School Organisation Plan 2023

Although the statutory requirement to publish an annual School Organisation Plan (SOP) was abolished in 2004, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (the Council) has continued to publish an updated plan to inform schools, parents, and the public. The School Organisation Plan gives information about the number, types and sizes of schools maintained by the Council, Academies and Free Schools.

The Council does however have a statutory duty to ensure that there are enough school places in the borough to meet demand. The Council must therefore plan, organise and commission places for all state-funded schools in Stockton so that high standards are maintained, diverse school communities are created, and fluctuating pupil numbers are managed efficiently.

The demand for school places changes over time - this document is 'live' and, as such, is updated every two years. It sets out where the Council currently thinks there will be a need to provide more school places and if there may be a need to provide fewer places over the coming years. Increases in demand can lead to the creation of a new school or the expansion of schools, whereas decreases in demand can lead to a reduction in school provision.

Predicting school demand is a complex task because where children go to school involves a range of different and often conflicting factors, and as a result planning for school places is based on probabilities, not certainties. This means that while projections may be made from robust calculations, they do not offer any guarantees.

It is important for us to be as open and transparent as possible when considering school organisation decisions. We strive to communicate effectively with schools and school communities about the school place pressures in their area. However, the Council must also endeavour to manage expectations regarding school organisation proposals that are less certain. This document does not seek to definitively set out all the actions the Council intends to take in the future, but rather is intended to provide an overview of issues that may arise in Stockton. The Council will only name particular schools in this document when there is sufficient assurance that a proposal will be implemented or where this has already taken place.

This updated School Organisation Plan aims to provide an overview of current and future pupil numbers which supports planning the provision of school places across the borough. This document will be produced every two years and be made available to our schools and partners.

School Place Planning is a critical aspect of the Council's statutory duty to assess the local need for school places to ensure that every child can be provided with a place in a state-funded school in Stockton-on-Tees. The Council needs to demonstrate that they have robust procedures and systems for forecasting pupil numbers taking account of changes in local circumstances to ensure there will be the right number of schools in the right places for the number of pupils expected in the future.

Schools submit data on pupil rolls to the Council in October, January, and May each year through the School Census. Schools are encouraged to play an active role in the planning of pupil place process and to identify at an early stage any concerns with projections that may impact on future school planning.

To enable the Council to gain a clearer understanding of where there are current and anticipated pressures in both primary and secondary school (including Academies) places in the borough, the Council have grouped all schools into specific local planning areas. This will allow more detailed analysis of need and inform decisions regarding the use of funding to meet demand. For Primary we have six planning areas namely Billingham and Wolviston, North Stockton, Central Stockton, Thornaby, Ingleby Barwick and Eaglescliffe and Yarm. For Secondary we operate three, namely Billingham and Wolviston, Stockton North and Central and Stockton South.

This plan also sets out the Council's policies and key aims on school organisation and the procedures required by law for making changes such as opening, closing, or enlarging schools.

The Council has in place a strategic group that meets regularly and uses not only the School Organisation Plan and the data supporting it but also detail from the School Capacity (SCAP) return, in making school place planning decisions. These include increasing school level Published Admission Numbers (PAN's) / Capacity in response to predicted demand for places and the allocation of Basic Need Capital monies to those schools deemed the most appropriate following feasibility options work.

The headlines captured within the School Organisation Plan are also used to inform the commentary, School Capacity and Pupil Forecast data the Council submits in support of the SCAP return to the Department for Education (DfE) annually. The SCAP provides the DfE with information on all schools which are maintained by the Council as well as the data for Academies and Free Schools.

The SCAP is used to inform Key Decisions regarding School Place Planning pressures across the borough and Capital allocation priorities across primary and secondary schools in terms of refurbishment and maintenance. This School Organisation Plan should be read in conjunction with any Capital Papers to Cabinet on future Capital Plans for support and the allocation of appropriate funding.

Making major changes to school organisation

Changes to school organisation such as opening new schools, closing schools, or enlarging them cannot happen without consulting everyone likely to be affected. In January 2023 the Department for Education updated its guides that provided information on the procedures established by The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) and (Establishments and Discontinuance of Schools) Regulations 2013. The guidance sets out how any such proposals are decided. On 1 February 2011 the Education Act 2011 (EA 2011) amended the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) to change the arrangements for establishing new schools. Most new schools will now be established via the academy/free school presumption and the related departmental advice describe the department's expectations of how that process should operate.

