Context
This discussion forms part of the public engagement and helps in decision making on how best to meet the expected demand for school places in Leeds.
Due to a rising birth rate, movements of families into Leeds and new housing developments, our projections for secondary schools in the Inner East and Inner North East of the city indicate that in this area an additional 300 year 7 places will be needed by 2016 rising to 375 by 2018 across this area.
On 26 February 2015 an event was held with some key stakeholders to review the data and information for the area, agree the scope of the problem, and identify a range of possible solutions. Attendees at the event included school governors, headteachers, elected members, parent representatives and officers from team across the council including capacity planning, highways, planning and built environment. We are now seeking a broader public view on the possible solutions identified.
The information shared can be accessed here. It includes consideration of some sites with potential for new schools.
The data excludes any projected demand for the Ruth Gorse Academy. This will be moving to its permanent city centre site in 2016, but is currently based temporarily in Morley. We are also aware of the intent of the Secretary of State for education to open the Temple Learning Academy, a through school based in Halton Moor which will offer 60 reception places from 2015 and 120 secondary places from 2016.
A summary of the suggestions put forward:
Please note that proposal affecting current school were not necessarily promoted by the schools themselves, and support of all affected parties for any proposal would need to be secured to progress any options.
- Expand Roundhay School (Secondary Campus) to create an additional 50 places.
Roundhay Through School has insufficient accommodation in its secondary phase, which the local authority will need to address.
In addition, in 2019 the first of its primary cohorts will move up into the secondary phase. Without further action the 60 primary pupils would be joined by 250 extra pupils form outside the school in year 7. We could choose to drop the admission limit to 190 in order to maintain the current size of secondary cohorts, but this would restrict access to a highly popular and successful school from other local primary schools.
Adding 50 places, with the necessary accommodation, would offer continued access from other schools and add places in the area. Any scheme would be subject to the usual consultation and statutory processes, which allow for scrutiny of the scheme proposed and value for money offered.
- Open a new 180 place secondary provision on the former Seacroft Hospital Site.
Any new secondary provision would be opened as 11-16 provision. On this site it could offer 180 places per year group.
If it was a new school it would need to be an Academy and could be opened by 2018. This was the preferred option of the meeting, but it is possible other providers could also express an interest in running this which may be feasible in different timeframes.
A decision on the assembly of the site will need to be made by Executive Board in June of this year. Consultation on the principle of new provision on this site to inform that decision was approved at Executive Board on 22 April and will be live on this site from Monday 11 May to Friday 29 May.
- Transfer the East SILC – John Jamieson from its existing site to the former Seacroft hospital site so that its land can be used as a new primary school.
- Open a new 240 place provision on the former East Leeds Family Learning Centre Site.
Any new secondary provision would be opened as 11-16 provision. On this site it could offer 240 places per year group.
If it was a new school it would need to be an Academy and on this site it could be opened by 2018. It is possible other providers could also express an interest in running this which may be feasible in different timeframes.
The site is in council ownership and a decision on its use would be subject to appropriate governance.
The site is immediately adjacent to the David Young Community Academy, an existing secondary school. The school site has some scope for expansion. There is also a need for additional primary provision in the Seacroft area, and with the existing school next door there is a strong argument to prioritise this for primary and / or SEN use rather than secondary.
- Use of the Dolly Lane site for secondary provision or SEN provision.
Any new secondary provision would be opened as 11-16 provision. On this site it could offer 180 places per year group.
If it was a new school it would need to be an Academy. On this site it could be opened by 2018. It is possible other providers could also express an interest in running this which may be feasible in different timeframes.
The site is very close to the existing Co-operative Academy. It is largely surrounded by the hospital and other non-residential uses. There are also potential needs arising from planned new city centre housing, and it could have potential for early years, primary or SEN use as well as secondary.
6. Amalgamate existing Sixth Form provision to free-up space across a range of participating schools.
7. Implement a shift system between Sixth Form pupils and KS3 and 4 so that space can be better shared within one site.
8. Expand other existing high schools, where possible, in this area to create additional secondary places.
9. Create a new through school in Inner North East on a site to be determined.
We welcome your comments on the above suggestions or any other options you feel we should consider.
Leeds School Place Planning 