North Yorkshire Council
Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Committee
18th March 2024
Schools, Educational Achievement and Finance
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1.0
1.1 |
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To inform Members of the local educational landscape, educational achievement and the financial challenges which affect schools in the Richmond constituency committee area.
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2.0 LOCAL EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE
2.1 There are now 19 primary academies and 4 secondary academies within the Richmond (Yorks) constituency area. The academy conversion rate for primary schools is lower within the constituency area when compared to the county as a whole (30.6% compared to 39.1% in North Yorkshire.) The academy conversion rate for secondary schools is similar to the whole county (57.1% compared to 67.4% in North Yorkshire).
Summary of schools’ status – 1 February 2024
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Schools in North Yorkshire |
Schools in Richmond ACC |
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Primary Maintained |
181 |
60.9% |
43 |
69.4% |
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Primary Academy & Free School |
116 |
39.1% |
19 |
30.6% |
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Total |
297 |
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62 |
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Secondary Maintained |
14 |
32.6% |
3 |
42.9% |
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Secondary Academy |
29 |
67.4% |
4 |
57.1% |
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Total |
43 |
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7 |
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Special Maintained |
6 |
60% |
2 |
100% |
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Special Academy |
4 |
40% |
0 |
0% |
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Total |
10 |
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2 |
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PRU Maintained |
4 |
80% |
1 |
100% |
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PRU Academy |
1 |
20% |
0 |
0% |
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Total |
5 |
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1 |
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Total maintained Total Academy Overall Total |
205 150 355 |
57.7% 42.3%
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49 25 74 |
68.1% 31.9%
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3.0 SCHOOL STANDARDS
3.1 School Ofsted judgements
In the constituency area, as of January 2024, 90.2% of primary schools were judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, which is above the North Yorkshire rate and similar to the national rates. In terms of secondary schools, 100% were judged Good or Outstanding this is higher than the North Yorkshire and national averages. Overall there are four schools judged ‘requires improvement’, two are ‘inadequate’ in the constituency area.
At the time of writing, 6 of the 10 North Yorkshire Maintained Special Schools were recorded as either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ and all of the 5 Alternative Provision schools (AP) were recorded as ‘Good’. As of the most recent Ofsted inspections in the area, The Dales Special School was graded as ‘Good’ and Mowbray Special School was graded as ‘Good’. Hambleton and Richmondshire Pupil Referral Service (AP) was graded as ‘Good’ at its most recent Ofsted Alternative Provision inspection.
In 2023, 97% (33 of 34) of the childcare establishments (childcare in non-domestic premises) which have had an Ofsted inspection in the constituency were ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding. The rate in North Yorkshire was 94% at the same time.
3.2 Attainment overall
For two years, exams and assessments in schools did not take place because of the disruption to students’ education caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In 2020 GCSEs, AS and A level exams faced widespread cancellation and were replaced with a grading process involving teacher/ centre assessment. Similarly, summer 2021 assessments were awarded based on teacher or centre assessment and no statistical adjustment processes were used. Overall, final grades were significantly higher in both 2020 and 2021 than in 2019.
The Government allowed GCSEs, AS and A Level and equivalent assessments and exams to go ahead in England in summer 2022, and has made some changes to general, vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs). Additionally, school-level performance (league) tables were re-introduced for the end of the GCSE phase (key stage 4) in 2022; school-level information for secondary phase was not published during either 2020 or 2021.
It is important to emphasise that direct comparisons with outcomes from previous years need to be made with the pandemic in mind, as pupils will have had disrupted learning during this period. Apart from this factor, there have also been several changes to exams and grading. As such, the DfE have recommended that caution is exercised when making comparisons with previous years.
In primary schools, performance across North Yorkshire at Early Years (Early Years Foundation Stage Profile) has continued to be above national benchmarks and is beginning to approach attainment seen before the pandemic. Attainment of children at Key Stage 2 however is down slightly on previous years, it is clear that national attainment is yet to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
Initial data is now available for Key Stage 4, giving us an overview of attainment of pupils leaving Year 11 in 2023. Attainment across the country at this Key Stage has fallen compared to last year. In North Yorkshire, attainment appears to have returned to pre-pandemic levels and is now very similar to National attainment levels.