Academies

An Academy is a state-funded independent school which may have one or more sponsors. An Academy may be put forward in a competition for a new school, or the Council and potential sponsors may approach the government directly to suggest an Academy to replace one or more existing schools. The governing body of an existing school may decide to apply to the Secretary of State to convert to Academy status without a sponsor.

Free schools

A Free School is a new school set up with the consent of the Secretary of State by a group of parents or other interested people. Like an Academy, a Free School is an independent school funded directly by the government.

Other changes to schools

Proposals for other changes such as closing a school, enlarging it, or changing the age range, may be published by the Council or sometimes by school governing bodies. In most situations the Council will decide these proposals. In some circumstances there will be a right of appeal to an adjudicator. In all cases the people likely to be affected by any change - particularly parents, school staff and governors - must be consulted before any decision is taken. The decision-maker must also take account of guidance issued by the government.

More information about school organisation is available on the website of the Department for Education.

The aim is for schools to be more in charge of their own decisions about size and composition and to be able to respond to what parents want locally without being unduly restricted by process.

Forecasting Primary and Secondary pupil numbers

The Council continues to use the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) produced and supplied forecasting tables and methodology.

Pupil numbers in primary schools

Pupil numbers entering Reception have continued to fall in recent years in line with national lower birth rates and the number of surplus places in some schools across the six planning areas has increased. This is something we are monitoring as it is predicted to continue for the next couple of years. Overall surplus across the borough has risen slightly to 16% and expected to rise.

Pupil numbers in secondary schools

A significant number of our secondary schools are oversubscribed reflecting parental choice. In recent years the LA has invested in increasing capacity in several schools to provide a little surplus in each of the three planning areas. This was to accommodate the forecasted growth in the demand for places as previously higher births entered Primary and transitioned into Secondary - at present this represents a surplus of 5% for Sept 2023. However due to parental preference this is geographically focused, in only a handful of schools.

 The last expansion project the Council we are working with, is alongside Outwood Grange Academy Trust to increase capacity by 300 places at its Bishopsgarth Academy (Stockton North & Central) to meet demand from current primary numbers over the next few years whilst providing some capacity for predicted demand from local planned / approved housing. This is expected to be in place for 2023/24

The secondary Capital strategy is also mindful that across Stockton this growth will peak 2023/2024 and follow National trends as lower births across the borough have seen a yearly reduction entering Reception since 2016/2017.  These lower cohorts will increase our surplus position in Secondary in future years, this can be evidenced as for Sept 2023 entry we have placed  2490 Year 7 children whilst the equivalent Sept 2023 Reception cohort was only 2236 - an 10% reduction. With continuing lower birth rates equating to lower primary pupils for at least for the next 3 to 4 years will see the gap increasing.

It is also expected that this falling trend of lower pupil numbers entering the primary phase could remain across Stockton-on-Tees.

Academies

In Stockton, since the last publication of the SOP we have seen a steady increase in the number of primary and secondary schools which have converted to Academy status (see Tables 1-4 for more details).

Table 1. Primary

Billingham and Wolviston

North Stockton

Central Stockton

Thornaby

Ingleby Barwick

Eaglescliffe and Yarm

Table 2. Secondary

Billingham and Wolviston

Stockton North and Central

Stockton South

Table 3. Free schools

Billingham and Wolviston

Stockton South

Table 4. Special schools and others

Academies are independent schools however for completeness this plan contains information about the number of places in Academies and projections of future student numbers. The number of Academy conversions is up to date as at the time of this report being produced.

Schools in Stockton-on-Tees

Early years education

Education is not compulsory for children under the age of five, but local authorities must ensure that a nursery place is available for every three and four-year-old whose parents want one and for every eligible 2-year-old that meets Government criteria. Every primary school in the borough contains a nursery unit. In many schools this operates as a Foundation Stage Unit so that children can move between nursery and reception class in a flexible way to meet their individual needs. Additional nursery education places are offered by providers in the private, voluntary, and independent sectors including child minders. For further Government advice on early years please visit the DfE website. 

Children in Stockton-on-Tees normally start full-time school in the September following their fourth birthday, but this can be deferred until the age of five at the request of parents.

