PART 1
(OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
ITEM NO.
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REPORT OF STRATEGIC DIRECTOR FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES
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TO THE LEAD MEMBER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES
ON 4 April 2011
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TITLE: LARK HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL
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RECOMMENDATION: That approval is granted to proceed with phase 2 works to
increase Lark Hill Primary School’s capacity, to accommodate additional upper KS1
and KS2 pupils from September 2011.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report provides details of phase 2 of the 2 part
scheme to increase Lark Hill Primary School’s capacity from 210 to 315 places to
accommodate pupils “displaced” from the 3 closing schools in the area.
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BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
(Available for public inspection)
Previous Cabinet reports on the Weaste/Seedley/Langworthy Primary School
Review Area.
Lead member reports on 19 February and 28 June 2010.
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KEY DECISION:
YES
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KEY COUNCIL POLICIES:
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EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND IMPLICATIONS: Ensuring that the
appropriate provision for pupils is in place for September 2011.
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ASSESSMENT OF RISK: High
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
need (new pupil places)
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Local authority capital allocations for 2011/12 for basic
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LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Developed with Customer and Support
Services and provided by Pat Manning – Education Capital Accountant.
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OTHER DIRECTORATES CONSULTED: None
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CONTACT OFFICER: Kathryn Mildenstein TEL. NO. 0161 778 0420
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WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATE(S): Claremont, Weaste and Seedley
and Langworthy wards.
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DETAILS:
1. Background
1.1. In September 2000 as part of a citywide review of primary school places,
Broadwalk and West Liverpool Street primary schools amalgamated. The new
school, Lark Hill was extended to 2 forms of entry (420 pupils) to accommodate
anticipated pupils from both schools.
1.2. Pupil numbers at Lark Hill gradually declined from 422 (January 2000) to 247
(January 2006), with further decline forecast. Pupil numbers had reduced to
177 by January 2009.
1.3. To address the surplus places at the school, Children’s Services Portage Team
and a new children’s centre were accommodated within the school building.
1.4. Proposals were then made to close Langworthy Road, Seedley and Tootal
Drive Primary Schools and to provide a new school, Willow Tree. However,
there was the possibility that the new replacement primary school would not be
large enough to accommodate all the children in attendance at the 3 closing
schools.
1.5. It was reported to cabinet on 9 January 2007 that for those pupils displaced
from the 3 closing schools there would be places available in surrounding
schools where there was known to be spare capacity. In addition Lark Hill
could be restored to a 315 place school.
1.6. The application process for admission to the new Willow Tree school in 2010
was oversubscribed and resulted in a requirement for Lark Hill to admit 45
pupils in each of nursery, reception and year 1.
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1.7. In the summer of 2010 phase 1 works were undertaken to increase Lark Hill’s
capacity to accommodate up to 45 pupils in each of the nursery, reception and
year 1 classes from September 2010.
1.8. It was acknowledged in the previous lead member report dated 19 February
2010 that as these pupils progressed throughout the school further works
(phase 2) would have to be undertaken to increase the school’s
accommodation accordingly and that these works were likely to take place by
September 2011.
2. Current Position
2.1. Phase 2 works consist of extending 2 upper KS1 classrooms which weren’t
included in phase 1, and 6 KS2 classrooms (2 of which are currently being
occupied by the Portage Team) (see plan attached).
2.2. All 8 classrooms are undersized at 43m2. This was not a problem in previous
years as pupil numbers in KS2 classes were below 30.
2.3. The increased pupil numbers will progress into upper KS1 and 1 KS2 in
September 2011 and we need to accommodate 45 pupils in each year group
throughout the school.
2.4. In order to achieve this it is proposed to extend the classrooms to 63m2, which
is the correct size for 30 pupils and is recommended in the DfE in Building
Bulletin 99 for new or remodelled schools. The increase in classroom size will
enable:
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More creative use of space to support learning.
The ability to utilise a wider variety of teaching strategies to enable rapid
progress for all children.
Increased use of IT within the classroom to enable easier access to the World
Wide Web.
Increased ability to develop personalise learning for all children.
A far more flexible space which can be organised in different ways to support
learning e.g. children grouped in different ways.
Ease of movement in around classrooms for both teacher and children.
The development (where appropriate) of specific areas within the classroom to
develop the curriculum, ICT and reading for example.
Increased opportunities for teachers and other adults to interact in both formal
and informal ways.
There is no additional specialist practical space in the 8 classroom areas of the
school therefore most activities will take place in the classroom, therefore they
need to be large enough to accommodate this.
2.5. The 2 ex classroom areas which have been occupied by the Portage Team
need to be brought back into school use for September 2011 and will also need
extending in the same way as the six classes currently used by the school. The
Portage Team have been given notice to vacate the accommodation and plan
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to relocate to Mossfield Children’s Centre before the school building works
commence.
2.6. In conjunction with the headteacher, Children’s Services has developed a full
written brief for phase 2 works.
2.7. The current works programme is proposed to start on 25 July and finish on 10
October 2011 (see current programme attached). Although this means that the
accommodation will not be fully completed by September 2011, this is not
perceived as a major problem by the headteacher as there are other areas of
the school which can be utilised on a temporary basis until all works are
completed. Urban Vision will be further analysing the works programme and if
possible will programme a completion by the end of September 2011.
3. Budget Costs and Funding
3.1. A budget estimate of £441,025 has been estimated by Urban Vision for phase 2
works (see attached). Target costs from the construction partner, which may
vary from this estimate will be reported to lead member for approval in June
2011.
3.2. Phase 1 works were funded by a combination of:
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schools DFC contribution
unallocated DFC funds
NDS modernisation
Harnessing Technology Grant
and were approved by lead member in June 2010.
3.3. Funding Allocations
Basic need funding is allocated annually to the LA to provide additional pupil
place space in schools. Previous year's basic need funding has already been
utilised. The 2009/10 allocation was programmed into the Primary Capital
Programme (PCP) for the new Wheatersfield (River View) primary school. The
2010/11 allocation was programmed into PCP to be used for the site acquisition
costs for the new Eccles primary school.
3.4. It is therefore anticipated that this project for Lark Hill phase 2 works will be met
using a portion of the local authority’s 2011/12 basic need funding allocation.
The Salford Basic Need funding allocation for 2011/12 is £3,200,654
Existing commitments from this allocation as a result of previous decisions are
School
1.Wheatersfield
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Project
Newbuild to replace
Charlestown and North
Grecian St Schools
Amount Allocated
£701,457
2 New Eccles CP
Design Fees re new school £308,164
in Eccles.
This project, it is currently estimated, will use £441,025 of the remaining
funding
The school has agreed to use their DFC for any ICT provision required
4.
Recommendation
4.1. That approval is granted to proceed with phase 2 works to increase Lark Hill
Primary School’s capacity, to accommodate additional upper KS1 and KS2
pupils from September 2011.
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