Issue - meetings

Key Decision identified as Allscott Free School Presumption in the Notice of Key Decisions published on 24 March 2021.

Councillor S A W Reynolds, Cabinet Member: Children, Young People, Education and Lifelong Learning presented the report of the Director: Education and Skills.

The report sought approval to undertake a presumption competition to establish a new primary school at Allscott due to need arising from residential development in the area.

An Academy sponsor needed to be identified to open the new school at Allscott to ensure there were sufficient school places in the local area for children moving to the new Allscott development. It was proposed that the new school would open in September 2023 and provide 150 new primary school places.

The residential developer, through a s.106 agreement, would meet the capital costs of delivering the new school.

The Leaders of the Conservative and the Liberal Democrat/Independent Groups welcomed the proposal. The Leader of the Conservative Group queried what would happen if a sponsor did not present itself.

The Cabinet Member informed the Leader of the Conservative Group that the Department for Education would ensure that the Council did find a sponsor. The Director: Education and Skills noted that there had already been interest in sponsoring the proposed school.

RESOLVED that:

The commencement of the presumption competition to find a suitable school sponsor for the proposed Allscott Primary School be approved.