Agenda and minutes

The Chair reported that Mr. Frank Hedge (community representative) had decided to retire from service with the Local Admissions Forum.

Members placed on record their appreciation of the services of Mr. Frank Hedge and wished him a long and happy retirement.

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Local Admissions Forum, held on Thursday, 3rd July, 2008, be approved as a correct record.

With regard to Minute No. 7(d) (Ministerial Statement by Schools Minister Jim Knight M.P. – Consultation), it was noted that the Department for Children Schools and Families’ consultation about changes which would include an updated Code for Admissions would now be ending on 15^th November 2008. The reason for the extended deadline for submission of comments was that the DCSF was seeking views about ‘cross siblings’ and about transitional arrangements for partially selective schools.

Further to Minute No. 9 of the meeting of the Local Admissions Forum held on 3^rd July, 2008, consideration was given to a draft of the annual report for the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum.

During consideration of the draft annual report, a number of issues were discussed:-

- surplus places in schools;

- waiting lists for admissions to schools;

- applications submitted on-line, for admission to Rotherham schools

- the comparative costs of school uniforms;

- school admission appeals and the ’30 limit’ qualifying measures appeals;

- the uptake of free school meals;

- the number of casual/in year transfers of schools;

- children arriving from overseas and joining Rotherham schools

- the role of the Welcome Centre

- Looked After Children and pupils with Special Educational Needs

Agreed:- (1) That the draft annual report be received and the document be approved as the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum Annual Report 2008, subject to the following:-

(a) the minor amendments to wording on page 3, as discussed and agreed;

(b) the amendment to the admission number of Clifton, a Community Arts School (250 rather than 150) within Appendix 6;

(c) the inclusion of the following recommendations:-

(i) that the Local Authority should give further consideration to the information to be collected in the annual parental survey (via the form currently included within the Admission to Schools booklets) in order to better inform future annual reports;

(ii) that the Local Authority should endeavour to provide the most up to date national comparative statistics in relation to admission appeals in future reports.

(2) That the Annual report 2008 be submitted to the Local Authority (Borough Council), its schools and to the Schools Commissioner at the Department for Children Schools and Families and a copy also be published on the Borough Council’s Internet web site.

(3) That the Local Admissions Forum supports the intention of the Department for Children, Schools and Families to undertake a consultation process about whether the ’30 limit’ qualifying measures appeals, for admission to primary schools, ought to be reviewed by an appointed official, instead of being dealt with by an independent appeals panel.

(4) That every endeavour be made to fill the vacant places on the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum, including: raising the matter at the next meeting of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Schools’ Governing Bodies and publishing appropriate articles in the Newsletter issued to all School Governors and in the ‘Rotherham News’ community publication.

(5) That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Local Admissions Forum containing the latest comparative statistics of school admission appeals processed by this Council and by similar local authorities.

(6) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Local Admissions Forum containing a summary of the responses received to the parental satisfaction survey about the school admissions process.

Further to Minute No. 10 of the meeting of the Local Admissions Forum held on 3^rd July, 2008 and to Minute No. 35 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 15^th July, 2008, consideration was given to a report presented by the Principal Officer, Forward Planning (Children and Young People’s Services) concerning the admission arrangements (ie: criteria and admission number) which would apply for school admission in the 2010/2011 academic year.

The timetable for the year is:-

Autumn Term, 2008                          governing bodies to consider the

                                                            arrangements which will apply

by 10^th January, 2009                       all relevant details to be forwarded to the

Borough Council

from 17^th January until                      period of consultation via the Borough

1^st March, 2009                                 Council’s Internet web site

by end of March, 2009                      Borough Council and the Local Admissions Forum consider any changes and forward any comments to appropriate Admission Authority(ies)

by15^th April, 2009                            all admission authorities to determine their arrangements and notify those consulted

The report made reference to the admission criteria and numbers for both community and controlled schools and for voluntary aided schools. The Local Admissions Forum noted that there were no proposed changes to the co-ordinated admission arrangements.

Included within the report were the proposed changes to the admissions criteria applying to community and controlled schools (detailed at appendix one of the report) and details of each community and controlled school’s proposed admission number for 2010/2011 (appendix two of the report submitted).

Agreed:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That a further report be submitted to the next meeting of the Local Admissions Forum detailing the outcome of the consultation process about the school admission arrangements for the 2010/11 academic year.

Further to Minute No. 7(5) of the meeting of the Local Admissions Forum held on 3^rd July, 2008, consideration was given to the contents of the determination of the Schools Adjudicator in response to the objection lodged by the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum about the inclusion of a “place request form” as a tie breaker in the admissions criteria for Aston All Saints Church of England (Aided) Primary School.

The Schools Adjudicator’s decision was dated 23^rd September, 2008 and, in accordance with Section 90(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, upheld the objection made by the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum to the admission arrangements determined by the governing body of Aston All Saints Church of England Primary School for admissions in September, 2009.

The determination stated that, in relation to the oversubscription criteria, the first tie-breaker paragraph be removed, and the second and third tie breaker paragraphs renamed ‘First’ and ‘Second’; also that the definition notes relating to a ‘Place Request Form’ and a ‘Preliminary Waiting List’ be removed in their entirety; and that no use shall be made of any ‘Place Request Form’ or ‘Preliminary Waiting List’, or of any process similar to that which underlies the form and list.

Agreed:- That the report be received and the contents of the determination of the Schools Adjudicator be noted.

Members of the Local Admissions Forum received copies of the booklet for admission to primary school 2009/2010, which had been distributed to parents. It was noted that the booklet included information about sustainable travel choices, encouraging parents to consider using more environmentally friendly ways of transporting their children to and from school.

Agreed:- That the next meeting of the Local Admissions Forum be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham on Thursday, 19^th March, 2009, commencing at 10.00 a.m.