3.3 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)
In 2023, 71.2% of children in the constituency area achieved a Good Level of Development. An in-year comparison of EYFSP outcomes with LA and national figures (see table below) shows that a lower proportion of pupils within the constituency area achieved a good level of development compared with all NYC pupils but this reflects a higher proportion than national.
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Early Years Foundation Stage Profile – percentage achieving a good level of development |
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Richmond |
North Yorks |
National |
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2018 |
73.00% |
72.50% |
71.60% |
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2019 |
73.30% |
72.80% |
71.80% |
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2022 |
70.40% |
68.30% |
65.20% |
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2023 |
71.20% |
79.30% |
67.20% |
3.4 Key Stage 2
In 2023, 53.1% of children in the constituency area achieved the expected level or above in reading, writing and maths combined, which is lower than the North Yorkshire and lower than the national average. An in-year comparison of KS2 attainment with LA and national figures is shown in the table below.
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Key Stage 2 - percentage achieving the expected standard or above in reading, writing and maths combined. |
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Richmond |
North Yorkshire |
National |
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2018 |
60.50% |
62.10% |
64.40% |
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2019 |
60.30% |
63.40% |
64.90% |
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2022 |
52.20% |
56.60% |
58.70% |
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2023 |
53.10% |
56.10% |
59.60% |
3.5 Key Stage 4
Although Key Stage 4 data has been published by the DfE it has not yet been validated at individual school level. Therefore, all data in this section of the report should be considered provisional.
The average Attainment 8 score, which measures the achievement of a pupil across eight qualifications, was 42.8 for 2023. This is below the North Yorkshire and national averages. Attainment 8 scores at Key Stage 4 have fallen nationally to 46.2 (from 48.8 in the 2021/22 academic year). We have seen a similar picture in North Yorkshire, with Attainment 8 scores falling to 46.7 (from 50.3).
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KS4 – Average Attainment 8 Score |
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Richmond |
North Yorkshire |
National |
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2018 |
45.1 |
48.5 |
48.5 |
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2019 |
44.8 |
48.7 |
48.7 |
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2022 |
48.1 |
50.3 |
48.8 |
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2023 |
42.8 |
46.7 |
46.2 |
The Progress 8 score, which measures a pupil’s progress from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school, was lower than the North Yorkshire and national average in 2023. A comparison of the Progress 8 scores for schools within the Richmond constituency area against county-wide is shown below.
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KS4 – Average Progress 8 Score |
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Richmond |
North Yorkshire |
National |
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2018 |
-0.02 |
0.13 |
-0.02 |
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2019 |
-0.11 |
0.10 |
-0.03 |
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2022 |
-0.09 |
0.03 |
-0.03 |
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2023 |
-0.09 |
0.01 |
-0.03 |
The percentage achieving a grade 5 or above (grading is 9-1) in English and Maths (Basics measure) was 39.1% for 2023. This is below both the national and the North Yorkshire average in 2023.
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KS4 – Percentage achieving a grade 5 or above in English and Maths |
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Richmond |
North Yorkshire |
National |
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2018 |
40.6% |
48.0% |
43.3% |
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2019 |
38.0% |
47.4% |
43.2% |
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2022 |
47.9% |
53.8% |
49.8% |
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2023 |
39.1% |
45.7% |
45.0% |
3.6 Not in education, employment or training
There were 924 young people recorded in Year 11 living in this constituency in May 2023 and of this cohort only 14 (1.5%) were not in education, employment or training after leaving school as of January 2024.
4.0 SUSPENSION INCIDENTS AND PERMANENT EXCLUSIONS
4.1 Suspension Incidents
In the 2022/23 academic year, there have been a total of 7639 suspensions for a total of 2753 individual children in North Yorkshire. 532 of these children were on roll of mainstream schools in the Richmond constituency area.
In 2021/22, there were 5197 suspensions for a total of 2046 individual children, 363 of these children were on roll of mainstream schools in the Richmond constituency area.
