Agenda and minutes

The Local Admissions Forum first of all considered the report referred to at Minute No. 25 (The School Admissions Regulations and Membership of the Local Admissions Forum). At the conclusion of that item, the Local Admissions Forum agreed that Councillor Rushforth be appointed as Chair of this meeting.

(Councillor Rushforth in the Chair)

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Local Admissions Forum, held on Thursday, 13th November, 2008, be approved as a correct record.

With regard to Minute No. 17(6), it was noted that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Local Admissions Forum containing a summary of the responses received to the parental satisfaction survey about the school admissions process.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the School Organisation, Planning and Development Manager concerning:-

- the new Regulations in respect of school admissions (detailed at Appendix 1 of the report submitted); and

- changes required to be made to the membership of the Local Admissions Forum.

The various new Regulations implemented by Government are:-

-The School Admissions (Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2008

-The School Admissions (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2008

-The School Admissions (Local Authority Reports and Admission Forums) (England) Regulations 2008

-The Education (Admissions Appeals Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The School Information (England) Regulations 2008

The principal changes resulting from the new Regulations are:-

i) admissions consultation now includes parents and ‘others who appear to have an interest’;

ii) consultation can be undertaken every three years (rather than annually) where there are no proposed changes to the admission arrangements;

iii) co-ordination of admission arrangements will, from 2010/2011, fully cover Primary and Secondary applications (including late and in-year applications) and all applications will be made to the home authority;

iv) the local authority rather than the local admissions forum will produce the main annual report on school admissions matters;

v) appeals panels can consider the lawfulness of admission arrangements and can uphold an infant class size appeal if an unlawful admissions policy prevented a place being offered to the appellant;

vi) the new Regulations amend the membership of the Local Admissions Forum.

It was noted that this report had also been considered by the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Lifelong Learning (Minute No. 41 of the Cabinet Member’s meeting held on 24^th February, 2009, refers).

Consideration was given to the requirement to revise the membership of this Local Admissions Forum.

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

(2) That the changes resulting from the new Regulations, as outlined at Appendix 1 to the report submitted, be noted.

(3) That the membership of the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum shall be amended in accordance with the requirements of the School Admissions (Local Authority Reports and Admission Forums) (England) Regulations 2008.

(4) That the membership of the Rotherham Local Admissions Forum shall be as follows:-

Community Schools : 2 members (1 Primary and 1 Secondary)

Mrs. I. G.  Hartley (Wath Comprehensive School and Mr. C. E. Kelsey (Bramley Sunnyside Infant School)

Voluntary Controlled Schools : 1 member

Mr. M. Hall, Kilnhurst Church of England (Aided) Primary School

Voluntary Aided Schools : 3 members

Mrs G. Atkin (St. Albans Church of England Primary School)

Mrs. H. McLaughlin (St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Herringthorpe)

Father Hayne (St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Herringthorpe)

Academy : 1 member

vacant, pending the development of an Academy at Maltby

Church Dioceses : 2 members

Diocese of Hallam : Ms. C. Thorpe

Sheffield Diocese : Mrs. H. Morris

Parent : 1 member, to be appointed at the next meeting (  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Further to Minute No. 18 of the meeting of the Local Admissions Forum held on 13^th November, 2008, consideration was given to a report presented by the School Organisation, Planning and Development Manager concerning the admission arrangements (ie: criteria and admission number) which would apply for school admission in the 2010/2011 academic year.

The report summarised the issues which had arisen as a result of the annual consultation exercise with and between schools, other local authorities and with parents. It was noted that all admission authorities must determine their arrangements by 15^th April 2009.

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

(2) That the proposed admission numbers contained within Annex 1 to the report submitted for community and controlled schools be confirmed for the 2010/2011 academic year, subject to the clarifications included at Annex 2(1A) to the report submitted.

(3) That the proposed admissions criteria for community and controlled schools for the 2010/2011 academic year, including the changes outlined in the consultation document, be approved and adopted.

(4) That the changes relating to voluntary aided schools’ admissions criteria, as outlined at Annex 2(1B) to the report submitted,  be noted.

(5) That both the Brampton Ellis CE Infant and the Brampton Ellis CE Junior Schools be added to the list of schools which could be offered, as appropriate, for those applications falling under ’preferences which cannot be satisfied’ contained within Section D of the co-ordinated scheme for primary schools.

(6) That the appropriate notice be published in respect of the proposed admission numbers for the schools named in Annex 2 to the report submitted, where the admission number will be less than that indicated by the current net capacity calculation.

(7) That the co-ordinated schemes for Primary and Secondary preferences be confirmed, with minor changes to dates as outlined in the report submitted, together with the changes agreed at (6) above.

(8) That the admission criteria applying to applications for entry into Foundation Stage 1/Reception at community schools be amended to align with the primary school admissions criteria proposed for 2010/2011.

(9) That a copy of this report be published on the Borough Council’s Internet website.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the School Organisation, Planning and Development Manager containing a summary of the main changes to the revised School Admissions Code and to the School Admission Appeals Code.

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

(2) That the revised requirements in respect of Fair Access Protocols be noted.

(3) That, with effect from the beginning of the 2009/2010 academic year, the waiting lists for places at schools be maintained as follows:-

Primary Schools (Foundation Stage 1/Reception new starters) – waiting list in place for the whole of academic year

Secondary Schools (Year 7 new starters) – waiting list in place for the whole of the Autumn Term

and that schools be notified accordingly.

(4) That the requirement for the admission authority to publish the following documents on the Borough Council Internet web site be noted:-

(i) the school admission arrangements, as determined by the admission authority; and

(ii) supplementary information forms for applications for admission to schools.

(5) That the summary of changes to the revised School Admission Appeals Code, as detailed in the report now submitted, be noted.

The Principal Officer, Admissions and Appeals (Children and Young People’s Services) presented a report about the current situation with regard to primary and secondary school admissions cycles for September, 2009, as follows:-.

(i) Secondary Schools – Year 7 Admissions in September 2009

The National offer date was Monday 2^nd March, 2009. There were five oversubscribed secondary schools in Rotherham and another which had reached its published admission number.

The Local Admissions Forum was informed of the current number of admission appeals for secondary schools and the appeal panel hearings being processed by Democratic Services. It appeared that there would be a large number of appeals for Wickersley School and Sports College, for Wales High School, for Wath Comprehensive School, a Language College and also for Saint Bernard Catholic High School.

(ii) Primary School Admissions – September 2009

The offer day was Wednesday, 1^st April 2009. Early indications were that there might be several oversubscribed primary schools which have a waiting list.

Agreed:- That the report about the current admissions cycles be received.

Further to Minute No. 17(5) of the meeting of the Local Admissions Forum held on 13^th November, 2008, consideration was given to a report containing comparative statistics of school admission appeals processed by this Council and by similar local authorities for the 2006/2007 academic year.

Agreed:- That the statistics be noted.

Agreed:- That the next meeting of the Local Admissions Forum be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham on Thursday, 2^nd July, 2009, commencing at 10.00 a.m.