Action over school places shortage

Barnsley Council has been consulting over plans to expand 
Penistone Grammar School to accommodate an extra 250 pupils by September 2019. Now, cabinet members are to be asked to approve the move, along with agreeing costs of an estimated £2m, to fill a “significant shortage” of secondary school places.

Of 3,519 parents consulted, just one objected to the scheme, although a small number of concerns were raised over the impact on dining facilities, staffing levels and class sizes. And the school’s governing body, as part of the consultation, has said it welcomes the proposal.

“It has long been our view that local children should have the opportunity to go to their nearest secondary school so that their formative years are spent within the community they grow up in,” governors said.

“We believe the school offers a very good educational setting for the young people in our community and the proposed extension will ensure that this can be accessed by an increasing number of students over the coming years.”

A consultation on the proposals was launched in September, with cabinet members agreeing to earmark funds for building costs. The scheme would see intake expanded on a phased basis from September next near, accommodating children in the west of the borough.

A total of 50 additional places would be added to each Year Seven group from 2018 to 2023.

The area faced a “significant” shortage of secondary school places from 2018 onwards, based on population projections, and officers have found that considering alternative options would not be viable.

“The shortage of places to the west of the borough is not 
sufficient to justify the build of a new school and this is therefore not a viable option,” a report to be considered by the cabinet on Wednesday says. “It may be possible to allocate places to other schools in the borough; however this would mean pupils travelling long distances and the authority having to subsidise transport costs. In addition, there is the potential effect it may have on pupils by isolating them from their immediate community due to not attending a local school.”

The proposals would see the number of school places rise from 1,400 to 1,650, with initial estimates suggesting an extension would cost £2m, to be funded through a mix of capital and Buildings Schools for the Future (BSF) reserves.

Parents and governors at Penistone Grammar School have been consulted, along with those at ten feeder primary schools, local councillors, churches and unions. Governors, however, while supportive of the scheme, had raised concerns over the financial impact the school might face, and sought assurances that any works wouldn’t impact on students learning.

Coun Tim Cheetham, cabinet member for people at Barnsley Council, which will consider the plans on Wednesday, said: “Since the consultation, a short inspection of Penistone Grammar School carried out by Ofsted last month resulted in the school retaining a ‘Good’ overall judgment.

“This means that it meets our corporate priority regarding People Achieving Their Potential which is: Every child attends a good school and is successful in learning and work, which can only bode well for any additional pupil places at the school and adds to the justification for this proposal.”