Primary schools

From 1 September 2023 there were:

• sixty primary schools for children aged 4 to 11 of which 43 are Academies including one Free School
• one special school Academy for children aged up to 11 with a range of special educational needs (Ash Trees)
• one special school Academy for children aged 5 to 16 with a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties (Westlands)
• one pupil referral unit for primary-age pupils temporarily excluded from school (Bishopton Centre), which also converted 1 May 2021

Secondary schools

From 1 September 2023 there were:

• ten schools for pupils aged 11 to 16 of which 9 are Academies
• three schools for pupils aged 11 to 18 of which all are Academies including one Free School (yet to admit post 16 pupils)
• one special school Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18 with a range of complex special educational needs (Abbey Hill Academy)
• one special school Academy for children aged 5 to 16 with behavioural, social, and emotional difficulties (Westlands)
• one pupil referral unit for pupils temporarily excluded from school (Bishopton Centre) which also converted 1^st May 2021

Post 16 education and training in schools

The 11 to 18 schools in the above have a capacity for 796 children in their school sixth forms, available at the academies of Egglescliffe (400), Conyers (276) and Ingleby Manor Free School (150). Although the Free School yet has not admitted any pupils. In addition to School Sixth Form provision, learning and skills needs in Stockton are supported by one General FE College, one Sixth Form College and several Work Based Learning (WBL) providers offering Apprenticeships and WBL provider offering Foundation Learning.

The two colleges located within the borough are Stockton Sixth Form College and Stockton Riverside College (SRC). SRC which operates on Teesdale with Bede College and the Skills Academy at Billingham sites.

A diverse range of maintained schools

"Maintained" means that the Council provides the governing bodies of those schools with an annual budget for their running costs. The schools maintained by the Council fall into one of three categories below.

• Community schools are owned by the Council. The Authority employs their staff and controls the admission of pupils.
• Voluntary Controlled schools are also owned by the Authority and operate largely in the same way as community schools. The Council employs their staff and controls the admission of pupils. The main difference is that the school governing body has some members appointed by a voluntary body. All the voluntary controlled schools in Stockton-on-Tees are primary schools associated with the Church of England.
• Voluntary Aided schools belong to a voluntary body (usually one of the Churches) although the Council normally owns their playing fields. The governing bodies of Voluntary Aided schools employ all their staff and control the admission of pupils. The governing body of a Voluntary Aided school normally contributes 10% towards the cost of any capital work on the school buildings, with the remainder funded by Government. The running costs of aided schools are funded by the Council in the same way as other schools.

In some parts of the country there are Foundation Schools. Like voluntary aided schools they own their land and buildings, they employ staff and control admissions, and the Foundation may appoint the majority of the school's governors. New Foundation Schools may be called "Trust Schools." There are no Foundation schools or Trust schools in Stockton-on-Tees.

Academies are not maintained by the Council but are independent schools funded by the government and may be supported by a private sponsor. The sponsor may appoint most governors and has influence over the curriculum of the school. Academies do not have to follow the national curriculum. They may have a longer school day and may employ staff on different conditions of service. Academies do not charge fees to students.

Free Schools are also independent schools funded directly by government and not maintained by Council. Any group (for example parents, a business or community group) may apply to the Secretary of State for permission to establish a Free School if they can demonstrate a demand for new school places.

At present we have two Free Schools - a 750 place secondary school in Stockton South (Ingleby Manor Free School & Sixth Form - opened in Sept 2014) and a 420 place primary schools in Billingham & Wolviston (Wynyard CE Primary - opened in Sept 2015).

The LA are aware that another Free School opened albeit on a temporary site in Hartlepool LA's Wynyard development. We expect this proposed Free School will directly impact on primary schools in the Billingham & Wolviston area. Surplus currently stands at 17% and is predicted to increase further with some schools operating at over 20% surplus and higher.

Both LA's accept that there is always potential for future demand due to the approved / planned housing across sites in both Stockton and Hartlepool LA areas. However, there isn't any clear evidence of sufficient demand at present and for many years to come due to the lower birth rates as alluded to above. The decision to 'approve in principle' of another primary Free School raises concerns as this is not in line with School Place Planning projections and future National & local lower birth rate data.

Having a total capacity of 2820 reception places and only around 2000 live births in future years will only increase surplus places further.

The LA are also monitoring interest from local developers and sponsors for a potential 900 place secondary Free School in Wynyard which will impact school places in the Billingham & Wolviston planning area. This despite a previous application being refused in Wave 13 due to 'sufficient capacity' in the planning area and the LA as a whole and lower pupil numbers from the Wynyard area. The LA is concerned that not only will this 'free school' displace pupils from current schools (if approved) but is not sustainable longer term, as per the previously mentioned lower primary cohorts and those expected in the future due to the lower birth rates.

The LA will be able to meet the expected demand for secondary places across the borough once our Capital Investment programme is complete, providing 2550 Year 7 places. This capacity will enable the LA to have sufficient surplus to meet the peak in two years. Thereafter secondary surplus will continue to grow year on year as the lower primary cohorts leave and enter Y7 whilst the predicted lower births enter the system in the future. Our secondary capacity across our three planning areas will therefore be able to meet any growth from housing in the Wynyard area.

