Putting pupils first

1 November 2005

The number of pupils in Derbyshire primary schools is predicted to drop by between 10 and 15 per cent in the next four years due to falling birth rates.

Derbyshire County Council is consulting with schools about how to cope with this issue while ensuring standards are maintained at their current high level. 

Schools receive funding depending on how many pupils they have. Those with fewer pupils get less money but still have to pay the same costs for: 

  • Heating and maintaining buildings
  • Staff salaries
  • Administration 

Derbyshire County Council wants to reduce the number of surplus places in schools so more money is being spent on pupils rather than maintaining buildings or paying wages.

At the moment there are 59,593 pupils in primary schools. By 2008/09 it is predicted that will fall to 52,011.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “The problem of falling pupil numbers is not something unique to Derbyshire - it is a national problem facing all schools.

“We have already done a lot of work to remove surplus places but will face some tough decisions in the coming months about how we can reduce them further.

“It does not make sense to pay for the upkeep of empty classrooms as it takes money away which would be better spent on improving the quality of education for our pupils.”

The Government sets councils targets to reduce the number of schools with more than 25 per cent surplus places.

Schools are being consulted about a number of ways to reduce surplus places. Options include: 

  • Converting classrooms for other uses like libraries, staff rooms or positive play rooms
  • Demolishing some old classrooms 
  • Altering admission limits that say how many pupils a school can take 
  • Merging or closing schools

Derbyshire County Council is proposing to look at how many surplus places there are at schools in each district of the county. 

To do this they plan to judge schools against the same criteria so all decisions are based on facts.

These include the: 

  • Predicted pupil numbers and surplus places for each school
  • Condition and suitability of existing school buildings
  • Performance of schools, including exam results 
  • Distance to the nearest alternative school
  • Proportion of faith and non-faith schools in an area
  • Use of school buildings by community groups 


Councillor Charles said: “We are still in the early stages of looking at this issue and no decisions have been taken.

“Once we have done more work we will come up with options for removing surplus places and then ask local people for their views.”
 
(REF: JF.457.05) 

The number of pupils in Derbyshire primary schools is predicted to drop by between 10 and 15 per cent in the next four years due to falling birth rates.

Derbyshire County Council is consulting with schools about how to cope with this issue while ensuring standards are maintained at their current high level. 

Schools receive funding depending on how many pupils they have. Those with fewer pupils get less money but still have to pay the same costs for: 

  • Heating and maintaining buildings
  • Staff salaries
  • Administration 

Derbyshire County Council wants to reduce the number of surplus places in schools so more money is being spent on pupils rather than maintaining buildings or paying wages.

At the moment there are 59,593 pupils in primary schools. By 2008/09 it is predicted that will fall to 52,011.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “The problem of falling pupil numbers is not something unique to Derbyshire - it is a national problem facing all schools.

“We have already done a lot of work to remove surplus places but will face some tough decisions in the coming months about how we can reduce them further.

“It does not make sense to pay for the upkeep of empty classrooms as it takes money away which would be better spent on improving the quality of education for our pupils.”

The Government sets councils targets to reduce the number of schools with more than 25 per cent surplus places.

Schools are being consulted about a number of ways to reduce surplus places. Options include: 

  • Converting classrooms for other uses like libraries, staff rooms or positive play rooms
  • Demolishing some old classrooms 
  • Altering admission limits that say how many pupils a school can take 
  • Merging or closing schools

Derbyshire County Council is proposing to look at how many surplus places there are at schools in each district of the county. 

To do this they plan to judge schools against the same criteria so all decisions are based on facts.

These include the: 

  • Predicted pupil numbers and surplus places for each school
  • Condition and suitability of existing school buildings
  • Performance of schools, including exam results 
  • Distance to the nearest alternative school
  • Proportion of faith and non-faith schools in an area
  • Use of school buildings by community groups 


Councillor Charles said: “We are still in the early stages of looking at this issue and no decisions have been taken.

“Once we have done more work we will come up with options for removing surplus places and then ask local people for their views.”
 
(REF: JF.457.05) 

DirectGov