Issue - decisions

The Cabinet has considered an update following its meeting on 29 June 2021 at which it considered the two options available to Local Authority regarding the management and governance of the new Woodford Garden Village school including the early response to the pre-proposal consultation which commenced on 1 July 2021, and has:-

(1) Given approval to the rescission of the Cabinet’s decision of 29 June 2021 (CAB307) with regard to ‘Woodford Development - New School Governance Decision’;

(2) Confirmed that the relocation of the Queensgate Primary School to the Woodford Development site is no longer an option for consideration by the Council;

(3) Affirmed that the only option now available to the Council is the presumption process which will establish the new school as an academy in order to meet the need for additional places;

(4)  Noted that the pre-proposal consultation which was launched on 1 July 2021 continues and forms part of the first stage of the free school presumption process, namely, to hold a Local Authority consultation prior to publication of a school specification and, the beginning of a competitive process;

(5) Given approval that the decision to publish the school specification for the new free school and begin the competition period be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Education in consultation with lead portfolio holders for Children, Family Services and Education and Resources, Commissioning & Governance;

(6) Given approval that the decision on the Local Authority’s preferred sponsor after the assessment period has concluded be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Director of Education in consultation with lead portfolio holders for Children, Family Services and Education and Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The Cabinet has considered a report detailing two options available to the Local Authority regarding the management and governance of a new school to be built as a part of the new Woodford housing development, and has:-

(1) Determined that, subsequent to continued stakeholder engagement in June and July 2021 and further work on place planning projections, a formal consultation on a final proposal and preferred option be undertaken from September 2021.

(2) Agreed that the decision to begin consultation be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Education in consultation with lead portfolio holders for Children, Family Services & Education and Resources, Commissioning & Governance, and that Cabinet make the final decision in December 2021.