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Suspension Incidents |
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Pupils suspended |
Total Suspensions |
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Academic year |
North Yorkshire |
Richmond (mainstream) |
North Yorkshire |
Richmond (mainstream) |
Percentage of North Yorkshire total (incidents) |
Most common reason (Richmond) |
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2018/19 |
2149 |
314 |
5970 |
824 |
13.80% |
Persistent disruptive behaviour (53.4%) |
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2019/20 |
1578 |
250 |
4365 |
674 |
15.44% |
Persistent or general disruptive behaviour (43.0%) |
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2020/21 |
1578 |
276 |
3553 |
588 |
16.55% |
Persistent or general disruptive behaviour (32.0%) |
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2021/22 |
2046 |
363 |
5197 |
897 |
17.26% |
Persistent or general disruptive behaviour (40%) |
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2022/23 |
2753 |
532 |
7639 |
1559 |
20% |
Persistent or general disruptive behaviour (55.8%) |
In 2022/23, schools in the constituency area had a 16% share of the total schools’ population in North Yorkshire and had a 20% share of suspensions for the whole county.
4.2 Permanent exclusions
In 2022/23, there were 96 permanent exclusions from all schools in the county, 23 of which were for children in Richmond mainstream schools. In the same period of 2021/22, there were 55 permanent exclusions, 13 of which were from the Richmond area.
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Academic year |
Richmond |
North Yorkshire |
Percentage of North Yorkshire total |
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2018/19 |
15 |
87 |
17% |
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2019/20 |
15 |
51 |
29.4% |
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2020/21 |
3 |
26 |
11.5% |
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2021/22 |
13 |
55 |
23.6% |
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2022/23 |
23 |
96 |
24% |
4.3 Responding to increasing exclusion from schools
From September 2020 a preventative model of alternative provision was commissioned to enhance support for schools in avoiding permanent exclusions and the model is continuing to be refined.
The Inclusion service is continuing to ensure that permanently excluded pupils are receiving the support they need to return to school and the curriculum offered at alternative provision is improving as part of a mainstream school model.
Training is continuing to be offered to schools for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs, as part of a commitment to support schools in adopting more inclusive practices.
Two support pathways have also been introduced to reduce and prevent exclusions from schools. The Pupil Support Pathway is used to identify risks of multiple or permanent exclusion and professionals are becoming involve earlier to address difficulties. The School Support Pathway has been implemented to support and challenge schools which are identified as having the highest exclusion rates in the county.
The SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan was published by the government in 2023. The plan was presented as a roadmap for improving inclusion in mainstream schools within a national system but it also acknowledged the role of Alternative Provision (AP) as an intervention rather than a destination for children excluded from mainstream. It also identified preventative approaches similar to the North Yorkshire approach. We can expect the plan to be rolled out as part of a national system in the coming years.
5.0 SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS AND DISABILITIES
5.1 SEN Statistics for Constituency Area
794 in constituency children with a North Yorkshire funded EHC plan (January 2024) 16.5% of the North Yorkshire total. The most common needs are:
· Autism (45%)
· Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH, 17%)
· Moderate Learning Disabilities (MLD, 12%)
1827 in constituency with SEN Support in North Yorkshire schools, 2023 School Census (January) 17.9% of the North Yorkshire total. The most common needs are:
· Speech, Language and Communication (SLCN, 20%)
· Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH, 18%)
· Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia), 17%
5.2 Increasing demand for Education, Health and Care plans (EHC plans)
The continuing rise in new EHC plans being issued by North Yorkshire Council is a consequence of an increasing demand for assessments seen during the course of previous years, a trend which reflects the national picture.
2023 saw the highest number of requests for assessment for an EHC plan since EHC plans were introduced. A total of 1275 requests were received by North Yorkshire Council in 2023, this is a circa 30% increase on the total received in 2022. 251 (19.7%) were for children or young people living in the constituency in 2023, a circa. 28% increase on the 196 in 2022.
At the time of writing, there were circa 600 requests either awaiting a decision to assess, a decision to issue an EHC plan or awaiting the finalising of a plan. At the same point last year, there were circa 300 in process. This rise in requests in process is at least partly due to the difficulty in gathering required information for decisions on EHC plan assessments, owing to an acute national shortage of Educational Psychologists (EPs) available.
North Yorkshire Council’s approach to the challenge has involved the contracting of agencies in addressing a backlog in receiving advice from Educational Psychologist services. There has also been a successful recruitment drive in 2024 with the appointment of a new principal EP and a number of part-time and trainee EPs. This is expected to have a consequent effect of an upturn in overall timeliness in final plans being issued towards through the year.
