6.0 Education
Pre-School
Existing Provision
Pre-school provision is very important but it
is largely provided by the private sector in nurseries, by
registered child-minders and informally by families. The
information available does not provide a clear picture of future
need.
Future Requirements
The provision of nurseries tends to serve
neighbourhoods and is demand-led. For this reason it is not a
relevant factor in deciding the location of additional housing.
Small developments, particularly in the existing built-up areas,
are likely to maintain the level of children of age 0-5, countering
any decline in the existing population. Large greenfield
developments, particularly if they contain several hundred new
dwellings, would justify additional nurseries and provision can be
secured as part of the infrastructure requirements.
The provision of nurseries within employment
areas has been a noticeable trend which should also be encouraged
due its potential to reduce the number and/or length of trips
required for working parents.
Primary
Existing Provision
The accessibility of schools and the
availability of places will be major factors in identifying
development sites either to avoid increasing pressure on existing
provision or alternatively to ensure it is used most
effectively. The locations of primary schools in and adjacent
to the Borough are shown in Map 2. The School Places
Plan (p.5), produced by Hampshire County Council in October
2006, points out that large numbers of surplus places - that is
greater than 10 per cent - are costly to retain. Schools are
required to have ten per cent surplus places to cope with
demographic changes but those with additional spare capacity
could justify housing being developed in the vicinity (Table
2 and Map 3).
The Waterlooville – Cowplain and Havant –
Hayling areas are shown in the School Places Plan (p46) as
having surpluses in primary schools of only slightly above 10 per
cent in January 2006 and January 2011. Some schools, however, have
very few surplus places or none at all, including Purbrook Infants
and Junior, St. Peters in Waterlooville, St.Thomas More and
Fairfield Infants in Havant, Mill Rythe Junior on Hayling Island,
Riders Junior and Warren Park Primary in Leigh Park and St
James in Emsworth. Some schools are likely to reach or exceed
capacity particularly if there is additional development, for
example in Emsworth and in the Western Wards near the West of
Waterlooville Major Development Area (
MDA
).
Where there is minimal surplus capacity any
housing development proposals will need to be considered by
Hampshire County Education Authority in terms of their ability to
deliver additional places. This can be achieved by planned
restrictions on parental choice and /or additional school
development. If the Education Authority is unable to plan for
additional capacity, housing development might have to be
restricted.
However, Table 2 and Map 3 indicate that
because there are substantial surplus places development could be
considered, for example:
- at Wecock
- in Leigh Park particularly on the western
side and in West Leigh
- in South Hayling within the catchments of
schools in Mengham.
The potential for development on sites which
are accessible to schools with high levels of surplus capacity
needs to be assessed. There appears to be some correlation between
the less accessible areas and the schools with surplus capacities
shown in Table 2 and on Map 3. These areas include Emsworth,
large areas in the Western Wards and parts of Leigh Park.
The desirability of utilizing spare capacity
also applies to greenfield development and the preferred locations
are:
1. North of Cowplain
2. A3M corridor between Havant and
Waterlooville (southern end)
5. Southern slopes of Portsdown
Hill
8. North Hayling Island;
9. Central Hayling Island
The relationship between accessibility,
surplus capacity and future development will need to be considered
and improvements sought as part of any new development.
However, Broadmarsh (greenfield area 6) is
considered poorly located in relation to existing provision
and there are issues concerning the overlap with areas looking
towards schools in Portsmouth. There is also a strong demand from
within the catchment of schools in Drayton and Farlington and this
could constrain residential development close to the Borough
boundary.
The County Council has requested that where
possible the Core Strategy should encourage the development and
improvement of schools and contain policies which increase the
viability of existing provision. There may be potential for
rebuilding or major rationalizations as a result of the
Government’s Primary Capital and Building Schools for the Future
Initiatives.
Table 2 : Schools in Havant Borough with more than 10 % surplus
places in 2006
Primary Schools
1. Meadowlands Infants (38%)
2. Meadowlands Junior (37%)
3. Morelands Primary (16 %)
4. Stakes Hill Infants (22%)
5. Barncroft Infant (49 %)
6. Barncroft Junior (23 %)
7. Bidbury Infants (15%)
8. Bidbury Junior (17%)
9. Emsworth Primary (20%)
10. Mengham Infants (36%)
11. Mengham Junior (13 %)
12. Mill Rythe Infants (15%)
13. Sharps Copse Primary and Nursery (23
%)
14. Trosnant Infants (21%)
Secondary Schools
15. Staunton Park Community School (32%)
16. Warblington School (18 %)
Source: School Places Plan 2006
Future Requirements
The School Places Plan (p 20 ) refers
to the need for additional provision “…in some areas of housing
growth , which will be needed to achieve the aim that primary
schools should be located within close proximity to pupils’
homes…”
A new primary school is currently proposed in the West of
Waterlooville Major Development Area (
MDA
).
