Decision details

The Government has indicated that resources are available to invest in the Borough’s primary schools.  To secure funding a Strategy for Change document has to be produced demonstrating how the investment will underpin the transformation of education

The Executive will be asked to agree the Strategy for Change document

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Children’s Services setting out the Strategy for Change document to submit to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to secure funding to invest in the Borough’s primary schools.

The objectives of the programme are:

·  For Primary Schools to be fully equipped for 21st Century learning;

·  To be at the heart of the community;

·  For Children’s Services to be in reach of every family;

·  To rebuild, remodel or refurbish at least half of primary schools;

·  To target and address deprivation in every authority; and

·  To responding to population changes

Having regard to the need to maximise the provision of new school places generally, requested the Corporate Director of Regeneration, in liaison with the Corporate Director of Children’s Services, to consider the possibility of appropriating the paved area (public realm) adjacent to St. Joseph’s Primary School for use by the School for classroom expansion.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority of “Better Education and Learning for All”, to:

(i)  Approve the Primary Strategy for Change document attached to the report;

(ii)  The various funding streams to secure value for money and best outcomes for projects;

(iii)  The provisional priority list of projects as set out in the document, which will be subject to annual review; and

(iv)  The procurement route as set out in the ‘Primary Capital Programme - Strategy for Change’ document appended to the report.