5.3 SEND provision
Providing appropriate provision to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has become an area of increasing pressure on resources in local authorities throughout the country. The government has acknowledged these delivery pressures and released the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan in 2023 to address this and a Delivering Better Value (DBV) programme was announced as part of a best practice approach to sustainable provision for children with high needs.
North Yorkshire has participated in the DBV programme as part of a wider inclusion plan which aims to bring positive change for SEND services. The aim of the programme is to identify changes that will make the biggest difference in getting better outcomes and to help council’s use their resources in the most efficient way. Progress against these aims will continue to be monitored.
6.0 ELECTIVE HOME EDUCATION
As of the beginning of the 2023/24 academic year there were 817 children recorded as Electively Home Educated (EHE) in North Yorkshire, 111 of which were formerly from a mainstream school in Richmond ACC. At the same point last year, there were 813 children EHE in North Yorkshire, 104 formerly from a mainstream school in Richmond constituency area. This represents a 7% increase in Richmond.
In the 2022/23 academic year, 482 children became EHE in North Yorkshire, 68 of which were formerly educated in a mainstream school in the Richmond constituency area. This figure in the previous academic year (2021/22) was 60 from Richmond out of 452 becoming EHE in North Yorkshire.
7.0 School Finance
7.1 2022/2023 School Revenue Balances
Local Authority maintained school revenue balances as at 31 March 2023 are summarised below, together with a comparison with 2022. The balances are also expressed as a percentage of school delegated budgets.
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Primary & Nursery
170 schools |
Secondary
15 schools |
Special
6 schools |
Pupil Referral Unit 4 schools |
Total
195 schools |
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Total School Revenue Balances (Net) as at 31 March 2023 |
£15,054k |
-£973k |
-£887k |
£753k |
£13,947k |
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% of Revenue Budget |
12.4% |
-1.7% |
-5.6% |
31.4% |
7.1% |
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No. Schools with an Accumulated Revenue Budget Surplus as at 31 March 2023 |
149 |
10 |
2 |
3 |
164 |
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No. Schools with an Accumulated Revenue Budget Deficit as at 31 March 2023 |
21 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
31 |
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Comparison to total school revenue balance (net) as at 31 March 2022 |
-£1,368k |
-£770k |
-£75k |
-£68k |
-£2,281k |
(The number of school budgets submitted to the local authority for 2022/23 is lower than the total number of local authority maintained schools operating within North Yorkshire due to a number of school federations operating a single, amalgamated budget covering all of the schools within the federation)
31 schools (16% of LA Maintained schools) had an accumulated revenue budget deficit totalling £6.6M as at 31 March 2023. An analysis of the budget deficits by school phase is detailed in the table below:
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Primary & Nursery
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Secondary
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Special
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Pupil Referral Unit |
Total |
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No. Schools with an Accumulated Revenue Budget Deficit as at 31 March 2023 |
21 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
31 |
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Total School Revenue Deficit Balances as at 31 March 2023 |
-£1,078k |
-£3,363k |
-£2,027k |
-£95k |
-£6,563k |
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Average Value of Accumulated Revenue Budget Deficit as at 31 March 2023 |
-£51k |
-£673k |
-£507k |
-£95k |
-£212k |
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Highest Accumulated Revenue Budget Deficit as at 31March 2023 |
-£216k |
-£998k |
-£1,587k |
-£95k |
-£1,587k |
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Lowest Accumulated Revenue Budget Deficit as at 31 March 2023 |
-£1.3k |
-£141k |
-£18k |
-£95k |
-£1.3k |
7.2 School Budget Projections - Based on 2023/24 Revised budgets
The 2023/24 Revised Budgets submitted to the local authority by schools in December 2023 are summarised below:
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Primary & Nursery
163 schools |
Secondary
14 schools |
Special
6 schools |
Pupil Referral Unit 4 schools |
Total
187 schools |
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Total Forecast School Revenue Balances (Net) as at 31 March 2024 |
£11,820k |
-£1,393k |
-£888k |
£593k |
£10,132k |
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No. Schools with an Accumulated Forecast Revenue Budget Surplus as at 31 March 2024 |
138 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
151 |
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Average Value of Accumulated Forecast Revenue Budget Surplus as at 31 March 2024 |
£96k |
£307k |
£381k |
£204k |
£113k |
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No. Schools with an Accumulated Forecast Budget Deficit as at 31 March 2024 |
25 |
7
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3 |
1 |
36 |
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Average Value of Accumulated Forecast Revenue Budget Deficit as at 31 March 2024 |
-£55k |
-£506k |
-£677k |
-£19k |
-£194k |
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Comparison to total school revenue balance as at 31st March 2023 |
-£3,234k |
-£420k |
-£1k |
-£160k |
-£3,815k |
(The overall number of individual school budgets have reduced from 195 to 187 between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years due to 2 schools moving to operate within a joint budget Federation, 5 schools converting to academy status and 1 school closing).
