Education in Truro and Kenwyn:
There are 7 state primary schools, 2 state secondary schools and 2 private pre-preparatory schools and secondary schools in the Plan area. Whilst Truro School has a sixth form, neither of the state secondary schools have post 16 facilities and this is provided through Truro and Penwith College.
The Richard Lander School site at Threemilestone includes an underbuild section for expanding the school, although additional land for physical expansion is limited. Penair School occupies a considerable site and has land for further expansion, but no plans currently to do so.
There are 2 tertiary/further education colleges (Truro/Penwith College and Cornwall College) and also the new Combined University Campus at Penryn and Falmouth.
Higher education has seen significant recent growth at HND and Foundation Degree level, and the Combined Universities Cornwall has suggested there will be growth of businesses looking to access a range of skills and services. Together with a local presence across Cornwall, there is a strategic approach to focus higher education with business and sector incubation in Falmouth, Pool and Truro; linking employment with research and development facilities which are important to sustainable business growth. Higher education access is a vital component of regeneration within a range of community plans.
Students answering teacher question
The Cornwall Sustainable Community Strategy (2008) highlights:
- High unemployment, part owing to a lack of relevant skills and/or aspiration;
- There are pockets of real poverty in Cornwall;
- Not all children achieve the 5 ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes of: ‘be healthy’, ‘stay safe’, ‘enjoy and achieve’, ‘make a positive contribution’ and ‘achieve economic well-being’;
- An increasing fragmentation of communities, decline of shared community activity and individual isolation, resulting in individuals feeling disengaged and excluded; and
- There are people without access to ICT or who do not have the necessary skills to benefit from it.
What does the plan propose for Education?
- Providing for need: There is an identified need during the period of this Plan to provide for at least one new primary school to meet increased demand for school places arising from growth. A site has been granted permission as part of the Langarth development and there is a reserved site at Lowen Bre adjacent to Halbullock Moor. In the existing city area, schools have mixed demand. The only two schools with capacity in the city are Tregolls and Treyew. Bosvigo and St Mary’s schools are physically restricted.
- Using existing spaces: Secondary school capacity is currently adequate and Richard Lander School has the potential for extra growth and extension within the Plan period. New facilities for nursery and adult education should be also supported where it is required.
- Allowing for future expansion: Land currently used for schools should be protected allowing for expansion where possible if it is required in the Plan period. This requires land to be allocated in this Plan.
- Maximising use of open spaces: The open space audit identifies opportunities to maximise the use of some of the green spaces attached to schools to benefit the wider community more effectively. New schools being constructed should allow for this to happen as part of their planning and development.
Education Policies
ED1: School sites
The current extent of schools and their grounds are shown on the proposals map. It is important to ensure that they remain available for educational use throughout the Plan period to allow for potential expansion of schools and retain open space for potential community use. At the same time, there is an identified need during the period of this Plan to provide for at least one new primary school to meet increased demand for school places arising from growth. A site has been granted permission as part of the Langarth development and there is a reserved site at Lowen Bre adjacent to Halbullock Moor. The retention of these school sites unless confirmed surplus is imperative.
There is also scope at both state secondary schools for extension and improvement. This policy therefore includes the areas of potential extension to ensure that they are retained for this future use and to ensure that surrounding uses are aware that extensions may be required during this period.
The Neighbourhood Plan supports the Sustrans ‘Journey to School’ initiative that encourages increased cycling access to schools for young people.
This is the extent of education policy within this document, however there are plans to maximise the use of some of the green spaces, as identified in the Open Spaces Audit, to benefit the wider community more effectively. There will also be an emphasis throughout the rest of the Plan for new construction to be of use for a range of activities by the school and the community. Land used by the schools will also be protected from development in ways that do not serve the school in any direct way.
Sustainability
These policies aim to contribute to sustainable development by:
- Retaining schools in accessible locations;
- Retaining schools at the heart of communities;
- Safeguarding playing fields;
- Encouraging shared use of recreational facilities.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF):
NPPF1: Building a strong, competitive economy;
NPPF4: Promoting sustainable transport;
NPPF7: Requiring good design;
NPPF8: Promoting healthy communities
Cornwall Local Plan:
1: Sustainable development
2: Spatial Strategy
4: Shopping, services and community facilities
5: Business and Tourism
