Decision details

To ask the Cabinet Member to approve the statutory proposal published by Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education and the governing body of St Michael’s CEVC Primary School on 7 April 2016. The notice seeks to relocate and expand a Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School which will operate as a primary school on a site at The Packway, Larkhill, Wiltshire with effect from 1 September 2018.  In September 2018, the published admission number will be 30, providing a total of 210 places. In September 2019, the published admission number will be 60, providing a total of 420 places.

This decision was published on 10 May 2016 and will come into force on 18 May 2016.

The Governing Body have made the decision to support the proposal for the relocation and expansion of the school (option 1). The Governing Body believe that without expanding the school it will not be possible to maintain a school that is judged to be good or outstanding because of the impact of the funding changes on the financial viability of the school in the medium term. The Governors also believe that it will become increasingly difficult to deliver our vision for education within the school with smaller cohorts when the education provision in the area offers that broader experience. They believe that the ethos of the school and the success of the school can be continued in a larger building with appropriate designs to support the delivery of education and the layout of the site.  The timescales are linked, in part, to the approved (intent pending 13 April 2016) development of 444 Service Family Homes at Larkhill and the time taken to design and build a new development.

Three options were considered by the Governing Body.

Option 1:

To move St Michael’s Primary School from its existing site to the site of the new service families accommodation and expand the school from 120 places to up to 420 places, depending on the number of accommodation units proposed by the DIO.

Option 2:

To move St Michael’s Primary School, if viable, from its existing site to the site secured by Wiltshire Council next to the Village Hall in Figheldean and maintain the current capacity of 120 places.  (It was not possible to expand the school to accommodate more than 120 pupils on this site). However, Wiltshire Council would progress the requirement to provide the additional primary school places required by commissioning of a new school in the vicinity of the service families accommodation 2.2 miles by road from St Michael’s.

Option 3:

To leave St Michael’s Primary School on its existing site with its existing buildings.

Wiltshire Council would progress the requirement to provide the additional primary school places required by commissioning of a new school in the vicinity of the service families accommodation 2.2 miles by road from St Michael’s.

An extended period of consultation starting in December 2014 and concluding in January 2016 preceded the publication of the statutory proposals on 7 April 2016. The Public Notice period of four weeks ended on 5May 2016.