Table 5 below shows the number of each type of school operating in Stockton-on-Tees from September 2023.

Table 5. School types

Fedaration

A federation is a group of two or more schools that have agreed to come together, often under a single governing body. The Council cannot create a federation of schools. This must be done by the governing bodies of the schools themselves after consulting parents, staff, other schools, and the Council.

The Stockton Borough First Federation was set up on 1 April 2006. This is made up of Abbey Hill School Technology College and Westlands School, two schools that jointly provide for pupils with many kinds of special educational needs. The federation has a single governing body and one executive head teacher. The two schools remain separate schools, each with its own budget, but the single governing body can share resources (including staff) across the two schools. Since 1 September 2013 both schools converted to Academy status and subsequently became a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) instead of a Federation and were joined by Green Gates and other SEN providers across the North East & Yorkshire.

Demand across the Borough

Early-years places

A free part-time nursery education place is available for every three and four-year-old whose parents want to take it up and for every eligible 2-year-old that meets Government criteria. Information about this can be found at Early Education and Childcare. This may be in one of the nursery units attached to every primary school in the borough, in a nursery operated by providers in the private, voluntary, and independent sectors or with a child minder. Information about private nursery and childcare providers is available from the Families Information Service at Stockton Information Directory.

Primary school places

The spring schools census collected in January 2023 recorded a total of 19,198 children on roll in the 60 schools across the borough. This included 16,851 children attending the year groups Reception through to Y6 (primary cohort) against a capacity of 19,813 pupil places (as reported in SCAP 2023) providing a surplus of 15%. Table 6 shows the number of children in each year group as at the January 2023 census:

Table 6. Primary pupil number January 2023

A rising trend of pupil numbers peaked in September 2015 entry and has declined since.

Every school has a Published Admission Number (PAN), this is also referred to as the 'capacity' of children normally admitted into Reception (four-year-olds starting school for the first time). The total Reception capacity for entry in September 2022 (as recorded in SCAP 2023) across all primary schools was 2730. Overall, in January we had a boroughwide surplus of 15% - though some planning areas have a higher percentage of surplus than others.

Secondary school places

The spring schools census collected in January 2023 recorded a total school population of 12,473 on roll in the 13 schools across the borough. This included 11,865 children attending (Y7 to Y11) against a capacity of 12,665 pupil places. (excluding School Sixth Form places of 796 which there were 608 recorded on roll) reported in SCAP 2023. Overall, in January we had a boroughwide surplus of 7%. Table 7 shows the number of children in each year group as at the January 2023 census:

Table 7. Secondary pupil numbers January 2023

There is a continuing trend of more pupil numbers entering Y7 than there are leaving Y11. In Table 7 it represents a 13.7% increase in the number of pupils entering secondary between Sept 2018 (Y11) and Sept 2022 (Y7). This steady increase was a result of a higher primary pupil population in Table 6 that move into secondary and will continue over the next 7 years. This increasing demand and the projected cohorts led to the Council having discussions with all schools and academies with a view to increasing the capacity of secondary school places.

The total Y7 capacity for entry in September 2022 across all secondary schools was 611 places providing the Council with a surplus of 3.6%. However, the actual number of surplus places was a little higher due to additional places provided by some academies admitting pupils above their admission number to meet parental demand.

Strategy for school investment in Stockton-on-Tees

The key aims of the Strategy for Stockton are:

• provide sufficient school places across the Borough and have between 5-10% surplus places to:
  • provide every primary pupil a place within 2 miles
  • provide every secondary pupil a school place within 3 miles
• ensure that schools are maintained in a good condition, with maintenance work undertaken
• identify opportunities to improve the school stock

Methodology

Data sources

The following data sources have been used to formulate the pupil forecasts:

• the latest (anonymised) spring (January 2023) school census data, providing information on the pupils attending mainstream schools in each planning area
• the number of pupils on roll recorded in the spring (January 2023) school census data for the previous academic year
• the number of Reception and Year 7 allocated places for September 2023
• details on each mainstream school
• a trajectory of planned housing growth
• actual births sourced from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) live births data series
• projected births sourced from the latest official Sub-National Population Projection (SNPP) from the ONS

Data processing

The first stage of the projection process calculates aggregate 'target' figures for each primary and secondary year group. These target totals are derived by rolling forward actual roll numbers using cohort ratios based on historical school census data.

