The Education (School Organisation Proposals) (England) Regulations 1999

PART IVADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE SENT WHERE THE PROPOSALS ARE TO MAKE A PRESCRIBED ALTERATION TO A SCHOOL

19.  The following information relating to the school for the current school year and (except for the information specified in paragraph (c)), the previous school year–

(a)the number of year groups;

(b)the capacity of the school; and

(c)the number of pupils at the school and a forecast of those matters for each of the subsequent five school years on the assumption that the proposals are approved.

20.—(1) A statement as to whether the school has been inspected under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996(1) during the period starting three years before the date of the publication of the proposals.

(2) Where the school has been inspected during that period the date of the inspection and details of the outcome of the inspection.

21.  Except where the proposals are such as are mentioned in paragraph 28(e) below, details of how the curriculum at the school meets the requirements of the basic curriculum (within the meaning of section 352 of the Education Act 1996) and any provision which will be in addition to the basic curriculum.

22.  Where the proposals relate to a voluntary school–

(a)a statement as to whether any new or additional site will be required for the school if the proposals are implemented and if so–

(i)details of the tenure (freehold or leasehold) on which the site will be held, and if the premises are to be held on a lease, details of the proposed lease,

(ii)details of the trusts on which the site is to be held together with details of any arrangements to secure that if the school is discontinued or transfers to a new site the proceeds of sale of the site will be available for use in connection with another maintained school,

(iii)the estimated purchase price of the site (and any existing buildings to be used), and

(iv)the amount of grant under paragraph 5 or 6 of Schedule 3 to the Act in respect of the acquisition of the site for which it is intended that an application should be made;

(b)a breakdown of any costs involved in the implementation of the proposals between–

(i)the costs to be borne by the governing body together with the level of grant under paragraph 5 or 6 of Schedule 3 to the Act in respect of those costs for which it is intended that an application should be made, and

(ii)the costs to be borne by the local education authority, profiled over the expected life of the buildings of the school; and

(c)a statement as to whether, as a result of the proposals, premises used for the purposes of the school will no longer be required and if so–

(i)a statement as to whether those premises will be sold, and, if so, the estimated sale proceeds, and

(ii)if the premises are not to be sold a statement as to the proposed use of the premises.

23.  Where the proposals are to make an enlargement of the premises of the school–

(a)details of how it is intended to fund the implementation of the proposals; and

(b)an estimate of any recurrent savings to–

(i)the individual schools budget for the local education authority, or

(ii)transport and other recurrent costs incurred by the local education authority which would occur if the proposals were implemented.

24.  Where the proposals are to alter the upper age limit of the school so that the school provides sixth form education or additional sixth form education–

(a)the proposed numbers of pupils over compulsory school age in the school year in which the proposals are intended to be implemented and the subsequent school year, if the proposals are approved;

(b)details of any full time sixth form education currently provided;

(c)details of the number of pupils over compulsory school age in each year group leaving the school and transferring to other institutions providing full time education together with the names of the institutions in question for the most recent school year ending before that in which the proposals were published;

(d)the number of pupils referred to in sub-paragraph (c) in each year group as a proportion of the total number of pupils in that year group;

(e)details of the following examination results for the two school years before the current school year at the school the subject of the proposals and at each maintained school, city technology college and institution within the further education sector named pursuant to sub-paragraph (c)–

(i)results of GCSE examinations, limited in the case of schools other than the school the subject of the proposals and institutions in the further education sector, to the results of GCSE examinations taken by pupils over compulsory school age,

(ii)results of GCE A and AS examinations, or

(iii)NVQs, GNVQs and other vocational qualifications for pupils over compulsory school age;

(f)a development plan of the school setting out the long term effect of the proposals;

(g)details of the courses to be offered (if the proposals are approved) leading to GCE A and AS level examinations, advanced vocational qualifications and the forecast demand for each such course including details of how the requirement for religious education of pupils over compulsory school age will be met;

(h)the proposed number of pupils who will be provided with sixth form education if the proposals are approved;

