Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School complete proposal
Proposals for prescribed alterations other than foundation proposals:
The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013:
In respect of an LA Proposal: School and local authority details
1. The name, address and category of the school and a contact address for the local authority who are publishing the proposals.
The proposal to expand the number of places at Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School (Voluntary Aided), Goosnargh Lane, Goosnargh, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 2BN. from 30 to 60 pupils is published by Lancashire County Council, the relevant local authority. The authority can be contacted at the following address: Resources Directorate, Finance and Commerce, School Planning Team, PO box 78, County Hall, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8XJ.
2. Implementation and any proposed stages for implementation
(a) The date on which the proposals are planned to be implemented, and if they are to be implemented in stages, a description of what is planned for each stage, and the number of stages intended and the dates of each stage.
(b) Where the proposals relate to a foundation or voluntary controlled school a statement as to whether the proposals are to be implemented by the local authority or by the governing body, and, if the proposals are to be implemented by both, a statement as to the extent to which they are to be implemented by each body.
It is proposed that the school will increase its Published Admission Number to admit 30 additional pupils to each Reception Intake from September 2026, through the provision of additional permanent accommodation. Limitations to the size of the current school site mean that additional land would be required to facilitate the expansion. This follows the school exceeding its Published Admission Number by 30 places in 2025/26 via the provision of additional temporary accommodation.
3. Support, objections and comments
A statement explaining the procedure for making representations, including:
(a) the date prescribed by which objections or comments should be sent to the local authority; and
(b) the address of the authority to which objections or comments should be sent.
In Line with LCC Policy for a prescribed alteration to an existing school we undertake consultation with a range of stakeholders to ensure appropriate representation across a broad spectrum of organisations, individuals and community members (a list of statutory consultees is identified below).
A four week consultation between 16th September 2024 to 13th October 2024 from the date of publication of this proposal will provide any person the opportunity to object, or comment on the proposal.
To provide a response, interested parties are asked to complete the online questionnaire (Have your say (lancashire.gov.uk). Responses must be received by no later than 5pm on the 13th October 2024.
4. Alteration description
A description of the proposed alteration showing evidence of demand. In the case of special school proposals, a description of the current special needs provision.
In response to an increase in pupil numbers, as a result of increased birth rates in the local area, coupled with the effect of significant housing development and inward migration, the number of school places currently available will not be sufficient to meet the projected future demand. This proposal forms part of a wider programme of providing additional primary places in Goosnargh, Grimsargh & Longridge, addressing a projected shortfall of places from September 2025.
On the 5th September 2024 Lancashire County Council's Cabinet approved the statutory public consultation on a proposal to permanently expand Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School, to admit 30 additional pupils to each Reception Year with effect from September 2026. This would follow the school exceeding its Published Admission Number by 30 places in 2025/26. This increased number of places will be accommodated via permanent expansion.
Should the permanent expansion be approved the capacity of the school will gradually be increased from 210 to 420, by increasing the Published Admission Number from 30 to 60.
5. School capacity
(a) details of the current capacity of the school and, where the proposals will alter the capacity of the school, the proposed capacity of the school after the alteration.
The current capacity of the school is 210 and the proposed capacity would be 420.
(b) details of the current number of pupils admitted to the school in each relevant age group, and where this number is to change, the proposed number of pupils to be admitted in each relevant age group in the first school year in which the proposals will have been implemented.
The current Published Admission Number for the school is 30. The proposed Published Admission Number for the enlarged school would be 60.
(c) where it is intended that proposals should be implemented in stages, the number of pupils to be admitted to the school in the first school year in which each stage will have been implemented.
N/A
(d) where the number of pupils in any relevant age group is lower than the indicated admission number for that relevant age group a statement to this effect and details of the indicated admission number in question.
N/A
(e) A statement of the number of pupils at the school at the time of the publication of the proposals.
In January 2024 the number of pupils on roll was 204.
6. Additional site
(a) A statement as to whether any new or additional site will be required if proposals are implemented and if so the location of the site if the school is to occupy a split site.
Limitations to the size of the current school site mean that additional land would be required to facilitate the expansion, while still maintaining adequate play and sports spaces in line with Sports England requirements.
(b) Where proposals relate to a foundation or voluntary school a statement as to who will provide any additional site required, together with details of the tenure (freehold or leasehold) on which the site of the school will be held, and if the site is to be held on a lease, details of the proposed lease.