A cohort ratio is calculated by dividing the Spring 2023 Year 9 total by the 2022 Year 8 figure, for example, with change in the cohort size from one academic year to the next associated with migration effects. For Reception year, the cohort ratio is calculated using birth totals from five-years earlier. For use in the model, this calculation is averaged over three years of data.

The targets form the overall controlling totals for the individual school and planning area projections that are presented in the final set of primary and secondary projection results.

Birth statistics are a key input to the projection process, a trajectory of future births has been derived from the ONS 2018-based SNPP,  released in March 2020. In the 2023 model update, birth totals for 2021 to 2022 have been scaled to the 2018-based SNPP birth trajectory; fixed beyond 2023 to 2024.

The calculation of the cohort ratios takes account of children that live in Stockton that is different to the location of their school. The balance is for a small net outflow for primary schools but for a net inflow for secondary schools.

Live births

From its low point in 2000 to 2001 the birth total for Stockton-on-Tees rose substantially to reach a peak of 2,474 in 2011 to 2012. Since then, birth numbers have gradually reduced, with just under 2,000 births in 2019 to 2020 for entry in September 2024. This is the lowest births number recorded over the historical period. As a result of these trends, secondary school intake is expected to peak in Spring 2022 through to 2024, gradually reducing thereafter. The peak number on roll across the school is likely to be achieved in Spring 2026.

The LA's secondary Capital strategy is mindful that this growth will peak 2023 to 2024 and follow National trends and reduce year on year. This drop will increase our surplus position in Secondary in future years, with continuing lower birth rates, this downward trend will continue at least for the next 3 to 4 years.

Beyond Spring 2032, the numbers on roll at secondary schools will be driven by future birth numbers (from 2020 to 2021 onwards - COVID effect), although despite early indications Nationally that lockdown has contributed to an increase in births during 2020 to 2021, this hasn't been reflected in birth figures across Stockton), determined by fertility trends and the size of the resident female population aged 15 to 49. Rebasing the most recent ONS birth projections to Stockton-on-Tees' latest birth registration count suggests a further decline in birth numbers. Erring on the side of caution given the uncertainty associated with demographic trends, the 2023 pupil projections assume that the annual estimate of new births remains constant after 2023.

Primary pupil projections

The base data for the primary pupil projections is sourced from the latest January school census (January 2023). Capacities and admission limits are also provided.

Reception intake numbers for the next academic year (Spring 2024 in the case of the 2023 model update) are estimated using the latest information on allocations and appeals available at the time of the pupil projection model being updated. These allocations totals are used as a proxy for the admission rolls in the following Spring. A check is made to ensure that the allocation and appeals (in total) is in line with the target for that year.

Reception intake numbers for subsequent projection years are estimated as an average of previous year's Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 totals, with an annual adjustment for any planned new housing or clearances in each school's admission zone.

Year 1 totals are derived from previous year's Reception totals, with adjustments applied to account for planned housing and migration factors. Totals for Years 2 to 6 is each calculated in a similar way.

Totals for children aged three and four are back calculated from the Reception figures for each school and are provided in the projection output to indicate the likely cohort size.

Manual adjustments to pupil projections are made under certain circumstances. These adjustments may be made to keep schools within their admission limit, with residual totals re-distributed to neighbouring primary schools.

The resulting total for the sum of pupil projections for all schools is compared to the overall target. A 'scaling factor' is calculated and is subsequently applied (in each projection year).

Secondary pupil projections

The base data for the secondary pupil projections is sourced from the latest January school census (January 2023). School capacity and admission limits are also provided.

Primary school pupil census data by year-group, is used to estimate the number of Year 7 pupils expected in each secondary school's admission zone for the next seven years. This estimate is compared to the numbers of pupils on roll and a 'propensity to attend' ratio is calculated using a weighted history of data to model the Year 6 to Year 7 transition.

The first year of the projection, totals for Year 7 were provided by the admissions team and include the latest information on allocations and appeals available at the time of the projections being updated. These allocation totals are used as a proxy for the admission rolls in Spring of the same school year. A check is made to ensure that the allocation and appeals data is in line with the target for that year.

For subsequent years, the numbers in the school admission zone are estimated and the derived 'propensity to attend' ratio is applied. So, for the Year 7 projection for Spring 2024, the model uses the Year 5 pupil cohort in Spring 2023 and applies the 'propensity to attend' ratio for each school.

Secondary academies are projected using the same methodology as other secondary community schools.

Year 8 totals are derived from previous year's Year 7 totals, with adjustments for housing and migration. Year 9 to Year 11 totals is each calculated in a similar way.

