Issue - meetings

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information for the expansion set out in agenda item 15 in Part 2 of this agenda, the business case for the phase 2 expansion programme at Sythwood Primary School, the provision of an additional 120 primary places in Woking, be approved.

Reasons for Decisions:

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient school places in the County and Woking is an area where school demand has increased significantly. This proposal, as part of a suite of expansions in school places, ensures that the Council is able to provide an appropriate pattern of provision in the Woking area to meet the needs of this rising population.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by either the Council Overview Board or the Education and Skills Scrutiny Board]

This report to approve the Business Case for the phase 2 expansion of Sythwood Primary School from a 2 Form of Entry primary (420 places) to a 3 Form of Entry primary (630 places) to meet the basic need requirements in the Woking area from September 2016 was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Educational Achievement.

She said that this school was highly regarded in the Woking area and was part of the Bourne Academy Trust. She confirmed that the headteacher and governors of the school had been fully consulted on the proposals to provide a standalone two-storey modular building to provide six classrooms, as part of the phase 2 expansion of this school. She also hoped that the planning application would be approved by the Planning and Regulatory Committee in March 2016.

The Cabinet Member for Business Services and Resident Experience confirmed her support for this school expansion. She also highlighted that Surrey County Council was creating 11,000 more school places over the next five years and that this rising demand for school places in the county had not been fully funded by Central Government.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information for the expansion set out in agenda item 15 in Part 2 of this agenda, the business case for the phase 2 expansion programme at Sythwood Primary School, the provision of an additional 120 primary places in Woking, be approved.

Reasons for Decisions:

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient school places in the County and Woking is an area where school demand has increased significantly. This proposal, as part of a suite of expansions in school places, ensures that the Council is able to provide an appropriate pattern of provision in the Woking area to meet the needs of this rising population.