Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Families which outlined the draft School Places Strategy 2026–2031. The Strategy set out how the Council would meet its statutory duties to ensure a sufficient high quality school places in Leicestershire, delivered in the right place, at the right time. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 10’, is filed with these minutes.

The Lead Member for Children and Families thanking the officers for the depth of work which had gone into underpinning the Strategy. He emphasised that every child having access to a suitable local school place was one of the Council's most fundamental responsibilities. He stated that the strategy demonstrated clearly, and with an evidence-based approach, that the Council would be able to meet both the mainstream and the specialist. However, he recognised that the Department would face significant challenges in delivering against the Strategy.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

(i)        A question was raised regarding whether Section 106 funds could be used in order to support SEND schools and dedicated SEND places. The Director stated that a new planning obligations policy was being developed in order to ensure that Section 106 agreements reflected construction cost, including inflation, and allowed greater flexibility in utilising funds alternatively, as demographic demands changed. Increasing flexibility would support the utilisation of funds for SEND provision, including in mainstream settings.

(ii)       With regards to the approach to strategic planning of school places in relation to housing growth, a member asked how the Council planned for demand and whether the Authority, or developers, typically initiated proposals for new schools. The Director outlined that the Department continued to undertake planning by analysing live births, GP registrations, migration data, and ten‑year secondary projections. The fundings of such analysis were then aligned with local plans which allowed for an early assessment of likely future school capacity needs. Whilst developers often favoured new schools, the Council’s priority was to avoid destabilising existing provision, expanding existing schools where appropriate, and focussing on the importance of viable school size. Members noted that it was the Councils strategy that primary schools should not be built below two forms of entry, except where phased, and that secondary schools should be planned for a minimum of 900 places.

(iii)      Concerns raised regarding the sustainability of rural schools with particular focus on any potential closures and the impact on local communities. The Director provided assurance that a School Reorganisation Project was being established in order to assess sustainability across all schools, over a three-year period. It was anticipated that without action, deficits potentially totalling £45m–£50m could occur across vulnerable schools. It was anticipated that the equivalent of approximately 13 schools’ worth of primary school capacity would need to be removed over time. However, no specific schools had been proposed for closure at this stage. Members noted that possible mitigation solutions included amalgamations, expansion or reconfiguration, linking infant and junior schools, and brokerage involving Multi‑Academy Trusts. The Director agreed to provide the Committee with an update on the School Reorganisation Project, at a future meeting.

(iv)      Concern was also raised regarding secondary school capacity shortfall. It had been reported that around 2,000 additional places would be required within two years. The Director stated that mitigation included schools expanding without capital works, existing capital projects, and new builds where required. Additional capital funding had been agreed by the Council to support these capacity requirements. The Director agreed to provide members with information relating to mitigation plans.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the draft School Places Strategy 2026–2031, which set out how the Council meets its statutory duties to ensure that there are sufficient high quality school places in Leicestershire are delivered in the right place, at the right time, be noted.

(b)      That the comments now made be forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 3 February 2026.

(c)       That the Director be requested to provide the Committee with an update on the School Reorganisation Project, at a future meeting.

(d)      That the Director be requested to provide the Committee with information relating to mitigation plans relating to a secondary school capacity shortfall, at a future meeting.