Object

Representation ID: 55741

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Brookgate

Agent: Bidwells

The proposed on-site education provision has been informed by an Education
Topic Paper prepared by the education authority for the area. The Topic Paper
indicates that presently, development at North East Cambridge is not projected to
generate sufficient numbers of pupils to warrant the need for a secondary school
on-site. Nevertheless, for the proper and long term planning of the area, the
Councils consider a cautious approach should be taken and have safeguarded land
for a secondary school if it is needed. This is located within Cowley Road
Neighbourhood Centre alongside a primary school. Local secondary school
provision is to be kept under review throughout the Plan period to determine
whether a secondary school at North East Cambridge is required and when it will
need to be delivered. Based on the housing trajectory for the Area Action Plan, it is
anticipated that if it is required, then it is likely to be delivered towards the end of
the Plan period.
Land at Cambridge North is proposing to include for a Specialist Maths School. The
Government has committed to having a 16-19 maths school in every region, 11 in
total. The Department for Education (DfE), through the Learning Alliance, has
identified the Cambridge North site as an ideal location for this, due to regional
accessibility and wider economy and skills concentration.
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Policy 14 as currently drafted only provides policy support where there is
recognised ‘local needs’. This is overly restrictive and does not align with the
objectives of the NPPF which is to take a proactive, positive and collaborative
approach to ensuring that a sufficient choice of school places is available to meet
the needs of communities and that LPAs should give great weight to the need to
create, expand or alter schools to widen choice in education (paragraph 94).
It is therefore requested that Policy 14 includes the following wording;
“State funded education infrastructure which is capable of meeting wider regional
needs will also be supported where this is deliverable and sustainable.”