Significant Expansion Consultation
The Consultation is now closed for feedback.
All comments will be collated and the outcome will be posted here as soon as they are agreed.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the information and respond.
Significant Change Consultation
The proposal is for Old Dalby Church of England Primary School to increase capacity from 147 to 210 to support growth in the community from housing development. Two new classrooms will be built, the school hall extended, and the main building refurbished to allow for the reorganisation of classes.
The consultation is to gather feedback on the increase in capacity, not the planning permission application. Any questions or feedback regarding the planning permission, should be directed to Leicestershire county Council: Comment Planning Application 2022/Reg3Mi/0151/LCC
Our Context
Our current structure has 5 classes, 4 of which are mixed age group, with a total capacity of 147. We are a Single Academy Trust with a catchment which covers Old Dalby, Queensway, Nether Broughton, Grimston and Saxelbye. 96% of our current pupils come from within our catchment area. We have seen a year on year growth in our number on roll over the last 5 years.
Due to local housing developments, there is an increased need for primary pupil places within the local area. In order to meet the need generated from the local developments, it is proposed that the school increases its capacity to 210 pupils, increasing to 7 classrooms.
Why does Old Dalby C of E Primary School need to increase capacity to 210?
There are several housing developments currently being built in our catchment area, with 207 houses having planning permission. With existing applications for places, we will be at maximum capacity by Easter 2023.
The Council has identified the need for additional need for school places, their five-year predictions show us needing space for 194 pupils by January 2026 due to current approved developments within the local area.
If we do not increase our capacity, we will not be able to meet the needs of our community or provide enough school places for local children.
Who will pay for the additional building work?
The proposed works will be funded by Leicestershire County Council.
Why do we need to hold a consultation?
Under the Department for Education guidance entitled “Making significant changes to an open academy”, academy trusts must hold an open consultation to make significant changes to the operation of the academy.
Making significant changes to an open academy.
What are the next steps?
The consultation will be open on Monday 30th January and will close at noon on Wednesday, 8th March. The academy will then collate all responses, analyse the feedback, address any concerns raised and Trustees will then meet to discuss the consultation and decide whether to proceed with the submission of the application to the Regional Schools Commissioner.
How can I find out about the outcome of the application to the Regional Schools Commissioner?
We will update our website to confirm the outcome of the consultation and update our community on the progression of the application to enlarge the school.
Summary of responses:
No email feedback was received.
10 people responded through the online form.
Please click on the images to enlarge them.
| Comment | School Response |
Look at more children catching the bus to reduce congestion as collection is already causing chaos in the village. Or the possibility of separate end of the day collection times for ks1/ks2 to reduce the volume of traffic. | We have contacted Leicestershire Schools Transport to see if more stops can be added to the school bus route. We have considered staggered collection times but there is a significant number of parents who drive who have children in both key stages and so would then be parked for longer as they waited for the older children to come out. |
I think the expansion makes sense. However I have concerns over parking and traffic. The traffic at pick up and drop off times is already dangerous. People park across drives, pavements and junctions impeding pedestrian access and other road users. My main concern is how fast none school vehicles go down the main road. I really think the council must address this through increased parking capacity and monitoring the speed and access of none school vehicles through the village. | PCSOs make monitoring visits at start and end of school day. Leicestershire County Council Safer Travel representatives have visited at the end of the school day to assess the parking. Leicestershire County Council have completed a Transport Statement to assess the traffic levels through the village at peak times and have concluded that there is sufficient on street parking to meet the needs of the expansion |
I would be interested to understand the considerations for parking/traffic management. It is already usually chaos around the turning circle area with parents parking as close to the gates as possible - whilst it is close, it is not necessarily safe. | School has contacted Leicestershire County Council Highways in the past about the potential for adding yellow lines at key points. We will do so again. |
Whilst I understand the need to increase capacity of the school, there doesn’t seem to be any information regarding what actions are going to be put in place with regard to increase in traffic as a result. Has any thought been given to this subject? | Leicestershire County Council have completed a Transport Statement to assess the traffic levels through the village at peak times and have concluded that there is sufficient on street parking to meet the needs of the expansion. |
As a nearby resident of the school, I am concerned that an increase in capacity will inevitably lead to further traffic on the surrounding roads. Parking on Longcliff Hill is already an issue for residents and I am concerned that the increase in traffic will lead to further safety concerns of the children who walk to school.
| Leicestershire County Council have completed a Transport Statement to assess the traffic levels through the village at peak times and have concluded that there is sufficient on street parking to meet the needs of the expansion. |
More students means more cars parked on the road which is a safety hazard and making the road dangerous and before long an accident will happen, if an expansion is need surely a carpark big enough to allow cars to park should be excluded in plans. | Leicestershire County Council have completed a Transport Statement to assess the traffic levels through the village at peak times and have concluded that there is sufficient on street parking to meet the needs of the expansion. |
| Increased capacity will mean an increase in vehicles at the start and end of the school day. This is already chaos with parents/carers parking on both of the road, close to junctions in the immediate vicinity of the school, parking on the pavement and on the corner of the turning circle. This provides a challenge for bus drivers as they are unable to turn to reach the school and are also unable to pass the vehicles parked on both of the road. Also this impacts the safety of all school children and adults whilst trying to get to the school and in some cases foot pedestrians with buggies, are unable to safely pass vehicles parked on the pavement. I hope that parking/traffic calming measures and pupil safety to get to school will all be considered as part of this proposed increase in capacity. | Leicestershire County Council have completed a Transport Statement to assess the traffic levels through the village at peak times and have concluded that there is sufficient on street parking to meet the needs of the expansion. |
All comments will be given to Leicestershire County Council as part of the consultation process.