The Lead Member for Children’s Services introduced the report that explained options for providing additional places at Newlands Girls’ School in Maidenhead.

The Lead Member for Children’s Services explained that a briefing note had preceded this Cabinet report because following the offer of Year 7 places for September 2018 38 Maidenhead girls did not get their first preference choice for the school.  In addition, residents connected to Oldfield Primary School have submitted an objection to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator stating that the admissions arrangements were unfair to children, particularly girls, living in the Oldfield designated area. 

Due to the current school expansion projects there were sufficient school places in Maidenhead until 2021 and thus any proposed expansion of the school could not be funded from basic needs. 

Work had been undertaken to look at expansion options but due to the already overcrowded site expansion would be complex and expensive.  Expanding the role by an additional 30 pupils would cost in the region of £12 to £15 million at a per pupil cost that would be 4 to 5 times above the national benchmarked figure.  Pending the adjudicators findings it was recommended that the schools expansion be brought forward to the second phase of the school expansion programme.

The Chairman said that Cabinet would like to expand popular schools if it was possible but in this instance if the school was moved to a more appropriate site for expansion then local residents would lose out on places.  This was a good report that made residents aware of the issues faced for expansion of the school. 

The Lead Member for Finance mentioned that the Council should continue to invest in schools but an eye also needed to be kept on practicalities such as admission codes allowing for outlying feeder schools to allow pupils places at schools where because of their location they would otherwise be disadvantaged. 

Resolved unanimously: that Cabinet notes the report and:

i)          Awaits the outcome of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator and feasibility work.