3. Mayfields Housing Development, Saltcoats and Proposed Catchment Boundary Changes - Cabinet - 29.11.22
North Ayrshire Council · 29 November 2022
Back to Cabinet — 29 November 2022 and its agenda
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 29 November 2022 Cabinet (Education) Title: Mayfields Housing Development, Saltcoats and Proposed Catchment Boundary Changes Purpose: To seek approval from Cabinet to carry out a Statutory Public Consultation on the proposal to amend the primary school catchment boundary lines between Saltcoats and Stevenston. Recommendation: It is proposed that Cabinet: a) Approves the proposal to carry out a Statutory Public Consultation on the proposal to amend the primary school catchment boundary lines between Saltcoats and Stevenston 1. Executive Summary 1.1 An approved planning application for up to 370 new homes at the boundary between Saltcoats and Stevenston has resulted in the need to consider an existing school catchment boundary, over which this new development will be built. 1.2 Various options have been considered and, after early engagement with the local school communities, it is recommended that the preferred option to rezone all of the new housing development to Mayfield Primary School (non-Denominational) and St Anthony’s Primary School (Denominational) is taken to statutory public consultation. 1.3 This report seeks approval to commence statutory public consultation on the boundary amendment proposal from Monday 9 January 2023. Following the conclusion of this consultation, a report will be prepared for consideration by Cabinet by May/June 2023. 2. Background 2.1 In Autumn 2019, North Ayrshire Council’s Planning Committee approved an application from Persimmon Homes to build 275 units at Mayfield Farm (now known as ‘Mayfields’), over 3 phases. An additional 95 units are planned to follow in Phase 4, completing the site by 2033/34 (subject to a further planning application being submitted in the longer term). 2.2 Work has now commenced on site with the first 18 units (including a number of flats) planned to be completed and sold by March 2023.
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2.3 Education and Planning Services noted that the catchment boundary line for Saltcoats/Stevenston schools ran through the proposed site, which, if left unchanged, would lead to a situation whereby homes in the development would fall within the catchment areas of either Saltcoats schools or Stevenston schools, which are considerably further away. Further work was then undertaken to assess the impact of the new development on existing school catchments and to examine any feasible options for change. 2.4 The site entrance sits well within the Saltcoats town boundary. A map showing the site and current catchment boundary lines is attached at Appendix 1. Appendix 2 shows the site and proposed new catchment boundary lines. 2.5 The options considered to ensure that the layout of the new development does not adversely impact on the equitable distribution of the school catchment areas running through the site are as follows: • Do nothing • Redraw catchment boundary around the new homes • Rezone existing streets to Dykesmains Primary School • Rezone all new homes to Mayfield Primary School The table at Appendix 3 outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each option. These have been presented and discussed with stakeholders as part of the early engagement outlined in the timeline at Appendix 4. 2.6 The recommended option is to rezone all the new homes to Mayfield Primary School, for non-denominational education, and St Anthony’s Primary School for denominational education. This option makes geographical sense and current pupil roll projections indicate that the schools can accommodate the anticipated change to pupil numbers. The total number of catchment homes for Mayfield Primary School, which would absorb the majority of the additional pupil numbers, would rise in line with comparable single stream non-denominational primary school catchment sizes, such as Ardeer and Blacklands primary schools. 2.7 This recommended option requires a Statutory Public Consultation under the Schools Consultation Act 2010 and would affect the following primary schools, as the catchment boundary for each school would change: • Mayfield Primary School, Saltcoats • Glencairn Primary School, Stevenston • St Anthony’s Primary School, Saltcoats • St John’s Primary School, Stevenston 2.8 The current roll at Mayfield Primary School is 186 pupils over 8 classes. Around 2/3 of these children live within the current Mayfield Primary School catchment. A third of the children live out with the catchment area and parents/carers submit a placing request for their child(ren) to attend the school. The main reason for this is that children have previously attended Mayfield Primary Early Years class which has no geographical catchment area. The breakdown of the pupil roll showing numbers of children registered for primary 1 (P1) who reside within the catchment area and those outwith (placing requests) over the last 5 years is shown in the table at Appendix 5.