(i)the capacity of the proposed accommodation for pupils who will be provided with sixth form education if the proposals are approved;

(j)the number of places available at those institutions named pursuant to sub-paragraph (c) which are schools;

(k)details of any recurrent costs following implementation of the proposals and any savings in expenditure as a result of implementation of the proposals; and

(l)details of–

(i)any additional specialist resources to support the proposed provisions,

(ii)arrangements to inform pupils and parents about the opportunities for education suitable to the requirements of pupils over compulsory school age in the area, and

(iii)the present and proposed arrangements for co-operation and the exchange of information between the school the subject of the proposals, other maintained schools and institutions within the further education sector.

25.  Where the proposals are to alter the upper age limit of the school so that the school ceases to provide sixth form education–

(a)details of the number of pupils over compulsory school age in each year group remaining at the school the subject of the proposals in the two school years before the current school year;

(b)details of the number of pupils over compulsory school age in each year group who have transferred from the school the subject of the proposals to another institution providing full-time or part-time education during the period referred to in sub-paragraph (a);

(c)details of the institutions to which the pupils referred to in sub-paragraph (b) transferred indicating how many people went to each such institution;

(d)the number of pupils referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) in each year group as a proportion of the total number of pupils in that year group;

(e)the following details of the sixth form education currently provided–

(i)courses leading to GCE “A” and “AS” examinations,

(ii)courses leading to advanced vocational qualifications (in particular advanced GNVQs),

(iii)other courses, and

(iv)the number of pupils attending each course;

(f)details of transitional arrangements which will apply to pupils currently receiving sixth form education if the proposals are approved;

(g)details of the examination results referred to in paragraph 24(e) for the two school years before the current school year at the school the subject of the proposals and at each maintained school, city technology college and institution within the further education sector named pursuant to sub-paragraph (c);

(h)the number of places available at those institutions named pursuant to sub-paragraph (c) which are schools; and

(i)the information referred to in paragraph 24(f) and (h).

26.  Where the proposals are to establish provision such as is mentioned in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to these Regulations–

(a)a description of the types of learning difficulties in respect of which education would be provided;

(b)what additional specialist features will be provided;

(c)the proposed numbers of pupils for which the provision is to be made;

(d)details of how the provision would be funded;

(e)a statement as to whether the education will be provided for children with special educational needs who are not registered pupils at the school to which the proposals relate;

(f)a statement as to whether the expenses of the provision would be met from the school’s delegated budget; and

(g)the location of the provision if it is not to be established on the existing site of the school.

27.  Where the proposals are to discontinue provision such as is mentioned in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to these Regulations–

(a)details of alternative provision for pupils for whom the provision is currently made;

(b)details of number of pupils at the unit during each of the four school years preceding the current school year;

(c)proposals for amendment of the statements of special educational needs of the pupils for which the provision is currently made; and

(d)details of provision made outside the area of the local education authority for pupils whose needs will not be able to be met in the area of the local education authority as a result of the discontinuance of the provision.

28.  Where the proposals are to alter the upper or lower age limits of the school (other than proposals such as are described in paragraph 24 or 25)–

(a)the current age range of the school;

(b)the proposed age range of the school if the proposals are approved;

(c)any changes to the accommodation of the school which will be necessary if the proposals are approved;

(d)proposed admission arrangements;

(e)where the proposals are to alter the lower age limit of the school such that the school provides nursery education or additional nursery education–

(i)details of how the education resulting from the proposals (if implemented) will be organised, including the number of full-time and part-time pupils and the number of sessions in each week,

(ii)the extent to which the proposals, if approved, will integrate the education provided with child care services or are consistent with the integration of nursery education and child care,

(iii)evidence of demand for additional provision of nursery education including the numbers of pupils receiving such education at schools maintained by the local education authority within the relevant radius of the school,

(iv)if any of the schools within the relevant radius of the school has unused capacity to accommodate children under compulsory school age a statement of the reasons why such school cannot make provision for any forecast increase in the number of such children,