7.3 School Finance and Funding Issues
· The Department for Education (DfE) provided revised 2024/25 school funding information on 6 October 2023 after the identification of an error made by DfE officials during the initial calculations of the NFF and processing of forecast pupil numbers. Nationally, the overall cost of the core schools budget is 0.62% greater than allocated resulting in the funding through the mainstream schools national funding formula (NFF) increasing by 1.9% per pupil in 2024-25, compared to 2023-24; the original increase announced in July 2023 was 2.7% per pupil.
· School budgets have experienced significant cost pressures in the 2023/24 financial year. Cost pressures include:
- Pay award cost pressures. The September 2023 teachers pay award was 6.5%, with school budgets being required to meet the initial 3.5% cost and the DfE providing additional grant funding to cover the cost in excess of 3.5%. The 2023/24 support staff pay award of £1,925 on non-teaching salary points 2 – 43 (equates to a 9.42% increase for staff on the lowest salary point) is a particularly cost pressure for schools in relation to classroom support staff.
- Energy inflation cost pressures of 100%
- Overall inflationary pressures of 10.1%
- Cost pressures associated with supporting an increasing number of pupils with additional SEND support needs.
- Below forecast inflation increases in school funding provided by Government for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
· North Yorkshire secondary schools are placed 141 out of 150 local authorities in terms of funding level per pupil. On average, a school in North Yorkshire will receive £5,994 per pupil in 2023-24 compared to a national average of £6,542. Comparing the funding for a 1,500 pupil secondary school this equates to a difference in funding of £0.82m. The funding for North Yorkshire primary schools is more favourable with a position 32 out of 150 local authorities in terms of the funding level per pupil. For primary schools, a North Yorkshire school will receive on average £5,125 per pupil compared to a national average of £5,014. The average funding position in relation to primary schools in North Yorkshire is influenced by the levels of the lump sum and sparsity funding received through the DfE National Funding Formula by the relatively high number of small, rural primary schools within the local authority area.
· North Yorkshire has a number of schools that, geographically, are vital in serving their local communities. Inadequate sparsity funding and general financial pressures for smaller, rural secondary schools, continues to be a significant concern. NYC utilises the provision in the DfE National Funding Formula (NFF) to locally provide additional lump sum funding of £50k for the smallest (less than 350 pupils), most rural secondary schools. NYC continues to lobby the DfE and local MPs for higher levels of funding for the small, rural secondary schools within the LA.
7.4 Local Authority Support for Schools in Financial Difficulty
· The Local Authority adopts a number of measures to support schools facing financial difficulty:
- the use of a financial risk rating framework to determine the level of support, challenge and intervention undertaken at individual school level,
- the escalation path for financial intervention including the use of Notices of Financial Concern, where deemed appropriate. Currently, eight schools are subject to a Notice of Financial Concern.
- the undertaking of School Resource Management reviews in individual schools where this has been identified as an appropriate intervention through the risk rating process. The reviews are based on the DfE School Resource Management Adviser (SRMA) model and are undertaken by LA staff, many of whom have the SRMA accreditation
- continuing to undertake research into small school financial effectiveness to identify and share best practice
- review of the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) and Resource Management dashboard in financially challenged schools
- continuing the promotion of school collaboration and the sharing of best practice in terms of effective resource management between schools
- the provision of Headteacher and Governor finance briefings and training
- continuing to lobby DfE for fairer funding for North Yorkshire schools, especially in relation to small, rural secondary schools.
