Who gets the final say re: school expansion?

[yellowsubmarine41]

Just curious, really. There are 3 schools in our LEA starting a 'consultation period' about expanding from 2 to 3 form entry in 2013. Word has it that none of the schools want this, neither do any of the current parents. Local parents living on the fringe of the catchment area to one of the very popular schools think it a great idea .

So, how does the 'consultation' work and is it the school or LEA that has the final say?

[meditrina]

Are they free schools, academies, or bog standard state?

I think LEA would have final decision (but perhaps not for every category of school).

If there is an identified shortfall of required places in their area, then they are doing the right thing in providing more places. They'll have to go somewhere, and expanding a school is quicker, easier and much much cheaper than opening a new one.

[admission]

At the end of the day the person holding the purse strings will be the one that has a significant say.
In theory the Governing Body of each school would be required to agree the expansion but in reality if they are community schools the LA will have the final say. If I was on the GB of such a school I would be looking to get the best possible deal in terms of facilities rather than arguing not to expand, unless the site was patently not capable of taking the extra pupils.

[yellowsubmarine41]

They're all state community primaries.

We're in London, and I hear that limited outside space already is a key concern for 2 of the schools.

I guess it completely depends which side of the admission fence you're on as to whether you think it's a good idea or not. I'd hate my daughter's school to expand, but ultimately the priority must be to give as many children as possible a local school.

Do schools who are consulted with usually end up expanding? There was a consultation in another part of the borough for this year's entry to increase to 3 forms, although that ended up not happening.

[Bert2e]

The LEA has the final say - we were expanded against our wishes 2 years ago.

[prh47bridge]

In theory it is the governors but in practise the LA is the admission authority for community schools and can therefore force the issue. Academies, faith schools and free schools have more independence.

[yellowsubmarine41]

Custard, yes, I'd heard that about the predicted 70,000 shortfall of places in London in the coming few years too.

Parts of our LA are ridiculously oversubscribed and parts very undersubscribed ie had places left after allocations, but I think with primary in particular they do predictions for each ward, rather than borough wide.

[chrchrch]

Look at it another way. You're responsible or providing school places for children. The demographics say unequivocally you need to build another school, but that's not going to happen, even if you stopped collecting the bins and switched off the streetlights etc etc.

So you'd spend money you don't have on a consultation exercise to let people vent off steam but in the end you're responsible for making sure as many children get a school place as you can. It's really a quite simple choice, I'm told, that's facing almost every London borough.

If only the independent sector could offer a 'value' product just like the supermarkets that LEAs can afford. Oops, that would be political suicide... so it's back to the no brainer, consult and expand.

[IndigoBell]

In theory the Governing Body of each school would be required to agree the expansion - no this is not true.

The schools adjudicator has the final say :)

If the GB don't wish to expand, then they need to submit an appeal to the schools adjudicator, who will decide. He will weigh up the schools case for not expanding against the LEAs case for expanding......

However, if you're an academy then the LEA can't force you to expand. The best thing may be for your school to convert......

[yellowsubmarine41]

It isn't my school. My dd's school in currently on a notice to improve, which can have its advantages in situations like this.......

[prh47bridge]

IndigoBell - Yes that is true, but for LA-controlled schools the presumption is in favour of expansion if that is what the LA wants. The school has to have an extremely strong case to avoid being forced to expand.

[IndigoBell]

prh47bridge - actually the schools adjudicator was quite fair in our case and did listen to our concerns.

The schools adjudicator ruled the LEA could expand our school only if they got planning permission before a certain date - which they didn't get.

So it's still up in the air about whether or not we'll expand.

Certainly the LEA have come back with far better plans now than they started with :)