(v)an estimate of the proportion of children under compulsory school age in the area of the local education authority who are educated at schools maintained by the local education authority,

(vi)an estimate of the proportion of children referred to in paragraph (v) of this sub-paragraph who are educated at schools not maintained by the local education authority,

(vii)an estimate of the proportion of children referred to in paragraph (v) of this sub-paragraph who are educated at schools maintained by the local education other than in reception classes (within the meaning of section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996),

(viii)an estimate of the extent of deprivation in the area served by the school, and

(ix)whether child care will be provided outside school hours if the proposals are approved; and

(f)details of any recurrent costs following implementation of the proposals and any savings in expenditure as a result of implementation of the proposals.

29.  Where the proposals are for the introduction of admission arrangements to which section 101 of the Act applies, the proposed number of ability bands and the percentage of pupils proposed to be admitted to the school who will be admitted into each band.

30.  Where the proposals are to make an alteration to a school to provide that a school which was an establishment which admitted pupils of one sex only becomes an establishment which admits pupils of both sexes–

(a)details of the likely effect which the alteration will have on the balance of the provision of education for boys and girls in the area; and

(b)details of any transitional period which the body making the proposals wishes specified in a transitional exemption order (within the meaning of section 27 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975(2)).

31.  Where the proposals are to make an alteration to a school to provide that a school which was an establishment which admitted pupils of both sexes becomes an establishment which admits pupils of one sex only, details of the likely effect which the alteration will have on the balance of the provision for boys and girls in the area.

32.  Where the proposals are proposals for the introduction or ending of boarding provision, or the alteration of boarding provisions such as is mentioned in paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 1 to these Regulations–

(a)the current number of pupils for whom boarding provision can be made;

(b)the number of pupils for whom it is intended that boarding provision will be made if the proposals are approved;

(c)except where the proposals are to introduce boarding provision, a description of the boarding provision;

(d)where the proposals are to end or reduce boarding provision a statement as to the use to which the former boarding accommodation will be put if the proposals are approved; and

(e)except where the proposals are to end boarding provision, arrangements for safeguarding the welfare of children at the school.

33.  Where the proposals are to transfer a school to a new site–

(a)the map such as is referred to in paragraph 4 showing the location of the school at the proposed new site (as well as the existing site);

(b)the information referred to in paragraph 5 relating to schools within the relevant radius of the school at its proposed new site (as well as its existing site);

(c)the following information relating to the accommodation both at the old site and at the proposed new site–

(i)the location of the accommodation and proposed accommodation,

(ii)whether the school occupies a single or split site, and whether it is proposed that it should occupy a single or split site.

(iii)how accessible the accommodation is, and how accessible the proposed accommodation will be,

(iv)details of the general and specialist accommodation and proposed accommodation (both teaching and non-teaching), and

(v)(where relevant) details of accommodation and proposed accommodation for nursery provision;

(d)whether it is anticipated that there will be a shortage of school places at the schools within the relevant radius of the school at its existing site;

(e)if any of the schools within the relevant radius of the proposed new site has unused capacity, a statement of the reasons why such school cannot make provision for any forecast increase in the numbers of children who might otherwise attend that school; and

(f)details of any recurrent costs following implementation of the proposals, and any savings in expenditure as a result of implementation of the proposals.

34.  Where the implementation of the proposals will involve development for the purpose of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 a statement as to whether planning permission has been obtained, and, if it has not been obtained, details of the reason (if known) why such permission has not been obtained.

35.  Where the school is a voluntary or foundation school which has a religious character, except where the proposals are to transfer the school to a new site, an estimate of the demand in the area for religious education in accordance with the tenets of the religion or religious denomination in question.

(1)

1996 c. 57. Subsection (3) of section 10 is amended and subsections (4A) and (4B) inserted by paragraph 6 of Schedule 6 to the Education Act 1997 (c. 44) and the section is prospectively amended by paragraph 191 of Schedule 30 to the Act.

(2)

1975 c. 65. Section 27 is prospectively amended by paragraph 6 of Schedule 30 to the Act.