FAQs - Capacity Calculation

Basic workplace allowance

1. What is the 'basic workplace allowance' (box 's' in the Capacity Calculation) and what difference does it make to the net capacity? It does not seem to have an effect on the net capacity, even where the allowance is increased to 125 because of a particularly small site.

A. This figure will only affect the net capacity if the number of basic workplaces in space marked as classbases or teaching spaces is too low as a proportion of the total available (so if the capacity is defaulting at box 'v'). It means that the lowest net capacity will always allow for basic workplaces in spaces such as the hall, staff room and SEN base. The allowance is therefore increased for split sites to allow duplication of these facilities and for small sites to allow for additional indoor space (for PE, in the form of an additional hall, for example, on the basis that there is not enough space outside for this).

Allowance for small sites

2. The formula for identifying small sites is stated to be equivalent to the statutory team game playing field area requirements. However, for infant schools there is no statutory playing field area requirement (although your formula seems to indicate one) and for junior schools the area generated by the formula falls short of the statutory requirement in some cases. Does this new formula replace that in the School Premises Regulations?

A. The formula used in the net capacity calculation in no way replaces the statutory requirement for team game playing field areas set out in the School Premises Regulations 1999 (SPRs). It is based on the statutory requirements but relates to a 'straight-line' rather than a 'stepped graph' and is calculated only from the number of pupils, and not their age range. The formula provides a notional assessment of whether a school's total site area (rather than team game playing field area) is so restricted that extra accommodation might be needed within the school buildings to compensate. This should apply to infant schools as much as any other, despite the fact that there is no prescribed minimum team game playing field area for them. The shortfall of area should only affect an extremely small number of junior and middle schools.

Designating classbases

3. Do we have to mark all classrooms with a 'C'?

A. When deciding which spaces to designate as classbases, LEAs should take account not just of the current use of spaces and current pupil numbers but also forecasts of future pupil numbers. This should enable the net capacity to be set at a sensible level to suit the organisation of the school, both now and for the longer term (likely to be a multiple of a whole or a half form of entry, if possible). In some cases, this might involve designating as a classbase a space that is not currently in use as such, perhaps because pupil numbers are currently low but are expected to rise. Alternatively, a space that is currently in use as a classbase might not be designated as such, if pupil numbers are expected to fall or if marking the space with a 'C' would result in a net capacity that does not suit the organisation of the school.

4. Is there a limit to the number of spaces that we can not mark with a 'C' (and does this mean that we can 'remove' a lot of surplus places)?

A. The limits to the number of spaces that can be marked with a 'C' are set by the formulae in the capacity calculation. The number of basic workplaces in spaces marked 'C' cannot be more than 70% of all workplaces (basic and resource) and cannot be less than 70% of the total basic workplaces less the basic workplace allowance (normally 75 workplaces). This means that in a 210 place primary school, if 7 classbases, each with 30 basic workplaces, are marked with a 'C', there can be a maximum of another 3 'full size' classbases, or equivalent, not marked with a 'C', plus the hall, plus a generously sized staff room (or a smaller staff room and an admin. office totalling up to 30 basic workplaces), plus an SEN resource base, or similar, of up to 15 workplaces.

This does mean that some schools may have less surplus places than under the MOE method of capacity assessment. However, with the emphasis now on Asset Management Planning and devolved funding, decisions about whether it is reasonable to maintain surplus space will be taken locally.