Agenda and minutes

Agreed:-  That Mrs. I. Hartley be appointed as Chairman.

(Mrs. I. Hartley in the Chair)

Agreed:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Local Admissions Forum held on 4^th July, 2013 be approved as a correct record.

With regards to Minute No. 66 a five year comparison graph was circulated on the numbers of appeals lodged (including in-year transfers).

Further to Minute No. 61 of the meeting held on 4^th July, 2013, consideration was given to the current membership.

Information had previously been circulated via the Governors’ Section to all Governing Bodies inviting nominations, but as yet no response had been received.

It was suggested that contact be made with the Governors’ Section to ascertain the current position with a view to reporting back at the next meeting.

It was also noted that a replacement had not been allocated to the Sheffield Diocese position following the retirement of Mrs. H. Morris and the representative of the Anglican Faith Schools agreed to follow this up on the Forum’s behalf.

This was a standing item and any updates would be provided in due course.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Dean Fenton, Principal Officer – School Organisation, which provided information on the consultation process, timetable and admission criteria for community and controlled schools for admission arrangements for the admission year 2015/16.

There were no proposed changes to the co-ordinated schemes applying to both primary and secondary schools other than a few minor date changes which related to the inclusion of Looked After Children, nor were there any proposed changes to waiting lists or relevant areas.

Copies of the proposed admissions criteria by voluntary aided schools and academies would be published on the Council’s website for public consultation by the 7^th January, 2014.

The outcome of the consultation would be submitted to the next meeting in March, 2014.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

Dean Fenton, Principal Officer – School Organisation, referred to the Admission to School Booklets for both primary and secondary schools.  The information contained in the booklet was freely available on the Local Authority website along with details on how to make an online application.  Parents could request a hard copy of the booklet and any request would be acceded to.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

- Presentation

Dean Fenton, Principal Officer – School Organisation, gave a presentation which provided an update on Admissions 2013/14 and the schedule of primary school organisation proposals.

The presentation provided insight into:-

·                An update on admission numbers.

·                The number of applications processed annually and the number of in-year transfers.

·                The transfer groups.

·                Approved changes to school organisation.

·                Temporary increases in published admission numbers.

·                Current consultations on school organisation proposals.

·                Developments at Maltby Lilly Hall Primary, Aston Hall Junior and Infant and Brinsworth Howarth Junior and Infant Schools.

·                Waverley – the new housing development.

·                Available Capital Funding.

·                Forward Planning.

·                Targeting Basic Need Funding

·                Other Consultations taking place.

The Forum welcomed this information and asked a range of questions relating to:-

o      The lifetime of the temporary/modular buildings being used at some primary schools to accommodate increased pupil numbers.

o      The success of the two out of three bids submitted for funding.

o      Schools that had receive funding towards or were fitted with electricity generation and solar panels.

Agreed:-  (1)  That Dean Fenton be thanked for this informative presentation.

(2)  That information be noted.

(3)  That further information be sought on the numbers of schools generating their own electricity through solar panels.

-        Verbal update

Further to Minute No. 69 of the meeting held on 4^th July, 2013, Dean Fenton, Principal Officer – School Organisation, gave a verbal update on the Fair Access Protocol and the Fair Access Panel which had been set up to consider hard to place pupils.  The Panel had established itself very well and results were coming through with:- 

·                24 Primary places being allocated.

·                8 secondary places being allocated.

Chris Stones, Senior Officer – School Organisation, provided some visual information giving a school profile overview and examples of forms for both primary and secondary pupils that were up for consideration by the Fair Access Panel.

Agreed:- That the information be noted.

Consideration was given to information presented by Dean Fenton, Principal Officer – School Organisation, which detailed the number of academies currently in Rotherham.

Clarification was sought on the differences between the academy and trust descriptions and how this affected some of the Rotherham schools. 

Discussion ensued on the value of outstanding schools converting to academy status and the support they could then provide for those who were struggling.  Examples were given for Badsley Moor Juniors and Rawmarsh Community Schools, who would then not lose their own identity.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

-        Thursday, 13^th March, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting of the Local Admissions Forum take place on Thursday, 13^th March, 2014 at 10.00 a.m. at the Town Hall.