Children’s Services Cabinet Member – Minutes – 1 May 2009

114 (62) LAKESIDE – PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL – The Service Director Children, Strategy and Partnerships submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the process of establishing a new, mainstream primary school, and seeking approval to enter the competition process to run the new primary school at Lakeside, Scunthorpe.

The business case for a new primary school at the Lakeside development was approved as part of the Capital Programme 2008-11. The new school, known as Lakeside Primary School, would eventually provide 201 places, which would be built in two phases.

In situations where a council needed to establish a new school, and in accordance with Section 7 of the Education Inspection Act 2006 and The School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance) (England) Regulations 2007, it was required to invite organisations or proposers to run the school. Proposers might be parents’ groups, education charities backed by business, community, voluntary or faith sector bodies. In addition, the council could also decide to enter the competition.

In order for the council to submit a bid, permission must be given from the Secretary of State. An application was made to the Secretary of State for approval to enter into the competition, should the council decide to do so. Approval for the council to make a bid was received on 14 January 2009.

The report gave details of the competition process, including a timetable for past and future events relating to the competition.

Resolved – (a) That the proposal for the council to submit a bid to run the school as a community maintained school be approved, and (b) that bids from other organisations, in line with the Education and Inspections Act 2006, be welcomed and supported.