Agenda and minutes

Agreed:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8^th November, 2018 be approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

The Chair welcomed Marie Boswell who gave a brief presentation on Elective Home Education and Flexi-Schooling, a copy of which would be circulated to the Forum Members after the meeting.

The presentation covered:-

·             Elective Home Education and what it was.

·             Relevant legislation.

·             Flexi-schooling arrangement.

·             For and against flexi-schooling.

·             Trends.

Discussion ensued on the parental choice for elective home education, when there was evidence that education was unsuitable and the procedures that must be followed, elective numbers of children with special educational needs and whether this was an option favoured by the children of known travellers.

Further information was also provided on formalisation of the process and access to the home by professionals usually by prior arrangement and the primary demographics of students elective home educated.

Agreed:-  (1)  That Marie Boswell be thanked for her very informative presentation.

(2)  That the presentation be circulated to all Local Admission Forum Members for information.

Further to Minute No. 17 of the previous meeting of the Local Admissions Forum consideration was given to the report which detailed the admission arrangements (criteria and admission number) following the consultation outcome, which would apply for admission in 2020/21.

The timetable for the year was:-

Autumn Term 2018                   Governing bodies consider the arrangements which will apply.

By 23^rd November, 2018           All relevant details to be forwarded to the LA.

10^th December –                       Period of consultation via the LA’s website.

25^th January, 2019

By mid-February                       LA and the Local Admission Forum consider any changes and forward any comments to appropriate Admission Authority (ies).

By 22^nd February, 2019             All admission authorities to determine their arrangements and notify those consulted.

Agreed:-  That the information be supported.

Consideration was given to a verbal update on the admissions and secondary school allocations for September, 2019.  The national offer day was 1^st March, 2019.

The Forum was advised that this was a bulge year in terms of secondary admissions which had huge implications for appeals.  Whilst there were places available with the usual hotspots, places in some areas were tight.  There were also nearly ninety students who had not been granted their first, second or third choice school.  These children were either allocated their catchment school or the next nearest with places.

There were also a number of schools who had agreed to take extra students this year which alleviated some of the pressure.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

Consideration was given to the report which provided a snapshot of the numbers of school admission appeals received and the appeal hearings taking place and provided statistics for the full academic years 2017/18 and to date 2018/19 school year.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

Consideration was given to a verbal update on the current progress of school expansions.

As part of the proposals to increase capacity from 100 to 120 places and to change the upper age limit from 16 to 19 at The Willows.

In addition, the consultation on the secondary expansion at Rawmarsh had just commenced, following the increased numbers for Wath and Wales.

The new primary school at Waverley had planning permission approved and this would provide a published admission of thirty from September, 2020.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

Further to Minute No. 20 of the previous meeting held on 8^th November, 2018, feedback was provided on the proposed term dates for 2020/21.

Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham appeared to be following the traditional pattern, with Sheffield suggesting the Easter term dates be fixed.

The term dates would be subject to further consideration by the Education Consultative Committee at its next meeting.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

Consideration was given to a verbal update by the Principal Officer, following the attendance at one of the Pupil Management Groups this morning.  There were several set up across the borough.

Further information on the statistics for cases presented and considered by Fair Access would be provided for the next meeting.

There were currently no cases outstanding following the resolution of a recent Year 6 child that had particular problems.

Discussion ensued on the complexities of some situations for the placing of particular children.

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

Further to Minute No. 19 of the last meeting held on 8^th November, 2018 an updated list was circulated of Rotherham schools which had converted or were about to convert to academies.

This meant the Local Authority only had one voluntary aided secondary school St. Pius X Catholic High School and one Local Authority maintained secondary school Wath Comprehensive (which was due to convert on 1^st March, 2019).

Agreed:-  That the information be noted.

Thursday, 27^th June, 2019 commencing at 10.00 a.m.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting of the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum take place on Thursday, 27th June, 2019 commencing at 10.00 a.m. at Rotherham Town Hall.