Where sixth forms exist at secondary schools, projections for these year groups (Years 12 and 13) are calculated using previous 'staying-on rates' at that school.

Manual adjustments to the pupil projections are made under certain circumstances. These adjustments may be made to keep schools within their admission limit, with residual totals redistributed to neighbouring secondary schools. These adjustments are made on request from each local authority and are based upon the school-specific intelligence of the respective place-planning teams.

The resulting total for the sum of pupil projections for all schools in Stockton is compared to the overall target. A scaling factor is calculated and is subsequently applied (in each projection year).

Migration and housing developments

Sites for new housing development are split into those with and those without planning permission.

Stockton planners provide a 'family homes' percentage for each new housing site. A family home is assumed to be all homes and flats with two or more bedrooms, and not housing specifically designed for older people.

The housing data is provided in an annual, April-to-April format, with a site location (site centroid) provided for each new development. The housing totals represent the position as of April/May/June for the year that pupil projections are being formulated.

With the aid of Geographical Information System (GIS) technology, each housing site centroid is plotted and assigned to its relevant school admission zone where possible. Aggregate housing growth totals are calculated for each year of the projection period for each primary school (community-academy-free school and Roman Catholic (RC)-academy school) and each secondary school (community-academy-free school and RC-academy school).

Due to there being some admission zones that overlap, adjustments are made to prevent the projected number of pupils moving into new housing from being included at more than one school.

For primary schools, the Council has reverted to the Tees Valley ratios where, 100 new family homes are expected, on average, to house 22 primary school aged pupils (3.1 pupils per year group). Current school roll totals have been used to identify a likely yield for both Catholic pupils (4 per 100 homes or 0.5 pupils per year group) and non- Catholic pupils (18 per 100 homes or 2.6 pupil per year-group).

Similarly, for secondary schools, we have used the ratio that 100 new family homes are expected, on average, to house approximately 13 secondary school aged pupils (2.6 pupils per year group, Years 7-11). Current school roll totals have been used to identify a likely yield for both Catholic pupils (3 per 100 homes or 0.6 pupils per year group) and non-Catholic pupils (10 per 100 homes or 2 pupil per year-group).

Stockton-on-Tees has a growing population, with a growing demand for housing. To ensure Stockton-on-Tees remains a great place to live, and that the housing needs of the Borough are met the Council will maintain a rolling 5-year supply of deliverable housing land. To achieve this the Council are preparing a new Local Plan; sites identified within the emerging Local Plan.

In the 2019 'Local Plan' (due to be updated for 2024) it includes a housing requirement of 10,150 homes to be delivered between 2017/2018 and 2031/2032. The housing requirement will be achieved through the delivery of homes on sites with planning applications and allocations within the emerging Local Plan. The housing strategy within the emerging Local Plan seeks to promote development in the most sustainable way through:

• supporting the aspiration of delivering housing in the Regenerated River Tees Corridor (between A66 and Newport Bridge) near Stockton Town Centre
• supporting development on suitable sites within the conurbation
• creating a Sustainable Urban Extension to West Stockton
• proposing major new residential development at Wynyard leading to the area becoming a sustainable settlement

There are several housing developments of greater than 250 homes that are either approved/planned or detailed in the 'Local Plan' across the borough that will affect most of our planning areas namely: Billingham and Wolviston - the Wynyard area (1,100 rising to 3,000+), North and Central Stockton - along Harrowgate / Yarm Back Lane (for 2,150 homes), Eaglescliffe and Yarm - (2,000+) and Ingleby Barwick - continues to expand (1,100).

Cross-border movement

Small adjustments have been factored into for cross border movement from pupils migrating into the Billingham and Wolviston planning area from Hartlepool Borough Council and similarly from Stockton South planning area (Thornaby) into Middlesbrough.

Planning area and borough-level pupil projections

The following projection tables are taken from the 2021 SCAP return and incorporate the change in methodology and indicate the Published Admission Numbers (PAN) for both Primary and Secondary Schools in each planning area, the allocated Reception and Year 7 only cohorts and the number of children expected in each of the subsequent years of entry.

Billingham and Wolviston: Primary and Secondary

This area includes thirteen primary schools with eleven being academies including the free school Wynyard CE Primary.

Table 8 - Primary school places: 8080001 Billingham and Wolviston

Capacity: 555

Recently some schools are experiencing lower than expected Reception intakes across this planning area, increasing surplus capacity so the LA will be monitoring this regarding any financial impacts on those schools involved. This trend is expected to continue based on projections due to lower birth rates. There are no planned expansions in this planning area given the capacity available.