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2.9 At its peak, the Mayfields housing development could contribute up to 12 children per year group to Mayfield Primary School, if all houses are zoned to its catchment. The average current catchment cohort per year group is 17 from the existing 761 homes. 2.10 Due to these maximum expected numbers and the number of placing requests into the school, it is recommended that the P1 intake for Mayfield Primary School is capped at 33 from August 2023. This means that approximately 4 places would be left for placing requests, on average, each session. This would limit the school roll to 8 classes, giving catchment children a P1 place, before consideration of placing requests (as per the current school admissions policy). 2.11 Whilst Mayfield Primary School was originally designed as a single stream (7-class) school as its opening in 2004, the school has operated comfortably with an 8-class structure in recent years. School roll projections indicate that Mayfield PS could cope with the predicted level of additional pupils which the new development may generate, and for this reason, it is recommended that Mayfield PS should be the non- denominational catchment school for the Mayfields development. 2.12 The other part of the proposal is to assign the new homes to St Anthony’s Primary School catchment, which would mean a maximum of 30 new pupils. The pupil roll projection shows that the capacity of St Anthony’s Primary School can comfortably accommodate these potential new children. 2.13 As noted at 2.6 above, the other schools directly affected by this proposal are Glencairn and St John’s primary schools in Stevenston, with the potential reduction of new pupils through the proposed rezone. However, any parent/carer who wishes their children to attend either of these schools can submit a placing request, as is presently the case. 2.14 If Cabinet approves the commencement of the Statutory Public Consultation, this will start on 9 January 2023. An outcome report will be published in April 2023 and Cabinet approval sought in May/June 2023. The timeline for the proposal is attached at Appendix 4. 3. Proposals 3.1 It is proposed that Cabinet agrees to the commencement of a Statutory Public Consultation on the proposal to amend the catchment boundary between Saltcoats and Stevenston.
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4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 None. Human Resources 4.2 None. Legal 4.3 Whilst there are no legal implications arising from this report, if the decision is taken to go to full Statutory Public Consultation, then the Schools Consultation Act 2010 legal process will be followed. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 None. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 None. Key Priorities 4.6 The following key priorities are supported by this proposal: • Children and young people experience the best start in life • Active and strong communities • Vibrant, welcoming, and attractive places • An efficient Council that maximises resources and provides value for money Community Wealth Building 4.7 The community wealth building objectives of the project are supported by this report. 5. Consultation 5.1 Consultation has taken place with the Head Teachers and Parent Councils of the 4 directly affected primary schools. Local Elected Members have also been consulted. Caroline Amos Head of Service (Education) For further information please contact Lynn Taylor, Senior Manager (Education), on 01294 324437. Background Papers Appendix 1 - Current Catchment Map with Housing Development Appendix 2 - New Catchment Map with Housing Development
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Appendix 3 – Options Considered Appendix 4 – Mayfields Rezone Timeline Appendix 5 – P1 Intake Data - 2018 - 2022
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Dykesmains PS St Anthony's PS Mayfield PS Denominational Catchment Non Denominational Catchment Housing Development Site St John's PS Catchment Area Glencairn PS Catchment Area APPENDIX 1
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Dykesmains PS St Anthony's PS Mayfield PS Denominational Catchment Non Denominational Catchment Housing Development Site Appendix 2 St John's PS Catchment Area Glencairn PS Catchment Area
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Appendix 3 Appendix 2 - OPTIONS Options Considered Pros Cons Rec 1 Do Nothing No SPC Some new homes and some streets will be split between Saltcoats and Stevenston schools. X 2 Redraw catchment boundary around new homes New children spread across 4 schools (not two) SPC required Children with Saltcoats addresses will be zoned for Stevenston schools X 3 Rezone five existing streets to Dykesmains Primary School Makes Dykesmains/ Mayfield PS boundary line neater SPC required Local opposition? Issues with siblings Secondary school zoning issue X 4 Rezone all new homes to Mayfield Primary School Makes geographical sense Total number of catchment dwellings acceptable in comparison with other NAC single stream schools SPC required Recommend capping Mayfield PS P1 intake at 33 to limit placing requests into Mayfield Primary School √
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Appendix 4 – Mayfields, Saltcoats Catchment Boundary Amendment Timeline Time Required Dates Method / Action 17 June 2022 Early engagement with Head Teachers 25 August 2022 @ 2pm Meet Saltcoats and Stevenston Local Elected Members via MS Teams Tue 22 November 2022 Cabinet Pre-Agenda Meeting Tue 22 November 2022 @ 630pm Meet 4 Parent Councils with Head Teachers via MS Teams Thur 24 November 2022 Papers live on Council website Tue 29 November 2022 Seek Cabinet approval to commence Statutory Public Consultation Tue 6 December 2022 Call in expires Wed 4 January 2022 Public notice appears in Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 32 school days Monday 9 January to 24 February 2023 Start of Consultation Period – Issue Proposal Document Meeting for the public on End of Consultation Period 3 weeks Wed 1 March to 22 March 2023 Provide Education Scotland with all responses received and a summary of these Prepare Consultation Outcome Report Prepare Cabinet paper Receive report from Education Scotland 3 weeks 17 April to 8 May 2023 Publish Consultation Outcome Report May/June 2023 Cabinet decision
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Appendix 5 Mayfield Primary School P1 Intake Data 2018- 2022 2018/19 No Registered 16 PR Out 3 PR In 14 Deferrals 1 26 2019/20 No Registered 25 PR Out 5 PR In 12 Deferrals 1 31 2020/21 No Registered 20 PR Out 4 PR In 10 Deferrals 1 25 2021/22 No Registered 12 PR Out 1 PR In 10 Deferrals 3 18 2022/23 No Registered 12 PR Out 0 PR In 18 Deferrals 0 30