Agenda item

a)  Primary/Secondary School places in Burnley.

b)  Details of the number of local children who attend faith schools outside the Borough.

c)  Services provided by the Children and Young People/Adult and Community Services Directorates - Members of the Forum are asked to identify specific service areas to form the basis of future reports.

a)  Primary/Secondary School places in Burnley.

The Forum was presented with figures regarding the current numbers of children on roll in primary/secondary schools across the Borough together with the predicted figures for 2018. In considering the information presented it was noted that the secondary school population was expected to reach its lowest level in 2016 before rising again towards 2018. 

Mr Ballantyne also confirmed that whilst the impact of the UTC on the figures was not currently known it was anticipated that they would see an increase over the period.

Agreed: That the information presented is noted.

b)  Details of the number of local children who attend faith schools outside the Borough.

Mr Ballantyne informed the meeting that the figures set out in the report represented the intake in Year 7 in September 2012 only and not the total number of pupils in each school.

In considering the figures members of the Forum asked for further information to be provided which would reflect the total number of pupils attending each school between years 7 and 11. With regard to those pupils who were registered to attend Sir John Thursby school but did not start in September 2013 it was reported that the County Councils School Attendance Officer and the Children Missing Education Team would investigate whether the pupils were attending another (possibly private) school or were not in education at all.

A request was also made for the projected pupil figures for a special school in Burnley which was currently consulting on proposals to expand though it was unclear as to the expected level of demand in the future.

Agreed:

1.  That a further report be presented to the next meeting with a more detailed  analysis of the school population between years 7 and 11 across all schools in the Borough, including where possible privately run schools.

2.  That a member of the Children Missing Education Team be invited to attend the next meeting to advise the Forum on the action taken to identify what happens to pupils who do not attend school as expected.

3.  That information regarding projected pupil figures is made available to members of the Forum in order to clarify whether proposals to expand a special school in Burnley would accommodate the expected level of demand in the future.

c)  Services provided by the Children and Young People/Adult and Community Services Directorates

Members of the Forum were asked to indicate any specific issues which they wanted to be investigated in relation to the above. The movement of children from other parts of the country into care facilities within Lancashire was discussed and there were a number of concerns of the impact this would have on resources.

Clarification was also sought in relation to the apparent closure of Moorland View Residential Care facility in Dunnockshaw.

Agreed: That members of the Forum are provided with the following information.

1.  The number of children from outside of Lancashire who are currently in care within Burnley together with the number of Burnley children who are place in care outside of the county.

2.  The educational attainment of children who are in care in Lancashire.

3.  The arrangements in place in order to help young people who leave care in Lancashire with housing and employment.

4.  An update regarding the status of Moorland View Residential Care
facility in Dunnockshaw.