To approve the expansion of Aylestone School to accommodate additional pupils admitted from September 2026 in response to rising numbers in Hereford City.

Cabinet considered a report setting out proposals to expand Aylestone High School to meet a growing demand for places in the north of Hereford. The cabinet member commissioning, procurement and assets introduced the report and explained that this is the preferred location for expansion as the other school under consideration, Whitecross Hereford High School, is subject to a PFI contract which makes it financially unviable to expand at this time. A longer term piece of work will be undertaken to set out the need for additional school places, taking account of the emerging Local Plan.

Some cabinet members, including the cabinet member who is also ward member for the school, undertook a site visit ahead of the meeting to see the opportunities and challenges presented by an expansion, including transport issues. The next stage is to undertake detailed design work and there will be consultation with stakeholders, including the nursery on the site.

The ward member had expressed concerns about the proposed expansion but was reassured by the site visit and the promise of consultation on the detailed design.

Cabinet members discussed the proposals and noted the importance of creating the best possible learning environment. The leader of the council highlighted the importance of the strategic work to assess the need for additional places in the longer term and set out an additional recommendation that the draft strategic plan be brought back to Cabinet within the next 12 months.

Group leaders welcomed the proposed developments.

It was resolved that:

a)             Cabinet agree to progress with the permanent expansion of Aylestone High School;

b)             Subject to securing planning consent, Aylestone High School is expanded to enable its permanent expansion to five forms of entry (150 pupils per year group) at a cost of not more than £13.1m including fees and contingency;

c)             Delegated authority for award of procurement contract for the lifecycle of the project, is given to the Corporate Director, Children and Young People; and

d)             The Service Director, Education, Skills and Learning, be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above in consultation with the S151 Officer and the Cabinet Members for Children and Families and Commissioning, Procurement and Assets; and

e)             The Service Director, Education, Skills and Learning present to Cabinet a draft strategic plan for the delivery of school places across the County for the period 2024 to 2034 for final approval by Cabinet within the next twelve months.