Borough Council policy and procedures. This will involve further consultation, where appropriate. Without the additional places that this proposal will provide, the Local Authority would be reliant upon a strategy of providing temporary additional places, which is considered to be a less than ideal solution compared with permanent expansion, given that the shortfall of places is predicted to continue for the next decade unless additional places are made available. It would also represent poor value for money compared with permanent expansion, which enables the school’s facilities to be enlarged proportionately in a way that temporary expansion does not. The proposal (following on from discussions with architects and builders) is to build sufficient additional classrooms to allow the school to provide for an additional form of entry. There will be no change to the admissions policy but it is expected that the Pupil Admission Number will increase from 60 to 90. How will the decision be made? Following this consultation, the Council will carefully consider all responses. If it decides to proceed with the expansion, it will then publish statutory proposals for Great Denham Primary School. These proposals will be decided upon by the Council through the Executive. The consultation period runs from 23rd November2016 to 12 noon 25th January 2017. Please let us have your views. The timescale for the consultation process is set out below: 21st October 2016 Portfolio Holder decision to consult on the expansions and, after reviewing the consultation, to publish statutory proposals if necessary. 23rd November 2016 Consultation starts 25th January 2017 Consultation ends Jan Portfolio holder to review consultation and decide whether to publish statutory proposal to expand the school. 1st February Publish statutory proposal with a 4‐week representation period 8th March 4‐week representation period ends April 2017 Should the decision be taken to proceed with the expansion, an Executive Decision to enact the statutory process will be actioned. CONSULTATION ON PROPOSAL TO ENLARGE GREAT DENHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL How to have your say Please take the time to read the consultation document. We are interested to hear your views. More information can be found at: www.bedford.gov.uk/schoolsconsultations You can email us at [email protected] You can write to us at Consulting Bedford, Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, MK42 9AP We are particularly interested to hear your responses to the following: 1) Do you support or oppose the proposal that, with effect from the 2018/2019 school year intake, the school should be expanded with its admission number permanently being increased from 60 to 90? 2) Any comments you may have on the proposal including any alternative ideas or suggestions. 3) In what capacity/capacities you are responding (parent, member of governing body, local resident etc) The consultation runs between 23rd November 2016 – 25th January 2017. Comments received may be published. Details of what will happen after the consultation can be found in the ‘key dates’ section above.