N/A
7. Objectives
The objectives of the proposals (including how the proposal would increase education standards and parental choice).
To provide additional places to address the projected shortfall of Primary places in Goosnargh, as part of a wider programme of provision in Goosnargh, Grimsargh & Longridge.
The objective of the proposal is to permanently expand the school to admit 30 additional pupils to each intake Reception Year with effect from September 2026, through the provision of permanent expansion. The expansion would increase the school’s admission number to 60, leading to the capacity gradually increasing from 210 to 420.
8. Need or demand for additional places
If the proposals involve adding places:
(a) a statement and supporting evidence of the need or demand for the particular places in the area.
As a result of the recent growth in the number of births in the local area, coupled with the effect of significant housing development and inward migration the number of school places currently available will not be enough to meet the increased demand as the children reach Reception Year.
The latest projections have identified a shortfall of 1.5 forms of entry from 2025/26, with the shortfall expected to increase in future years.
Therefore, additional permanent places are needed in this area. The approval of the proposal to permanently expand Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School would help to address this demand and ensure so far as is reasonably possible that every child is provided with a school place in close proximity to their home.
9. Expansion of successful and popular schools
(a) Proposals must include a statement of whether the proposer considers that the presumption for the expansion of successful and popular schools should apply, and where the governing body consider the presumption applies evidence to support this. The effect of the proposal on the schools, academies, and educational institutions within the area.
Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School is a popular primary school.
In response to an increase in the Goosnargh, Grimsargh & Longridge birth rate, coupled with the effect of significant housing development in the area, expressions of interest were sought from all local schools in the area as part of a Basic Need consultation carried out in June 2022. Following this scoping exercise Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School, shared their expressions of interest to expand their school.
An appraisal of the Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School site concluded that this school offered the most appropriate location for school expansion to meet the projected shortfall in the Goosnargh, Grimsargh & Longridge planning area.
Lancashire County Council considers that it is appropriate to follow DfE guidelines for Making significant changes (‘prescribed alterations’) to maintained schools - Statutory guidance for proposers and decision makers January 2023 and the presumption for the expansion of this school should apply.
In recognition of the increase in demand for school places in the area it is considered that the proposed expansion will have no adverse effect on other schools, academies, and educational institutions within the area.
Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School is deemed by LCC school improvement service to provide quality education.
10. Consultation
Evidence of the consultation before the proposals were published including—
(a) A list of persons who were consulted.
- Elected Members
- Head teachers and Chair of Governors from all Preston schools
- Preston City Council
- Ribble Valley Borough Council
- Diocese representatives
(b) Minutes of all public consultation meetings.
(c) The views of the persons consulted.
(d) A statement to the effect that all applicable statutory requirements in relation to the proposals to consult were complied with; and
(e) Copies of all consultation documents and a statement on how these documents were made available.
Although there is no longer a statutory informal consultation period, Department for Education Guidance: ' Making Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools' advises a strong expectation that the local authority will consult interested parties in developing their proposal prior to publication, as part of their duty under public law to act rationally and take into account all relevant considerations.
Meetings with Preston schools and diocese representatives were held in spring 2023. Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School subsequently expressed an interest in expansion and have been working with Lancashire County Council to develop their expansion proposal.
The website has been updated and allows access to the Public Notice and Complete Proposal documentation for these proposals and additional explanatory notes are available via the heading 'School Place Provision Planning' at:
http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools
All relevant statutory requirements regarding these proposals were complied with.
As part of the statutory representation period. 16th September 2024 to 13th October 2024, views on the expansion proposal will be sought from the following key stakeholders:
Children's Safeguarding Assurance
Department for Education
Diocese
Lancashire Parent Carer Forum
LCC County Elected Members
Local libraries
Local MP
Nearby schools
Preston City Council
Ribble Valley Borough Council
Town Councils
Preston Elected Members
OFSTED
Local planning authorities
Parish Councils
Preston Planning Department
LCC Special Education Needs
11. Project costs
A statement of the estimated project costs of the proposals and an indication of how these will be met, including how long-term value for money will be achieved.
The estimated capital costs have not yet been drawn up as the project has not been committed to the design stage. The school are not being asked to contribute to the scheme.
12. A copy of confirmation from the Secretary of State, local education authority and the Education Funding Agency (as the case may be) that funds will be made available (including costs to cover any necessary site purchase).
The authority can confirm that funds will be made available.