Outline Guide to Understanding the Net Capacity ... - SchoolsOnline

Understanding the Net Capacity Assessment
The capacity of the school is calculated using a DCSF mathematical formula
under the Net Capacity Assessment Method, ‘Assessing the Net Capacity of
Schools’ ref DfES/0739/2001. The formula for the calculation is provided by
the Government.
Net Capacity
The DCSF method of calculating capacity (net area) takes into account all
usable spaces. This is to ensure that there is not only enough teaching space
but also support space available for staff, storage and other ancillary
accommodation.
Indicated Admission Number (IAN)
The Indicated Admission Number is a mathematical calculation based on the
Net Capacity of the school. It is the overall number divided by the number of
teaching year groups to give a school an indication when setting the
Published Admission Number (PAN).
Published Admission Number (PAN)
The LEA in consultation with the school and governors sets the published
admission number. It is the maximum number of pupils that a school are able
to admit in the relevant year group. It refers to the year of entry and is
maintained as the year group moves through the school.
This document outlines the most common issues that arise from the
assessments. If you have any queries please contact School Asset
Management Planning Officer (SAMP) (jdandrews@swindon.gov.uk).
Explanation of the Calculation and DCSF Terminology
Net area = total area of all usable spaces (measured in m²). It includes
everything except corridors, toilets and showers, boiler and plant rooms,
school kitchens and the area occupied by the internal walls. However, non
teaching areas, for example, offices and storage rooms will form part of the
net area.
Net capacity = based on the size and number of teaching spaces and on a
‘utilisation factor’ linked to the age range of the school. Teaching spaces are
assessed as all rooms available for teaching or learning, including all
timetabled spaces, halls, libraries and study areas but not dining or social
areas. The utilisation factor is a fraction equivalent to the average proportion
of time that any workplaces are in use, to allow for teaching spaces being
timetabled or partially used [this is a DCSF standard that the LA can not alter].
Types of space = each usable space within a school has two attributes:
1. Intensity of usage. ‘General’ describes most spaces but other
specialist spaces are divided into ‘light practical’, ’heavy practical’ and
‘large and performance’. See the last page of this document for more
information regarding what different spaces qualify as [this information
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Document
Reference
09/AP/GC1105
Author’s Job Title Author’s Section Document Date Document Version
Asset Management,
School Place
Planning Manager
Access & Provision –
Planning &
Development
11 May 2009 1

generates the ‘net area’ in the DCSF terminology, linking to the
definition above].
2. Teaching or non-teaching [this information generates the ‘net
capacity’ in the DCSF terminology, linking to the definition above]
Workplaces = this is a unit of measurement that serves to weight different
types of space. This reflects the fact that different activities require different
types of space and floor areas to accommodate the same number of pupils
(for example, a classroom of 50m² and a Gym of 260m² will both
accommodate a class of 30). The revised capacity assessment is based on
the number of workplaces available in every usable space in the school (the
workplace formula is a DCSF standard that the LA can not alter). Workplaces
fall into one of two categories.
Basic Workplaces are an indication of occupation levels. Most teaching
rooms generate between 15 and 30 workplaces. If a usable space is too small
to generate 15 workplaces (26m² for a general space), or too large (i.e. it
generates more than 30 workplaces) then Resource Workplaces are
generated.
Resource workspaces are designed to indicate possible support space such
as an office or storage. A room will not start to generate basic work spaces
until 26m², which is considered to be the smallest space for teaching 15
pupils, below this a space will either considered to be either a group teaching
space or a support space.
The number of workplaces assigned to a space is not an indication of the
number of pupils that any room can or should hold, nor is it an indication that
the room should be used for teaching or non-teaching (this is shown by the
type of space attributes indicated above). The allocation of basic workplaces
to spaces indicates that it is a potential teaching space, based purely on the
size and type. It is not a reflection of the current use nor is it expected that all
basic workspaces should be used for teaching.
Non-teaching (support) usage spaces are the number of workplaces in
non-teaching usable spaces. Non-teaching spaces only affect the capacity
assessment if the school has an unusually high ratio of non-teaching to
teaching space (i.e. a split site school where some staff space is replicated in
both sites).
There are several calculations that occur through the process that are inserted
by the DCSF and that the LA cannot alter. These are applied consistently
across all schools – i.e. they should not favour one school or another.
Open Plan Schools
Many primary schools are open or semi-open plan with small class bases that
have associated (usually adjacent) shared areas.
Page 2 of 3
Document
Reference
09/AP/GC1105
Author’s Job Title Author’s Section Document Date Document Version
Asset Management,
School Place
Planning Manager
Access & Provision –
Planning &
Development
11 May 2009 1

As part of the Net Capacity Assessment, a percentage of the shared floor
area is added to the teaching space of the associated class bases. An
example of this is given below. However, if the class bases and shared space
cannot be used together they will be left as separate designated spaces.
Example of how a shared area is divided between teaching spaces
The shared floor area will be divided buy four and added to the teaching
space floor area. Teaching Space 1 floor area would be – 35 + 25 total floor
area of 60sqm.
12345/G/001
Teaching Space 1
35sqm
12345/G/002
Teaching Space
2
36sqm
12345/G/6
Hall
12345/G/005
Shared Area
100sqm
12345/G/003
Teaching Space
3 35sqm
12345/G/004
Teaching Space
4 36sqm
12345/G/7
Office
12345/G/8
Library
Page 3 of 3
Document
Reference
09/AP/GC1105
Author’s Job Title Author’s Section Document Date Document Version
Asset Management,
School Place
Planning Manager
Access & Provision –
Planning &
Development
11 May 2009 1