Decision details

To ask the Cabinet Member to approve the statutory proposal published by Wiltshire Council and the governing body of Priestley Primary School on 26 April 2018. The notice proposes the enlargement of the school to provide a 1.5 Form of Entry (1.5FE), 315 place primary school. It is proposed to permanently increase the Published Admission Number (PAN) from 1 September 2019 (subject to planning approval) when an increase of 15 additional pupils will be admitted into the Reception Year. Up to 45 Reception age pupils will be admitted in each subsequent year.

This decision was published on 2 July 2018 and will come into force on 10 July 2018

The LA has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places across Wiltshire and projections indicate a need for an additional 0.5 Form of Entry (up to 105 places) in the Calne locality.

There are 932 houses with planning permission still to be built in the Calne community area. This housing is predicted to generate a further 280 primary aged pupils.

Due to the legacy of surplus places in Calne it is expected this increase in demand can be contained within the existing schools in the short term. The anticipated deficit in places is forecast to begin from September 2019. The expansion project at Priestley Primary School will provide 105 places (0.5FE) at Priestley Primary School from September 2019 to address the anticipated deficit.

Wiltshire Council and Priestley Primary School have widely consulted on the proposal to expand Priestley Primary School to provide 1.5 forms of entry (315 places). Consultation with a range of stakeholders took place between January and March 2018 and preceded publication of the statutory proposals on 26 April 2018. The Public Notice period of four weeks ended on 24 May 2018.

A public meeting was held at the school on 22 February 2018, where concerns were raised by 4 neighbours in Westerham Walk regarding the impact of the extension on their properties. These will be addressed as part of the usual planning process.