Issue - meetings

To consider approval of the progression of the project to establish a 125 place Alternative Provision School.

Contact: Jo-Anne Sanders, Learning and Inclusion

RESOLVED –

That approval be given to (i) confirm with the Department for Education that Kirklees should progress with the establishment of a 125 place Alternative Provision Free School and (ii) delegate authority to the Executive Director (Children and Families) and the Cabinet Member for Education to work with the Department for Education and the appointed Multi Academy Trust, Delta, to take forward the project. 

Cabinet gave consideration to a report which explained that an application had been made to the DfE in 2022 to establish an Alternative Provision Free School in partnership with a Multi Academy Trust in order to deliver specialist alternative provision for pupils who cannot attend mainstream or special schools and provide full?time suitable education for excluded pupils or those unable to access school for behavioural, medical, or other reasons and must meet strict quality, safeguarding, and partnership requirements set by the government.  The report advised that the application had been successful and set out two options that the DfE have made available to the Local Authority in relation to securing government funded Alternative Provision, which Cabinet were asked to consider.

Paragraph 2 of the report explained that the two options presented were (i) to

progress with the establishment of a 125 place Alternative Provision Free School (serving Key Stages 2 - 4) with the appointed Multi Academy Trust or (ii) accept a total capital allocation of £5,875,000 (paid over 3 financial years), as an alternative to enable the Council to secure the places that are needed locally using a different approach.

Cabinet noted the recommended option to establish the Free School in order to secure high quality sufficient places, now and to meet longer term need from a state funded provider. It was noted that, following the decision, the timeline for progress would be determined in conjunction with the Department for Education and the Multi Academy Trust.

RESOLVED –

That approval be given to (i) confirm with the Department for Education that Kirklees should progress with the establishment of a 125 place Alternative Provision Free School and (ii) delegate authority to the Executive Director (Children and Families) and the Cabinet Member for Education to work with the Department for Education and the appointed Multi Academy Trust, Delta, to take forward the project.