· In July 2023, the DfE announced the provision of up to £40 million of additional funding in 2023/2024, to support individual schools which find themselves in particular financial difficulties. Of the £40 million, £20 million has been provided to local authorities which have the most significant maintained school deficits. The distribution of the £20 million is targeted and not every local authority will receive additional funding. The DfE have allocated the £20 million between local authorities who have aggregated school-level deficits as a proportion of their total maintained schools’ income above 1%. At the end of October 2023, the DfE announced that North Yorkshire Council will receive a funding allocation of £972k. The DfE have stated the funding is one-off and for the 2023-24 financial year only; there are no plans for the funding to continue for 2024-25. The local authority has developed proposed eligibility criteria and an associated funding allocation methodology for the distribution of the funding to schools in financial difficulty. These proposals will be considered by the Executive in mid-March 2024.
7.5 Schools Financial Position – Richmond
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2022/23
35 schools projecting to be in budget surplus as at 31 March 2023 4 schools projecting to be in deficit by March 2023; 10% of schools in Richmond (1 primary, 2 secondary, 1 special)
Projected average primary surplus = £114k Projected average secondary surplus = £204k Projected average special surplus = £1,084k Projected average PRU surplus = £297k
Projected average primary deficit = -£58k Projected average secondary deficit = -£785k Projected average special deficit = -£394k Projected average PRU deficit = N/A
(Data Source – 2023/24 Revised Budgets)
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|
2023/24
34 schools projecting to be in budget surplus as at 31 March 2024
5
schools projecting to be in deficit by March 2024; 13% of schools
in Richmond
Projected average primary surplus = £102k Projected average secondary surplus = £297k Projected average special surplus = £1,005k Projected average PRU surplus = £209k
Projected average primary deficit = -£63k Projected average secondary deficit = -£863k Projected average special deficit = -£194k Projected average PRU deficit = N/A
(Data Source – 2023/24 Revised Budgets)
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8.0 PLANNING SCHOOL PLACES
8.1 School sustainability
The sustainability of schools is largely influenced by three key factors which are usually related to each other:
· Falling pupil rolls
· School standards
· Financial difficulty
Where school closures have regrettably occurred in North Yorkshire these factors have been relevant. There have been seven closures in the county over the last three years but none within the constituency area.
8.2 Pupil rolls – current and future
The Council has a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places are available for every child under the Education Act 1996. For this purpose, it groups schools together into planning areas in accordance with the requirements of the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Appendix 1 shows the planning areas together with:
· Capacity in the planning area
· Current numbers on roll
· Projected future numbers
· Projected impact of approved housing developments
8.3 The Council is carefully monitoring pupil numbers across the Richmond constituency area, which is one of some growth in urban areas, such as Catterick and Northallerton, contrasting with declining numbers in rural locations, such as Swaledale and Wensleydale. Economic reasons for this include the availability of housing and employment factors.
A falling birth rate combined with changing demographics exacerbates the already challenging nature of school funding particularly for village schools and several rural schools are facing financial challenges associated with low numbers on roll.
In terms of projected growth in the constituency’s Local Plans, most of the housing in the Richmondshire Local Plan has been allocated to Catterick Garrison, while Northallerton is the ‘principal development area’ in the Hambleton Local Plan.
The key points to note within LA planning areas across the constituency area are:
8.4 Northallerton Area – The existing primary schools are concentrated in south Northallerton, while north Northallerton is the strategic site for development in Hambleton’s Local Plan. A new one form entry (210) places primary school is currently being built in north Northallerton. Oakbridge Church of England Primary School is due to open in September 2024, under a phased opening plan.
The town’s two secondary schools amalgamated and moved onto a single larger site. The Department for Education have agreed in principle to build a new Special School for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs on the former Northallerton College site.
8.5 Swaledale Area - A falling birth rate, the availability of housing and employment factors have all caused the fall in numbers in Swaledale’s schools and the demographic trend in Swaledale’s rural areas led to the closure of Arkengarthdale Primary School. However, popular schools such as Middleton Tyas and St Francis Xavier primary and secondary schools have relatively high numbers on roll and the proposed housing development on Gatherley Road will have an impact on Brompton on Swale Primary School.
8.6 Stokesley Area – The appended figures illustrate how, despite housing developments for Stokesley in the Hambleton Local Plan, both the primary and secondary school are forecast to have surplus spaces and the housing is not forecast to generate a shortfall in either school. The closure of two schools sitting along the corridor running from Stokesley to Osmotherley has eroded some of the surplus spaces in the remaining primary schools along the corridor. However, despite the consequent enlargement of catchment areas, there are still surplus places in those remaining primary schools sitting along the Stokesley corridor.
