All Local Authorities (LA) have a statutory responsibility under the Education Act 1996 '...to ensure that schools in its area are sufficient in number, character and equipment to provide education suitable for the different ages, abilities and aptitudes and special educational needs of pupils of school age'.
To assist in this process Torbay LA had a statutory duty to produce a School Organisation Plan (SOP). This plan was due to be republished in 2006 but with the reforms introduced through the Children Act 2004 this statutory duty was withdrawn and replaced with a duty on the LA to produce a single, strategic, overarching plan, the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) for all local services for all children and all young people.
The guidance published by the DFES on these reforms states that school organisation and future place planning is a matter for the local Council and its partners to decide . Taking this into consideration and in order to provide a clear context for local decision making Torbay Council has produced a policy statement - the School Organisation & Place Planning Statement (SOPPS) to take the place of the SOP and sit as an appendix to the CYPP.
The SOPPS was developed in consultation with all key stakeholders and provides statistical data and statements of LA policy as a context for decision making. You can download and view the SOPPS in the Related Documents panel below.
Related Documents
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Contact Schools Capital and Planning Team
- Tel: 01803 208220
- Email: schoolscapital@torbay.gov.uk
- Fax: 01803 208237
Related Pages
- Children & Young Peoples Plan

Demographic Update - Summer 2008
School Organisation and Place Planning Statement