Agenda and minutes

Agreed:- That Mrs. I. G. Hartley be appointed Chair for this meeting only.

(Mrs. I. G. Hartley in the Chair)

Agreed:- That consideration of this matter be deferred until the next meeting.

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Local Admissions Forum, held on 19th March, 2009, be approved as a correct record.

David Hill, Manager, School Organisation Planning and Development, presented the submitted Local Authority Report to the Schools Adjudicator, highlighting, clarifying and elaborating on the responses provided to the questions posed section by section.

The report covered the following issues:-

- Section 1       For the Academic Year in which the report was made 2008/2009

• Fair Access Protocol
• Whether primary schools were complying with infant class size legislation
• Number of admission appeals held for each and every school in the area, and the number of appeals upheld
• extent to which the local authority and appeal panels in the area complied with the requirements of the Appeals Code regarding timeliness, transparency, effective communications with parents and other relevant matters
• other matters affecting the fairness of admission arrangements for schools in the area
• independent Choice Advice service

- Section 2       For the Academic Year which starts after the report is made 2009-10

• extent to which admission arrangements for Schools in the Authority’s area serve the interests of children in care, children with disabilities, children with special educational needs and service children
• effectiveness of co-ordination

- Section 3.      For admission arrangements that have been determined in the April immediately before the date of the report is made (determined by 15th April, 2009 for admission in September, 2010)

• statement of whether or not admission arrangements for maintained schools in the area complied with the mandatory requirements of this Code and admissions law
• the Schools Adjudicator and local authority reports
• referring objections to the Schools Adjudicator

- Section 4       Other Matters

• details about the current membership of the Admissions Forum for the area
• proportion of children currently on free school meals at each school in the area
• other matters which affect the fairness of admission arrangements for schools in the area

- Section 5       Random allocation of school places

- Section 6       Admission of twins to the same school

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

-                      infant class size legislation

-                      numbers of applications from the European Community

-                      translation costs/services

-                      tackling language problems

-                      twins

Agreed:- (1) That the information be noted.

(2) That the Admissions Forum does not wish to make a report to the Schools Adjudicator over and above the submitted Local Authority report.

Members of the Local Admissions Forum received copies of the booklet for admission to secondary school 2010/2011, which was being distributed to parents. The significant dates of the application process were highlighted in the accompanying letter.

Particular reference was made to:

- changes to the admission criteria

- changes regarding waiting lists for secondary schools

- Fair Access Protocol

Members of the Local Admissions Forum noted details of the consultation process which would take place in respect of admissions to schools for the academic year September, 2011 to August, 2012.

A report was to be submitted to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services at his meeting on 15th July, 2009.

The matter would be considered further at the next meeting of the Local Admissions forum, scheduled to take place on Thursday, 12th November, 2009.

Agreed:- That the next meeting of the Local Admissions Forum be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham on Thursday, 12th November, 2009 commencing at 10.00 a.m.