Since its opening (September 2015) the free school has continued to displace children from surrounding schools namely from within this planning area but also from 8080002 as well as from neighbouring LA areas particularly those in County Durham.

The approval of a new Free School within a neighbouring LA area (Hartlepool) but in a housing area that is shared with Stockton - Wynyard. With 15% surplus in this planning area and only two schools full, the approval and timing of another school is not helpful and will cause further issues for the schools in this planning area in the coming years with regards displacing children and financial pressure on budgets.

It is expected that future housing growth in the Wynyard area albeit within a neighbouring council area (Hartlepool) could see an increase in the demand for school places in the future in this planning area. The Council already works closely with Hartlepool Borough Council School Place Planning colleagues as part of the Strategic Master Plan to ensure 'jointly' that there will be sufficient school places available in the future, if demand dictates there should be additional school places considered.

The impact on Free Schools opening in the Wynyard area have seen most of the Billingham primary schools having lower intakes which in turn creates pressure on budgets that impacts on staffing decisions. One school has reduced its Admission number from 75 to 60 reflect this (Prior's Mill CE) and one other is also proposing a reduction for entry in September 2025 from to 60 to 45 (Bewley).

Table 9 - Secondary school places: 8080007 Billingham and Wolviston

Capacity: 540

There are two secondary schools - Northfield School and St Michael's Catholic Academy. 

Traditionally the two schools accept pupils from 8080008 - Stockton North and Central due to parental preference and a RC primary feeder school into St Michaels' Catholic Academy instead of a local Stockton RC secondary. There are also small numbers of residents whose children secure places in another cross-border school, for example, Sedgefield in County Durham.

The above projections do not significantly exceed the current Capacity in most years, but the level of surplus places does fall below 5% in some years. The above figures reflect some movement of pupils from Stockton North and Central (8080008) into the St Michael's from a RC feeder primary school located in Norton. There is also some consideration for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council children who are successful in gaining a place at a Sedgefield school in County Durham each year. However, the above figures do not consider those that successfully gain a place in independent schools.

North Stockton: Primary

This area includes fourteen primary schools (including nine academies). The table below reflects projected Reception intake numbers only.

Table 10 - Primary school places: 8080002 North Stockton

Capacity: 629

Recently some schools are experiencing lower than expected Reception intakes across this planning area, increasing surplus capacity so the LA will be monitoring this regarding any financial impacts on those schools involved. This trend is expected to continue based on projections due to lower birth rates. There are no planned expansions in this planning area given the capacity available. Its worth noting that one Academy (Crooksbarn Primary) has since increased its Admission Number (AN) to reflect parental preference by 5 places which exceeds overall Capacity in this area.

Lower pupil numbers have seen the following schools reduce their Admission numbers namely, Hardwick Green - from 60 to 30 and St John the Baptist CE - from 45 to 30.

Central Stockton: Primary

This area includes ten primary schools (including five academies).

Table 11 - Primary school places: 8080003 Central Stockton

Capacity: 435

Recently some schools are experiencing lower than expected Reception intakes across this planning area, increasing surplus capacity so the LA will be monitoring this regarding any financial impacts on those schools involved. This trend is expected to continue based on projections due to lower birth rates. There are no planned expansions in this planning area given the capacity available.

This area sometimes experiences a 'parental preference' effect as children travel further to access Reception places outside of this planning area and many parents can access school places at other schools. One RC Academy (St Patrick's) operates a lower Admission Number than its actual capacity but if demand dictates it will admit up to its capacity of 40 places rather than AN of 30.

The LA as part of a Strategic Infrastructure Plan with several developers and landowners related to the Harrowgate and Yarm Back Lane development, has secured a commitment of a site and potential new primary school should demand dictate it in the future. At present there is sufficient capacity in surrounding schools to meet demand.

Lower pupil numbers have seen the following schools reduce their Admission numbers namely, The Oak Tree - from 60 to 30 and Oxbridge Lane - from 58 to 30. Although the latter is in part due to an agreed reduction to overall capacity across the school to ensure the school is fit for purpose due to its old buildings and operating across a split site.

Stockton North and Central Secondary

This area includes five schools all of which are academies.

Table 12 - Secondary school places: 8080008 Stockton North and Central

Capacity: 1017

North Shore Academy (part of the Northern Education Trust - NET) since it was rebuilt on its current site in 2013 to cater for 1050 students (an Admission number of 210) has undergone a series of remodelling to ensure the Trust can deliver its curriculum. This in part was due to the fact the original design and subsequent build was of a 'open plan' nature. This over the years hasn't led to being an effective teaching model. During 2022 and 2023 following discussions with the LA, further remodelling has taken place with support from the LA to improve the school further. This has resulted in the school now operating as a 900 place school offering 180 places.

