Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 41
41
Not Addressed
DfE regional directors currently play limited role in local school closure decisions.
Conclusion
For maintained schools, the lead decision-maker about educational provision and the upkeep of buildings is the local authority, which retains responsibility for sufficiency of school places. DfE told us that its regional directors do not typically play a strong role in decisions about school closures, although they engage with maintained schools and other 59 July 2023 session, Q 80 60 TSB0001, Catholic Education Service, The condition of school buildings, 13 July 2023 61 July 2023 session, Qq 24–25 62 July 2023 session, Qq 82–86 63 July 2023 session, Qq 29–31 20 The condition of school buildings bodies. It also explained that it was looking at opportunities to use school space differently – for example, by using primary school sites for childcare and early years provision, or expanding the space for special and alternative provision.64
Government Response Summary
The government reiterates that local authorities have the statutory duty for school places and manage demand, with recent changes to Dedicated Schools Grant providing flexibility for falling rolls, but the response does not address DfE regional directors' roles or the exploration of alternative uses for school space.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
10.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 10.2 The statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places sits with local authorities. Local authorities already consider overall place requirements and forecast demand in their areas, including when making decisions about reducing school places. There is currently a period of declining birth rates, but local authorities are well placed to handle this, having managed periods of decline, bulges and shifts in local patterns before. They do however require the support and constructive engagement of other responsible bodies in the area to work collaboratively on place planning matters. 10.3 It is prudent to retain some spare capacity in the system, to manage shifting demand and unexpected changes, provide for parental choice and support effective management of the admissions system. The department expects local areas to avoid excessive levels of surplus capacity. Local authorities and other responsible bodies should work together to manage the estate efficiently by reducing or finding alternative uses for high levels of surplus, to avoid potential detriment to the educational offer or financial position of schools in the area. 10.4 The department would expect local authorities, trusts and other local partners to consider a spectrum of options for the reutilisation of space, including for example co-locating nursery or special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision, as well as options for reconfiguration, including via remodelling, amalgamations/mergers, and closures where this is the best course of action. Local factors should be carefully weighed up, along with considerations of the quality, diversity and accessibility of local provision and the forecast demand for places, to determine the most appropriate approach in a given area. The department’s Pupil Place Planning Advisers engage with local authorities on a regular basis to review their plans for places in their area; and when local authorities are experiencing difficulties, they offer support and advice. 10.5 The department ensures that the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP), which prioritises poor condition buildings, considers opportunities for reducing the overall capacity of rebuilt schools when current and forecast need in the school and planning area has reduced, scrutinising and challenging sufficiency data where necessary. 10.6 In addition to capital funding to support local authorities to meet their sufficiency duty, the department provides them with revenue funding for growth and falling rolls, through their Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). This funding can be used by local authorities to support schools with managing a significant growth in pupil numbers before the lagged funding system has caught up or a short-term decrease in pupil numbers, where those places are forecast to be required in future years. The Department has allocated £242 million in Growth and Falling Rolls funding to local authorities in 2024-25 through the DSG, and for the first time this funding is being allocated based on falling rolls as well as growth. The department is also giving local authorities greater flexibilities to use this funding to meet the revenue costs of reducing surplus places.