One has only to watch the popular television programme to realise that location of a house is an important factor for house buyers when deciding where to settle when moving house or obtaining a home for the first time.
The recent, massive building programme across the borough of Sefton will do much to fill the coffers of the council as they collect council tax from householders and accumulate the Section 106 monies from house developers. During the next 5 years Sefton’s housing projections show that 5,335 new houses will be built within the borough.
In January many of these new householders will undoubtedly have young families and will be completing forms for their first choice primary school A school within the locality is favoured by most parents in fact, it was most probably the school which was one of the main factors in choosing this location for their home.
Some faith schools stipulate that entry will be determined by a baptism certificate or by attendance at church. Looked after children and children from armed force personnel obviously have precedence. If the family has a sibling already in the school, that can be an advantage. However, schools do not have elastic walls. Most classes in primary schools are organised for 30 pupils. If the school is full, it is full and there is no room for that eager child, anxious to join friends on their educational journey.
The question is “Are their enough school places for the children who live in these new houses?”
Consider for instance the fact that on the east side of Maghull, Sefton Council has approved the building of 1,700 homes. Not all residents will have children but as they are sold as family dwellings the chances are that children will be occupying the majority of houses.
Sefton’s Education Department have calculated that there will be 17.5 primary pupils per 100 homes. That means in Maghull East alone there will be an additional 300 primary pupils.
Will these families obtain their first choice of school? Will they be faced with travelling by car or bus to another school which may have some places available? Thus the dilemma grows, how long does it take to journey to school, who will take them, who will collect them at the end of the day? Has it had a favourable Ofsted Inspection or are there issues to address?
Worryingly in May 2022 data from Sefton showed that in Maghull and Aintree there were already more pupils of primary age than places available. Of the 13 primary schools only 3 had surplus places, a total of just 33 places out of a total of 3,370.
Sefton Council had endeavoured to address this shortfall by using S106 funding from the developers of the East Maghull sites for an extension to Summerhill Primary School in Maghull. This would have increased the capacity from 210 to 420. However after a 12 month consultation and design period the Planning Committee rejected the Council’s own Planning Application on 27th July 2023. We are not told how much money was provide from S106 contributions as the report to Cabinet members had redacted the funding figures.
So, what will happen now? Where will the pupils in this locality find a school place, where and when will the Section 106 money be spent?
Housebuilding in the Maghull and Aintree area is set to continue for many years and according to recent figures received from the Planning Department 2,426 homes are planned to be built in this locality between 2021/22 and 2035/6. Based on current figures (17.5 primary pupils per one hundred homes) this could result in an additional pupil yield of 425 primary pupils over the next 15 years.
As for secondary school places, there are just 3 schools within the immediate catchment area. For years 7 to 11 Sefton’s own figures show that again there were more pupils than places available in May 2022 and Maricourt is the only school with capacity. However, the data shows that there were just 54 spaces available which will soon be swallowed up as a result of the new housing coming on stream.
It is encouraging that work is under way for a replacement for Deyes High School, which is funded by the Government’s Department for Education, which will help alleviate the shortfall in places when it opens in Spring 2024.
The question is, what is Sefton Council doing to address this overall shortfall, both at primary and secondary level within Maghull? It is clearly unacceptable to encourage and permit the construction of extensive new housing development without first ensuring there is an appropriate infrastructure to support the development.
The Council has an obligation under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and the Schools Admission Code 2012 to ensure sufficient school places for all pupils within a local area to provide primary and secondary education appropriate for pupils’ ages, abilities and aptitudes. Local Authorities must also have regard to the special educational needs provision required for pupils with SEND.
While parents wait and worry our Labour council remains secretive and silent but the problem is unresolved.
