Decision details

St Margaret’s have approached the Council asking to increase their PAN from 40 to 45 as they are consistently oversubscribed, and applications have steadily increased over the past 4 years. Currently 40 pupils have places at the school and there are 7 children on the waiting list. The school is always subject to appeals for pupils wanting to attend and the total number of nursery applications has also steadily increased over the past 4 years
The Hollinwood Ward has an increasing population with a younger age profile than Oldham as a whole and therefore the pressure on St Margaret’s reflects the local demographic.
As part of the strategic plan for the improvement of the school, The Trust and the Governing Body need to establish a PAN which will enable the school to plan and manage the curriculum and teaching for single aged and mixed age classes. A PAN of 45 will enable the school to achieve this in a coherent and strategic way, which the current PAN of 40 prevents.

RESOLVED - That:
To approve a grant of up to £400,000 from the basic need capital fund for an additional classroom at St Margaret’s Primary School, Hollinwood. This will accommodate an increase in Planned Admission Numbers (PAN) from 40 to 45 which will enable the school to plan and manage the curriculum and teaching for single aged and mixed age classes and also reduce their consistent over subscription.

Option 1 - To approve a grant of up to £400,000 from the basic need capital fund for an additional classroom at St Margaret’s Primary School, Hollinwood. This will accommodate an increase in Planned Admission Numbers (PAN) from 40 to 45 which will enable the school to plan and manage the curriculum and teaching for single aged and mixed age classes and also reduce their consistent over subscription.
Option 2 - do not approve a grant for the additional classroom expansion which will mean the school cannot plan and manage the curriculum and teaching for single aged and mixed age classes. The school will continue to be over subscribed

Option 2 - do not approve a grant for the additional classroom expansion which will mean the school cannot plan and manage the curriculum and teaching for single aged and mixed age classes. The school will continue to be over subscribed

Consultation between the school, the Academy Trust, Diocese, Education Officers and Regeneration Officers has been on-ongoing