Decision - Proposed Expansion of Somerhill Junior School

To inform the Cabinet Member of the outcome of the initial consultation on the proposed expansion of Somerhill Junior School by one form entry from September 2011 and resultant enlargement of the premises.

1.       That the proposal to expand Somerhill Junior School by one form of entry from September 2011 be noted and endorsed.

2.       That the publication of the required Statutory Notice to progress this proposal be agreed.

3.       That the results from the statutory consultation process be referred to Cabinet Member Meeting in July 2009 for decision. 

1.       Brighton and Hove City Council has a legal requirement to provide sufficient school places for all school age children in the city.  School places should be provided in such a way that parents and pupils can access a local school wherever possible.  This proposal will provide additional places where they are wanted by parents and carers.

2.        The views of the parents and carers, staff, governors and pupils of the school expressed during the consultation have been considered.  It is not intended to build on the playing field as has been suggested.

3.        Consideration has been given to the concerns about the size of the site raised by respondents to the consultation exercise.  It is accepted that the combined site does not meet the recommendations within BB99 Briefing Framework for Primary School Projects in respect of a new school.  However the combined site is more than double the size shown for a school on a constrained site.

4.        The requirements for team games playing surfaces are detailed in the Education (School Premises) regulations 1999.  Using the proposed total number of children that will attend Somerhill and Davigdor schools if the proposal is successful this regulation requires 15,000m² of team games playing space.  This can be either grass, hard porous surface or polymeric surface, with both hard porous surfaces and polymeric surfaces counting as double their actual areas.  In the case of Somerhill and Davigdor schools there is a total of 14,900m² of team games playing space available.  While this does not actually meet the requirement of the regulations the difference is so small that it is not considered a material factor in progressing the proposal.

1.       The alternative option is to leave the school as a three form entry school.