The councils Education Sufficiency Strategy (2025-2028) is to be adopted at the Children and Education Decision Session next week.
The full report and appendices can be reached via this link: https://democracy.solihull.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx…
The strategy is a rolling one, updated regularly, to take into account the numbers of pupils in our schools and how planning for school places can be met. I have below copied a few (what I think are) important points relating to Junior, Secondary and Special Needs places.
It is nice the front cover of the strategy has a photograph of Monkspath School’s Eco-Committee, with head teacher, Dan Wild, and yours truly.
Primary school places:
Total primary school numbers are forecasts to fall 6% by 2029. This is partly due to bulge classes working their way out at the end of primary phase but is mainly as a result of lower births and less reception pupils feeding through schools.
By September 2028 the number of surplus primary school places are forecast to rise to 8% and further reductions will be required. Without careful management, falling rolls can lead to a school having a deficit budget and therefore impact on teaching and learning across school.
Where housing development is proposed, planning areas will be reviewed to ensure that the infrastructure required to support places over the longer term is delivered whilst balancing the need to support existing schools in the short term.
Secondary School places:
Forecasts show that year 7 intakes will peak in 2027.
Although there is sufficient physical capacity within the secondary school estate to meet the current demand for Year 7 places, in-year admissions to secondary schools will continue to be an issue.
Over the longer term the lower numbers feeding through primary schools will start to impact on secondary school pupil numbers. 27% of secondary school pupils in Solihull live outside of the borough. The level of out of borough pupils that continue to seek places in Solihull secondary schools, as the demand for secondary school places reduces, will determine whether a reduction in the number of secondary school places will be necessary.
Special School places:
Solihull has increased its special school places by 36% since 2018 through significant investment in school expansions and the opening of a special free school. However, the rate of increase in demand for special school places continues to outstrip the supply of places.
Our reliance on out of borough school placements in independent schools and independent post-16 provision is currently essential to meet the demand for places but creating a significant cost pressure on our Dedicated Schools Grant.
Ken Hawkins 