At other locations it might be possible to
overcome constraints if the amount of development is sufficient to
justify additional schools or extensions, for example in Warren
Park. However, there may not be space to expand this school on its
existing site. Development at the northern end of the Havant and
Waterlooville gap and north of Leigh Park would be acceptable if at
least 800 dwellings were built so that a new school could be
justified.
There might also be potential for increasing
development in and/or adjacent to Emsworth but increased capacity
either in a new school or by extensions would be required. School
extensions will need to be funded by developer’s contributions so a
policy in the Core Strategy will be required.
Map 2: Education Provision 2005
Secondary
Existing Provision
The locations of secondary schools are shown
in Map 2 and are listed in the School Places Plan 2006.
Although substantial numbers of surplus places are shown for 2006
and 2011 in the ‘ Havant area summary of school details’ in this
report ( p 46 ) for Havant and Hayling the figure is below 5 per
cent for these years in Waterlooville and Cowplain . Although the
surpluses in Havant and Hayling Island are expected to remain, the
levels will be kept under review.
Oaklands RC School, Park Community School,
Cowplain Community School and Hayling College have very low
surpluses. However, parts of central Havant and Leigh Park benefit
from surplus places at Staunton Park and Warblington schools.
Extensions to secondary schools in the vicinity of the
MDA
will be funded by
developers’ contributions. This type of funding could be applied
elsewhere if major development requires the extension of secondary
schools.
Future Requirements
The issues which need to be addressed are not related to
development. At some stage, however, the land use implications may
arise in relation to the Park Community School and Staunton Park
Community School sites. The low percentage of surplus places at
Park Community School may require an appropriate policy response in
the Core Strategy. Increased use of the Staunton Park Community
School is also likely to be an issue.
Map 3: Schools in Havant Borough with more than 10 % surplus
places in 2006
Further Education
Existing Provision
Havant College, Oaklands RC School, South
Downs College and the Rachel Madocks School - which provides for up
to 19 year olds are shown on Map 2 together with Highbury College
and Portsmouth College. Havant has a wide range of high quality
post-16 provision. There are a number of other providers of further
education including Sixth Form Colleges and the provision of work
based learning. Libraries also play a key role for example the
‘learndirect’ centre in the Waterlooville Library. There is a
relatively extensive provision for adults with disabilities and/or
learning difficulties within the Borough including provision at
South Downs College and Staunton Country Park.
The location and availability of further
education provision will have little or no effect on the location
of new development, unlike schools and other types of social
infrastructure and public services. Residents and students are much
more likely to travel further for the range of available
courses.
Colleges and work based learning (i.e. on the
job training), however, have an important role in providing the
skills which are required in the regeneration of the Borough so
that it can fully realize its potential which is set out in the
Employment Background paper.
The Borough has one of the highest percentages
of population in the South East with no qualifications and has one
of the lowest percentages with NVQ level 4/5 qualifications.
There is a concentration of employment in declining sectors which
calls for opportunities for retraining. The colleges also have a
role in developing more leisure-based learning which can improve
the quality of life for the Borough’s population.
Future Requirements
The Core Strategy should take account of
accommodation needs so that the educational service can evolve to
cater for existing deficiencies and emerging requirements. These
changes may require the extension of college sites. South
Downs College, Oaklands RC School and Havant College attract
students from outside the Borough and the numbers are likely to
increase in response to Government policy. This means that
any requirements for expansion could be generated by the population
growth in neighbouring districts as well as within the Borough.
Unlocking the Potential, the
Regeneration Strategy for the Borough for 2005-2008 sets outs
priorities and actions for education, learning and skills. Land use
implications for the Core Strategy include:
- The creation of community-based opportunities
for learning and skills
- The extension of the Apex Centre which has
particular regeneration benefits for the Leigh Park District
Centre.
A report produced in 2005 for the Learning and
Skills Council for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (
LSC
) assesses the current
provision, and performance of, education and training for residents
aged 14 and older in the Borough. This report aimed to identify
issues impacting on provision and potential actions. Many of these
lie beyond the scope of the Core Strategy but some are relevant
because they have implications for regeneration and the location of
development. These include:
- The effectiveness with which further
education and training is integrated with the regeneration in the
Borough.
- The effectiveness with which current
provision for employed adults and jobseekers meets the workforce
needs of the Borough and the wider travel to work area.
- The capacity of the Increased Flexibility
Programme - which enables teenagers to experience a college
environment – is currently provided by South Downs College and the
Apex Centre in Leigh Park.
- The need for the
LSC
to review the potential
demand and funding for dedicated vocational provision in parts of
Havant where post -16 participation is lowest. The LSC has
committed significant funds to invest in updating facilities at
Havant College and the provision of outreach facilities in Leigh
Park.
- The gap in adult apprenticeship provision and
the consequent need to expand on the success of the Apex
Centre.
- The need to review training and education
provision at Staunton Country Park.
- The importance to the Borough of taking a
lead in providing a strategic forum for co-ordinating the
contribution of learning and skills to social and economic
regeneration.