Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to provide additional temporary classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School.  The additional classrooms are required from the beginning of the 2017/18 school year.  This accommodation will meet existing demand at the school following a decision to admit additional pupils in the school’s Reception cohort in 2016, which relieved wider pupil place pressures in the west of the city.  Approval is sought for the required capital expenditure.

Resolved:  That the budget of £300,000 for the provision of a temporary double classroom unit be approved.

Reason:     To provide enough classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School for the increased intake admitted in September 2016.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval to provide additional temporary classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School.  The additional classrooms were required from the beginning of the 2017/18 school year.  This accommodation would meet existing demand at the school following a decision to admit additional pupils in the school’s Reception cohort in 2016, which relieved wider pupil place pressures in the west of the city.  Approval was sought for the required capital expenditure.

Officers gave details of the reasons why the temporary classroom was required, as outlined in the report, and stated that a double temporary classroom unit was recommended to enable the school to accommodate one bulge year from September 2017 and to continue to provide for out of school provision.  Consultation had taken place with the headteacher and governors of Acomb Primary School and the headteachers from the “West” cluster of schools.

The Executive Member noted that the costs of this provision would be around £300,000, as detailed in paragraph 18 of the report. Funding for the scheme was available within the Basic Need programme budget.  Officers were asked about the costs of providing a single classroom unit in comparison to a double unit.  They stated that most of the costs related to utilities and ground work and that these would apply irrespective of the size of unit.  A double unit would, however, give greater flexibility.

The Executive Member stated that he recognised the value of accommodation being available for purposes such as wrap around care, as well as for classrooms. 

Officers were asked about the impact of the additional accommodation on neighbouring schools.  The Executive Member was informed that many of the schools in that area of the city were at, or over, their Published Admission Number.  There were, however, two schools which did have some capacity.  The Local Authority sought to support schools in filling places that were available but this was not always possible.  The Executive Member stated that he supported the principle of parental preference where possible.

Resolved:  That the budget of £300,000 for the provision of a temporary double classroom unit be approved.

Reason:     To provide enough classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School for the increased intake admitted in September 2016.