8.7 Catterick Area – Catterick Garrison is the main area of projected housing growth in the Richmondshire Local Plan. Over 300 service family houses have received planning approval and the Richmondshire Local Plan proposes significant open market housing, making the provision of school places a key issue. However, the government’s integrated review of defence and foreign policy cancelled ‘STRIKE’, with its proposed significant net gain in MoD personnel, and led to the proposed army reorganisation revealed in ‘Future Soldier’. The current assessment is that no additional school place capacity is likely to be required in the period of the ‘Future Soldier’ reorganisation programme, but this will be kept under review.
School organisation processes have been followed to amalgamate Catterick Garrison, Wavell Community Infant School and Wavell Community Junior School resulting in the technical closure of Wavell Community Junior School as a separate entity and the enlargement and change of age range of Catterick Garrison, Wavell Community Infant School. The single school (to be known as Wavell Community Primary School), will open from 8 April 2024.
8.8 Wensleydale Area – This area of the Richmond constituency is characterised by schools serving sparsely populated - and even super-sparsely populated - very extensive areas. The catchment area for Wensleydale School and Sixth Form covers an area which in a city would be populated by perhaps c.80 schools yet has half the pupils of a single urban secondary. Wensleydale’s geography, combined with its low pupil numbers, has led to financial and organisational challenges for these schools affected. Wensleydale School and Sixth Form has suspended its sixth form provision.
8.9 Bedale Area – Bedale High School’s surplus spaces can absorb the anticipated secondary pupil yield from housing in Hambleton’s Local Plan. Additional classrooms constructed at Bedale Primary, through a combination of basic need funding and Section 106 developer contributions, mean the primary school can also respond to Local Plan housing.
9.0 RECOMMENDATION
9.1 That Members note the report on educational factors in the Richmond constituency area.
APPENDICES:
Appendix 1 – School Place Planning data
Authors: Amanda Newbold (Assistant Director – Education and Skills), Howard Emmett (Assistant Director – Strategic Resources), Janet Crawford (Assistant Director – Inclusion)
Appendix 1 - School Place Planning data
Planning Areas and forecast surplus/shortfall school places
|
School planning area
*School located in a neighbouring constituency area |
Places available as at 2023/ 2024 |
Number on Roll 2019/ 2020 |
Number on roll 2023/ 2024 |
Surplus Capacity 2023/ 2024 |
Forecast pupils as at 2028/ 2029 |
Projected Pupils from current housing permissions until 2028/2029 |
Forecast Surplus capacity 2028/29 |
|
PRIMARY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bedale · Bedale CE |
420 |
349 |
313 |
107 |
302 |
56 |
62 |
|
Bedale Outer Area · Aiskew, Leeming Bar CE · Burneston CE (VA) · Crakehall CE Primary · Hackforth and Hornby CE · Hunton and Arrathorne CP · Leeming and Londonderry CP · Leeming RAF CP · Snape CP · St. Nicholas CE Primary, West Tanfield · Thornton Watlass CE |
963 |
598 |
621 |
342 |
578 |
52 |
333 |
|
Total |
1383 |
947 |
934 |
449 |
880 |
108 |
395 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catterick Garrison · Carnagill CP · Le Cateau CP · Wavell Community Infant · Wavell Community Junior · Cambrai Primary Academy |
1401 |
1047 |
938 |
463 |
873 |
145 |
383 |
|
Catterick Outer Area · Bolton-on-Swale St Mary's CE · Colburn CP · Hipswell CE Primary · Michael Syddall CE (Aided) |
818 |
724 |
641 |
177 |
558 |
62 |
198 |
|
Total |
2219 |
1771 |
1579 |
640 |
1431 |
207 |
581 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
School planning area
*School located in a neighbouring constituency area
|
Places available as at 2023/ 2024
|
Number on Roll 2019/ 2020
|
Number on roll 2023/ 2024 |
Surplus Capacity 2023/ 2024
|
Forecast pupils as at 2028/ 2029
