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