Expansion Proposal Woodcote Primary School Engagement Meeting - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Expansion Proposal Woodcote Primary School Engagement Meeting Monday 28 September 2015, 7pm Key Stage 2 Hall

INTRODUCTIONS Opening Comments & Welcome Tim Rome - Headteacher

INTRODUCTIONS Croydon Council: • Denise Bushay – School Place Planning and Organisation Manager • Ayobunmi Olowolagba – School Places Manager Woodcote Leadership • James Collins – Chair Of Governors

PURPOSE OF MEETING • Inform you about the proposal to expand Woodcote Primary school by 1 form of entry • Seek initial views on the proposal • Respond to your questions

THE PROPOSAL • Permanently expand the school by 1 form of entry from September 2017 – To make permanent the bulge class – To admit an additional 30 pupils per year from Sept 2017 – A total of 120 places will be offered to children applying for reception places from September 2017 – The school will reach its full capacity in 2023 with 120 pupils in each year group

THE PROPOSED TIMELINE • Temporary class in September 2016 • Permanent class in September 2017 • YR to Y6 – gradual growth • By 2023 the school will reach its full capacity with 840 pupils.

The need for places across the borough • Rise in birth rates • Growth in demand for primary school places • Child yield from housing development • Changes in local migration pattern – Increased inward migration; reduced outward migration

Forecast of demand & available places South West planning area

Supply strategy for primary school places South West planning area • Supply strategy:  2016/17 – Bulge class TBC Woodcote Primary  TBC  2016/17 – Permanent expansion  1FE - Chipstead Valley  2017/18 – Permanent expansion  1FE – Woodcote Primary  1FE – TBC

Questions To LA Specifically On Need For Places

 As an oversubscribed Community School providing “Outstanding” education to local children we felt obliged to consider the LA’s expansion request although not something actively sought  We are mindful that the LA does have power to direct maintained schools to take additional classes but would prefer to work with schools positively  Governing body has therefore sought to work with the LA to explore feasible expansion schemes that would be acceptable to Governing Body and Stakeholders

 The Governing Body has communicated the key priorities/non-negotiables for any scheme to receive our support  Good discussions with the LA and Architects have taken place our views are being taken account of - a £5M budget has been allocated with assurances this will all be used on implementing the scheme including site enhancement  No decisions are finalised, stakeholders views are to be sought as part of the formal Public Consultation

 Sufficient Demand From Local Children  Adequate Outside Play Space  Coherent Year Groups – Small School Feeling  Pressure On Communal Areas e.g. Dining  Traffic & Congestion  Disruption Caused By Building Works

◦ 2015 Admissions - 128 first/second preferences - Furthest Distance Admitted 1.123 miles – BEFORE OUSTANDING OFSTED ◦ Council planning shows 3FE (90) Additional Places Required ◦ Proximity of local developments ◦ A chance for local children to go to a good local school

◦ Main non-negotiable for Governors ◦ Expansion to use “Dead Areas” of site ◦ Increase in Reception Play Area ◦ Possible Hard Playground/MUGA upper car park (all but 4 spaces can be re-provided in remodelled lower car park) ◦ Possible removal of Hut in lower (KS1) playground ◦ Better use of rear KS2 grassed area ◦ Landscaping & Artificial Grass if within budget for soft play ◦ More Playground support staff

◦ Reception Class infill to adjoin existing ◦ Year groups to be kept together as additional class grows through school ◦ Maintain cohesion - classes to still exit/leave via own doors ◦ Year groups to have access to own play areas ◦ Site not overloaded by additional numbers in bottlenecks

◦ Additional seating capacity for KS2 Dining Hall ◦ Make kitchen servery in KS1 Hall for hot trolley service ◦ Staggered times for lunch & usage of communal areas

◦ Travel Plan reassessment ◦ Staggered school start times ◦ Encouraging walking to school (local families) ◦ Possible “Kiss & Drop” at front of site ◦ Possible permanent “One Way” system ◦ Improved Council Parking Enforcement ◦ Measures to reduce arrival density & length of drop off ◦ Planners will have input

◦ Reception class works mainly done in the Summer Holidays (there is an overlap into term time) ◦ Main block contractors access and works offices via temporary road on school field ◦ 2 storey block modular build - components constructed off site minimised noise/disruption ◦ Screened construction – with viewing holes to allow children to see the work ◦ We appreciate this aspect cannot be totally mitigated

Yr. 4 A potential scheme

Opportunities / Benefits • To address existing site Concerns which will be compounded by the increase in additional pupils • Utilise underused areas of site and provide increased hard/soft play areas • To provide a whole school building which will be more efficient to run – new classes generously sized • To provide opportunities for more local pupils to attend an outstanding school.

Next steps • Publication of statutory notice • Representation period (formal consultation) - 4 weeks • Report to Council’s Cabinet for decision • Implementation (if approved & subject to planning permission) – September 2017

For further information Croydon Council website – Woodcote Primary https://www.croydon.gov.uk/education/schools- new/primary-schools/woodcote-primary Woodcote Primary School website http://www.woodcoteprimary.croydon.sch.uk/ Email - school.org@croydon.gov.uk governors@woodcoteprimary.croydon.sch.uk