|
Projected Pupils from current housing permissions until 2028/2029
|
Forecast/ Surplus capacity 2028/29
|
|
Northallerton · Alverton CP · Applegarth Primary · Broomfield School · Mill Hill CP · Romanby Primary · Sacred Heart RC |
1347 |
1185 |
1247 |
100 |
1174 |
32 |
141 |
|
Northallerton Outer Area · Ainderby Steeple CE · Appleton Wiske CP · Brompton CP · East Cowton CE · Great Smeaton Academy · Kirkby Fleetham CE · Osmotherley Primary · South Otterington CE * |
813 |
572 |
566 |
247 |
514 |
138 |
161 |
|
Total |
2160 |
1757 |
1813 |
347 |
1688 |
170 |
302 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stokesley Primary Area · Stokesley Primary |
399 |
223 |
222 |
177 |
231 |
54 |
114 |
|
Stokesley Primary Outer Area · Bilsdale Midcable Chop Gate CE · Carlton & Faceby CE VA · Hutton Rudby · Ingleby Greenhow CE VA · Kirkby & Great Broughton CE VA · Marwood CE VC Infant · Roseberry Academy |
835 |
698 |
699 |
136 |
678 |
25 |
132 |
|
Total |
1234 |
921 |
921 |
313 |
909 |
79 |
246 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thirsk Outer Area · Alanbrooke School* · Carlton Miniott Primary Academy* · Knayton CE Academy* · Sessay CE VC Primary* · South Kilvington CE Academy* · Topcliffe CE Academy* · Dishforth CE* · Pickhill CE |
912 |
829 |
813 |
99 |
781 |
47 |
84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
School planning area
*School located in a neighbouring constituency area
|
Places available as at 2023/ 2024
|
Number on Roll 2019/ 2020 |
Number on roll 2023/ 2024 |
Surplus Capacity 2023/ 2024
|
Forecast pupils as at 2028/ 2029
|
Projected Pupils from current housing permissions until 2028/2029
|
Forecast/ Surplus capacity 2028/29
|
|
Swaledale Primary · Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary · Middleton Tyas CE · Richmond Methodist · St Mary’s RC Primary · Trinity Academy Richmond |
1196 |
993 |
875 |
321 |
820 |
22 |
354 |
|
Swaledale Primary Outer Area · Barton CE Primary · Croft CE Primary · Eppleby Forcett CE · Gunnerside Methodist · Melsonby Methodist · North & South Cowton CP · Ravensworth CE Primary · Reeth CP |
525 |
339 |
334 |
191 |
303 |
39 |
183 |
|
Total |
1721 |
1332 |
1209 |
512 |
1123 |
61 |
537 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wensleydale Primary · Leyburn Primary
|
210 |
195 |
168 |
42 |
139 |
41 |
30 |
|
Wensleydale Primary Outer Area · Askrigg VC Primary · Bainbridge CE Primary & Nursery · Hawes Primary · Middleham CE · Spennithorne CE Primary · West Burton CE Primary
|
480 |
252 |
252 |
228 |
231 |
40 |
209 |
|
Total |
690 |
447 |
420 |
270 |
370 |
81 |
239 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
School planning area *School located in a neighbouring constituency area
|
Places available as at 2023/ 2024
|
Number on Roll 2019/ 2020
|
Number on roll 2023/ 2024
|
Surplus Capacity 2023/ 2024
|
Forecast pupils as at 2028/ 2029
|
Projected Pupils from current housing permissions until 2028/2029
|
Forecast/ Surplus capacity 2028/29
|
|
SECONDARY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bedale · Bedale High School |
935 |
479 |
573 |
362 |
590 |
68 |
277 |
|
Catterick · Risedale School |
925 |
532 |
572 |
353 |
550 |
99 |
276 |
|
Northallerton · Northallerton School & 6th Form |
1250 |
1165 |
1075 |
166 |
1191 |
89 |
-30 |
|
Stokesley · Stokesley School |
1269 |
1117 |
1075 |
194 |
1085 |
41 |
143 |
|
Swaledale · Richmond School · St Francis Xavier School |
2210 |
1845 |
1851 |
359 |
1779 |
40 |
391 |
|
Wensleydale · The Wensleydale School & 6th Form |
492 |
365 |
360 |
132 |
374 |
42 |
76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
· School planning areas are groups of schools which are used for assessing current and future pupil demand for school place provision and structured according to DfE guidelines.
· Figures above take into account outstanding housing permissions, but not undetermined planning applications or draft Local Plan proposals. Pupil yield from housing is based on 25% for primary aged pupils and 13% for secondary aged pupils