Expansion of Cottam Primary School, Haydocks Lane, Cottam, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 0NY
As part of our duty to provide enough pupil places for Lancashire children, Lancashire County Council is proposing to start the process to expand Cottam Primary School. The proposal would eventually lead to the provision of an additional 210 primary school places in Preston North, Preston West and Preston Rural primary planning areas.
We are now starting a period of consultation seeking the views of interested parties. The consultation period will commence on 27 March 2023 and will end on 7 May 2023.
Background
Increases in pupil numbers as a result of increased birth rates in the local area, coupled with the effect of significant housing development, means the number of school places currently available will not be enough to meet the increased demand over the next few years.
There is a significant housing development, Northwest Preston Masterplan that is expected to deliver over 5,000 new dwellings over the coming years. The Northwest Preston Masterplan development site straddles the 3 primary planning areas of Preston West, Preston North and Preston Rural and therefore the local authority has considered the impact in these areas collectively. There is projected to be a shortfall of places across this area and there is significant housing development in the area around Cottam Primary School. The combined pupil projections of Preston North, Preston West and Preston Rural planning areas indicate a need for an additional 2 permanent forms of entry across these areas from September 2024.
On 2 February 2023, Lancashire County Council's Cabinet gave permission to commence a statutory consultation on a proposal to permanently expand the Published Admission Number of Cottam Primary School from 210 pupils to 420 pupils from September 2024.
The proposed expansion of Cottam Primary School would gradually provide an additional 210 places, by admitting 30 additional pupils to each Reception year with effect from September 2024. This would follow the school exceeding its Published Admission Number by 30 places in 2023/24 via a temporary expansion within existing accommodation.
The permanent expansion of the school from September 2024 would be delivered through internal modification of existing accommodation and the provision of new accommodation on the school site.
The approval of the proposal to permanently expand Cottam Primary School would help to address the projected shortfall of places and ensure so far as is reasonably possible that every child is provided with a school place in close proximity to their home.
School information and consultation so far
Lancashire County Council's pupil projections indicate a shortfall of primary school places in the area and identify a need for additional permanent places from September 2024.
In June 2022 a Head Teacher event was held, consulting schools on the projected demand for school places and options to provide additional places. All primary schools in the Preston North, Preston West and Preston Rural primary planning areas were invited. At the event expressions of interest were sought for temporary expansion for 2023/24 and permanent expansion from 2024/25.
An appraisal process was carried out to consider the expansion proposals from schools interested in expansion and it was concluded that Cottam Primary School was well located to meet the increased demand for places in the area and has a school site large enough to accommodate a permanent school expansion.
During this period consultation was also carried out with diocese representatives, parish councils and Preston City Council officers.
Cottam Primary School is a successful and popular community primary school. For September 2022 intake, the school received 49 1st Preferences against a Published Admission Number of 30.
The school achieved a 'Good' rating in its latest Ofsted inspection (February 2018).
The estimated capital costs have not yet been drawn up as the project has not been committed to the design stage. The Governing Body are not being asked to contribute to the scheme.
Timescale
| March 2023 | Publication of Statutory Notice |
| March – May 2023 | Representation |
| June/July 2023 | Final decision by Cabinet |
| September 2024 | Implementation (if approved) |
Current consultation
A period of consultation is to be undertaken on the proposal to expand Cottam Primary School by an additional 210 places, by admitting 30 additional pupils to each Reception year with effect from September 2024. Over time this would increase the number of places from 210 to 420. This would be enabled by internal remodelling within the existing building and additional build on the school site.
Your views
We want to hear what you think about the proposal to expand Cottam Primary School, over time providing an additional 210 primary school places.
This is a formal consultation and representations will be used to inform the next steps in relation to additional primary school places in Preston.
You can have your say on this proposal until 5pm on 7 May 2023 via the online survey: Have your say.
Background documents
Lancashire County Council Cabinet report 2 February 2023
Cottam Primary School complete proposal (PDF 107 KB)