Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.

Items
No. Item

142.

Christmas Carnival Co-ordinating Group pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:-  That the minutes of a meeting of the Christmas Carnival Co-ordinating Group held on 13st January, 2005 be received.

143.

Santa's Grotto

Minutes:

The meeting discussed the links with the success of the Grotto on the day of the craft market and the issue of how markets, in general, can affect a town centre.

 

Resolved:-  That this issue be raised at the next meeting of the Tourism Panel.

144.

Rotherham Schools Forum pdf icon PDF 45 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the above Forum held on 7th January, 2005 be received.

145.

Matter Arising

Minutes:

Free School Meals

 

Discussion took place regarding operational problems with the free school meal rate.

 

These related to the eligibility of free school meals, complications of the new Working Tax Credit benefit and dissemination of information regarding changes.

 

It was felt that information should be gathered on areas of practice where problems are being encountered.

 

Resolved:-  That these issues be raised at the next meeting of the RBT Liaison Group.

146.

Education of Looked After Children pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Education of Looked After Children held on 20th December, 2004 be received.

147.

Determination of Catchment Areas for Kimberworth and Meadowhall Primary Schools pdf icon PDF 38 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Leader Resources and Information on a need to consider and determine separate catchment areas for the above two schools before they become through Primary schools (3-11 years), as part of the changes under the PFI project.  The changes in age range have previously been agreed by the School Organisation Committee.

 

Kimberworth Infant and Meadowhall Junior schools currently share the same catchment area.   As separate through Primary schools (3-11 years) however, they will both admit children of the same age.

 

In keeping with the LEA’s admissions policy it will, therefore, be necessary to identify separate catchment areas.

 

Accordingly, catchment areas have been drawn up and two options suggested at Annex 1 and 2 of the report submitted.

 

Specific consideration has been given to the number of places available in each school, the relative closeness of the schools and the principle that no child should have to walk past a school in order to access the catchment area school applicable to the child’s address.

 

The report included the views of Kimberworth Infant School Governing Body who has put forward a suggestion that a number of streets in the North of the area should be included within their school’s catchment rather than Meadowhall’s (Annex 2).  The school’s reason for this was to achieve more of a social mix.

 

However, on balance, the original proposal (Annex 1) appears to remain the most appropriate, particularly in relation to the relative size of the schools and the possibility for overcrowding at Kimberworth, which could result if Annex 2 was adopted.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the catchment areas for the two schools identified at Annex 1 are confirmed.

 

(2)                That Ward Members be kept fully informed.

 

(3)                That, as part of the consultation process, a meeting be held with parents to discuss the change to catchment areas.

 

(4)  That a review of the catchment areas in relation to the pattern of parental preference and the numbers being admitted to each school be undertaken within 3 years of the opening of the new school buildings.