School Implementation Plan 2005 to 2015

Following the first major review of schools in Plymouth for more than 50 years, we published our Ideas for Change in 2004. Schools and other professional stakeholders, as well as the wider public, were asked for their views, and a free CD-ROM setting out the Council’s school reorganisation vision was made available at schools, libraries and Council offices.

We simply asked people whether they supported our approach to dealing with surplus capacity in schools; falling numbers on roll; the poor condition and unsuitability of many school buildings; and the development of 'extended' schools.

A Cabinet report in February 2005 set out the background to and history of the 'Ideas for Change' consultation, listed our school organisation policies as set out in the School Organisation Plan for Plymouth, and outlined options for school reorganisation in each School Community Area.

A further Cabinet report in June 2005 analysed the outcomes of the Ideas for Change consultation and recommended which school reorganisation options should be developed into proposals for full public consultation.

In November 2006, Cabinet approved amendments to the plan to allow for the merger of Barne Barton and Bull Point, and Chaucer and West Park Primary Schools.

School improvement remains our top priority for education in the city. In our wider role the top priority is nothing short of the regeneration of Plymouth. The two priorities sit well together. However, for schools and the wider education service in Plymouth, future developments are set against a challenging background, including:

• A sharp and continuing decline in pupil numbers
• An increasing number of surplus places especially in primary schools
• A large proportion of the school building stock, built mostly in the 1950s and 60s, in poor condition, needing replacement or significant refurbishment
• Government initiatives on shaping the role that schools play within their local communities, as a catalyst for regeneration
• Major regeneration plans for new homes and businesses in Barne Barton, Devonport, Millbay, the East End and the City Centre (the Mackay Plan)

Many schools operate daily in poor quality and unsuitable buildings and will find it increasingly difficult to manage the decline in pupil numbers and subsequent loss of resources that this will entail. For the Council, taking no action is not an option. We do not want our schools to wither on the vine. We want them to be:

• Viable and successful
• Able to play their full part in the regeneration of the city's neighbourhoods
• Housed in suitable, high quality premises, conducive to learning and community involvement
• At the heart of their local community
• 'Extended' schools that provide access to childcare and pre-school provision, with multi-agency working and one-stop service access points
• 'Inclusive' schools

Schools have played a significant role in Plymouth's past. We want them to play that same role in Plymouth's future. Due to the increase in the birth rate, pupil predictions at primary level started to increase with effect from 2006/2007. An analysis of these changes can be found on the pupil numbers page.

New primary schools - Cabinet report (November 2006) [49KB]

Ideas for Change: proposals and recommendations - Cabinet report (June 2005) [205KB]

Review of school place planning - Cabinet report (February 2005) [58KB]

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