The number of 0-5 year old children living in the Holbeck and Hunslet areas has risen significantly in recent years and this is increasing the demand for school places locally. In response, Leeds City Council is already implementing a previously approved proposal to provide 15 extra school places per year at Hunslet Moor Primary School from September 2018. However, demographic analysis based on National Health Service (NHS) data of children aged under 5, has highlighted a need for a further 15 primary school places per year group in Holbeck. The sustained rise in the birth rate across Leeds coupled with demand from new housing in the Holbeck area further reinforces the view that additional places are needed from 2019 onwards to ensure a sufficient long term supply of good school places.
Holbeck has been identified by the Local Authority’s Complex Needs team as an area with a deficit of provision for children with complex learning needs, including Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), compounded by a parallel rise in demand for primary resourced provision from families with children who have Education, Health and Care plans. This proposal would prevent children living in this area from having to travel long distances across the city to access an appropriate learning place and would enable children to be fully included in the life of the school whilst benefiting from the specialist support they require.
The proposal
It is proposed that Beeston Hill St Luke’s C of E Primary School should expand from a capacity of 315 to 420 pupils, and increase the admission number from 45 to 60 in reception from September 2019, creating 15 additional places. The school would grow incrementally, from the lower year groups. It would, therefore, take several years for the school to reach its full capacity. It is also proposed that a new resourced provision for approximately 8 pupils with complex learning needs, such as ASC, should be established at Beeston Hill St Luke’s C of E Primary School from September 2019.
Reasons for proposing the expansion of Beeston Hill St Luke’s C of E Primary School
Beeston Hill St Luke’s C of E Primary is an ‘Outstanding’ school which is popular with local families and is situated within an area of high demographic need. The school’s governing body supports consultation on the proposal in order to meet the needs of their local community and is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people.
How can stakeholders put their views forward?
- You may attend one of our informal drop-in sessions at Beeston Hill St Luke’s C of E Primary School where you will be able to ask questions and find out more about the proposal. The details of the sessions are:
- Wed 13 September 2017 4.15pm-5.15pm
- Tuesday 19 September 2017 at 8.30am-9.30am and 2:45pm – 4:15pm
- Complete a consultation response form (provided in the consultation booklet) and hand it in during a drop-in event, leave it with the School Office on or before 4pm on 6 October 2017, email it to educ.school.organisation@leeds.gov.uk or post it to Leeds City Council, PO Box 837, C/O Leeds Town Hall, Sufficiency and ParticipationTeam, Leeds, LS1 9PZ.
- Post a response on the Leeds City Council WordPress site (discussion forum) https://leedsschoolplaceplanning.wordpress.com/category/holbeck/
- Use the online survey at : https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=150453277391
The consultation booklet, along with information on the progress of the proposal, is available at http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Currentschoolsconsultation.aspx
Leeds School Place Planning 