Letter From Cllr Mike Whiting Regarding Provision In The District

Kent’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision

The Chairman welcomed Mr. Mike Whiting, Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills and thanked him for coming. 

Mr Whiting referred to the plan extract relevant to the Sevenoaks area that had been circulated.   Also in attendance was Nigel Smith, KCC Head of Development.   The report advised that KCC intended to re-publish the Kent’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision annually, every October with a review by KCC’s Education Cabinet Committee every six months.    It proposed that the Locality Board agree a mechanism to look at the requirements every six months, review them against local pressures (such as new housing developments and changes to the migrant population) and produce recommendations.   The creation of a sub-group which could meet twice a year with planning officers from both the District and County Councils to provide in-depth scrutiny and input into the figures, before producing recommendations, was suggested.  If approved, KCC would ask that the recommendations from the Locality Board would be fed back every April and September to KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills and KCC’s Education Cabinet Committee. Those recommendations would form the basis of any revised numbers in the Commissioning Plan to be re-published in October.  Officer support for the review process from KCC would be provided by the Area Education Officer and the Head of Development.

In response to questions the Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills advised that it was KCC’s responsibility to ensure there were enough spaces, they could enlarge an academy under basic needs (or an academy school could apply directly themselves).  It was already clear that more school places would be needed in the Ebbsfleet area, but any new school would have to be an academy or free school.  There needed to be about 800 – 1000 children to produce a viable school, which was roughly a housing development of around 3000 houses.  Parents were always able to put in an application for a free school.  The Plan would help identify such areas and help to put a case forward. 

A Member asked whether the Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills was aware that West Kingsdown pupils who passed the 11+ could only ever get into a Grammar school on appeal because of distance requirements.  He advised he was, he also responded to another question by explaining that migration between Kent and Medway/London Boroughs was fairly balanced.  There were dot maps for each school which showed patterns of where children were coming in from.  However they did not have them for Kent children attending schools outside the County, but he would ask the Area Education Officer for West Kent if it could be done.

Action 1:  Area Education Officer for West Kent to be asked if dot maps showing all schools (including those not in Kent) attended by children living in each ward or parish of Sevenoaks District.

Members agreed that a sub group would be helpful but it was noted that not all members that might like to be involved were present.

Resolved: That a Sub Group be formed, membership to be determined.

Action 2:  Democratic Services to email all Members and seek nominations for membership of the sub group.

*Minutes agreed at meeting held on 21 November 2012 subject to this amendment