The LA and another trust Outwood Grange Academy Trust (OGAT) have been working to expand Bishopsgarth by 300 places from a 600-place school to 900 hopefully by spring 2024, to meet future demand from the approved housing schemes along both Harrowgate Lane and Yarm Back Lane demand.

If future demand exceeds supply, then this will be revisited to take the school up to 1050.

As stated above there has always been at least 40 pupils that access provision in 808007 due to the feeder link arrangement with the RC secondary academy.

Primary: Thornaby

This area includes seven primary schools (including 5 academies).

Table 13 - Primary school places: 8080004 Thornaby

Capacity: 280

Recently some schools are experiencing lower than expected Reception intakes across this planning area, increasing surplus capacity so the LA will be monitoring this regarding any financial impacts on those schools involved. This trend is expected to continue based on projections due to lower birth rates. There are no planned expansions in this planning area given the capacity available.

This area however experiences a 'parental preference' effect as children will travel further to access Reception places outside of this planning area. In addition, some schools tend to admit above their admission number which also adds capacity. This will need to be reviewed to ensure supply meets demand.

Primary: Ingleby Barwick

This area includes six primary schools (including 4 academies).

Table 14 - Primary school places: 8080005 Ingleby Barwick

Capacity: 330

Due to lower Reception intakes than expected across this planning area in recent years, has led to two schools to reduce their Reception offer by 30 places each. Firstly, Ingleby Mil Primary from 90 places down to 60 September 2020 and a further reduction of 30 places at Whinstone (an academy) will commence from September 2022 also from 90 to 60. This equates to a revised offer of places in this area of 330.

The LA will be monitoring this situation especially with increased housing applications that are expected. However, at present this falling trend is expected to continue based on projections due to lower birth rates. Although there are no planned expansions in this planning area, the LA are mindful this will need to be reviewed to ensure supply meets demand.

Primary: Eaglescliffe and Yarm

This area includes ten primary schools all but one is now an academy.

Table 15 - Primary school places: 8080006 Eaglescliffe and Yarm

Capacity: 331

Recently some schools are experiencing lower than expected Reception intakes across this planning area, increasing surplus capacity so the LA will be monitoring this regarding any financial impacts on those schools involved. This trend is expected to continue based on projections due to lower birth rates. Although there are no planned expansions in this planning area, the LA are mindful this will need to be reviewed especially with recent planning approval for additional homes, to ensure supply meets demand.

Stockton South Secondary

There are 6 schools, all academies including a Free School.

Table 16 - Secondary school places: 8080009 Stockton South

Capacity: 1029

At present several pupils access school places at secondary schools outside of their immediate located admission zone school, namely from the Thornaby area, as a result it leads to surplus in their local school Thornaby Academy (circa 60+) but fills up the more popular ones elsewhere in the planning area. Children from Ingleby Barwick continue to gain places in both Conyers and Egglescliffe.

Due to the excessive number of applications received by some of the schools in this planning, means that there is also the likelihood that those academies will have to admit above their capacity due to successful appeals. This creates a problem in year as it reduces places for children moving into the area wanting a place at their local school.

As part of the LA's Capital expansion programme an increase in the number of places are being provided at All Saints CE Academy. This was completed in 2022 with the academy increasing by 200 across the school from 700 to 900 places.

There is still some movement out of this area with approximately 40 pupils who gain a place at school/schools in another LA for example, Middlesbrough due to one Academy operating an admission policy criterion that accepts pupils from the Thornaby area. There are early indications that some Middlesbrough Borough Council residents, unable to secure a Middlesbrough school place for their children are applying for and in some cases securing places in Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council schools - adding to the pressures at this current time.

Borough level

Table 17 - Primary

Capacity: 2645

Table 18 - Secondary

Capacity: 1029

It is clear from the table above that the next few years of projected primary pupil numbers expected to enter secondary in Year 7 above, should be catered for following the Councils capital expansion to increase places in some schools. However, this situation is expected to change from September 2024 onwards as lower primary numbers begin to move into secondary thus increasing surplus places year on year. It also worth noting that this drop in pupil numbers will continue due to the lower pupil birth numbers as indicated in Table 17. Any further expansion will be predicated on future housing schemes, for example, West Stockton to ensure we can meet demand whilst carrying a small surplus of between 5 to 10 %.

This document was prepared by Darren Coulton in October 2023.