CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY (PUBLISHED ADMISSION NUMBER - PAN) AT STRATFORD-UPON -AVON SCHOOL

INTRODUCTION

This consultation is being undertaken to advise you of a proposal concerning Stratford-upon-Avon School and to invite you to tell us what you think of this proposal. This consultation and your responses will form part of a Significant Change application made to the Regional Schools Commissioner (part of the Department for Education). The proposal is:

To increase the key stage 3 and 4 capacity of the school from its current level of 1450 places across year groups 7 to 11 up to 1750 pupils, formalising our current position, offering 350 places per year group, with effect from September 2025 and beyond.

WHY IS INCREASED CAPACITY NEEDED?

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) as the Local Authority has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for students across all school phases. Stratford-upon-Avon School, as an Academy, is working with WCC to help ensure that there are sufficient school places for students across all year groups in the local area.

Stratford-upon-Avon School is the only non-selective secondary school in Stratford-upon-Avon with a priority area that extends into the surrounding villages. Due to significant housing development growth in Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding area in recent years, combined with larger primary cohorts moving through to secondary phase, there has been increased demand for Year 7 places.

To meet current demand for Year 7 places, in the last few years, Stratford-upon-Avon School has taken additional pupils over their Published Admission Number.

Currently the school has 1639 pupils on roll in years 7 to 11 (October census 2024).  Years 7 and 8 have a 12-form entry and years 9 to 11 have an 11-form entry.

A permanent increase in capacity is needed to ensure that the school can continue to meet current and future sufficiency requirements in Stratford-upon-Avon and the local area. The increase to 1750 pupils will be introduced over the next few years with 350 spaces, a 12-form entry, being offered in year 7 in addition to the current 12-form entries in years 7 and 8.

BUILDING CONSEQUENCES

Additional accommodation has been required to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers.

An extension to the dining and kitchen facilities was completed in Autumn 2021.

Land (previously owned by Stratford College) adjacent to the school site has already been acquired in 2023 and will be developed for recreational use by the school and provide additional staff parking.

The accommodation for the additional students was granted planning permission on 17/03/2023 and building is underway with a planned completion date of September 2025. The expansion comprises a three-wing, three-storey extension to the front of the school plus a two-storey performing arts block to the rear to extend the main school building to provide the general, SEND and specialist teaching spaces required to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers.

The extensions will replace the temporary 12 classrooms currently on site.

The project also includes some minor changes to the highway entrance and a dedicated bus drop off and pick up area to improve car park safety.

WHAT IS THE PROPOSED TIMETABLE?

9th December 2024 – 24^th January 2025 (7 weeks). The expansion consultation will run with parents, carers, staff and stakeholders to consider the views expressed regarding the proposals.

February 2025. A significant change request to increase the capacity of Stratford-upon-Avon School to 2050 pupils, inclusive of the existing 300 key stage 5 sixth form capacity, including the feedback from the consultation, will be submitted by Stratford-upon-Avon School to the Regional Schools Commissioner (DfE).

From September 2025. If the significant change request to increase the capacity of Stratford-upon-Avon School is approved, a permanent increase in the published admission number can be implemented. 

HAVE YOUR SAY…….

As an integral part of this process, we are inviting you to take part in this consultation. We welcome your views on the proposed change raised in this communication.

Please use the questionnaire form below to submit your comments having read this information carefully relating to the proposal.

The information you submit will be reviewed by Stratford-upon-Avon School Trust as the “Controller” under the General Data Protection Regulations, who will ensure that any information is processed fairly and lawfully.

Deadline for comments is midday, Friday 24th January 2025

We request that you do not submit any personal information e.g. name, address etc.  This online form closes at midday on Friday 24th January 2025, so please ensure that you have reviewed and commented before this date.

QUESTIONNAIRE

To complete the questionnaire and give your opinion on the proposed increase in year 7 to 11 capacity (PAN) at Stratford upon Avon School with effect from September 2025, please
>>> click here <<<, or alternatively, use the printable PDF version below.