DNP3: Education Provision

DNP3: Education Provision

Proposals for the development of permanent extra classrooms or for nursery provision at Dormansland Primary School, as shown on the Policies Map, will be supported provided the proposals do not harm the amenity of residents living near the school or create additional highway safety concerns.

Any proposals to extend the school should include a plan to promote sustainable travel measures to support an increase in the size of the school population and to minimise the volume of vehicle traffic to and from the school.

Proposals for the change of use of existing educational buildings and land will only be supported where alternative educational provision is made within the parish, taking account of its green belt status.

This policy acknowledges the important part Dormansland Primary School plays in village life and as a critical local community facility. The education facilities in the community survey were ranked second in those described as good or excellent, with any concern around the school’s capacity to accept local children if the village grew too quickly. Current Published Admissions Number 210 Pupils. Current Pupil numbers 202 (2023/24).

The NPPF places ‘great importance’ on ensuring that sufficient choice of school places is available to meet the needs of existing and new communities and expects local authorities to make a positive and collaborative approach to meeting this requirement.

Despite the primary school being fairly close to capacity Surrey CC ‘School Organisation Plan’ (2023-2033)confirms there are no current plans to expand education provision in the parish, due to a steady decline in Surrey and Tandridge birth rates, falling about 7% between 2012 and 2020 (page 35) . The plan states that  there is sufficient latent or vacant capacity should there be a change in demand for school places. Surrey wide, 98.2% of parents were able to get the first choice of reception school places for their children in 2022.  

This position may change however as without any current up to date local plan, to identify development sites, there could be unexpected developments, which could lead to additional pressures on primary school provision in both Dormansland and Lingfield. The Parish Council is committed to work jointly with Lingfield PC to review the implications of any such planning decisions  for housing to need the identified need of the district, and assess the pressures on educational capacity that may result.

The Policy is therefore intended as a statement of the value the community places on primary education in the village and their expressed desire to maintain education provision over the lifetime of the plan in line with the Vision. A preliminary assessment of alternative sites to meet educational needs was undertaken but all options were located within the Green Belt and would be required to demonstrate ‘very special circumstances’ in support of development, should an allocation be proposed in the future.