Agenda item

In accordance with the annual consultation process on the LEA’s admission to schools policy/co-ordinated schemes for the admission year 2007/08, the meeting considered a report regarding two possible changes.

The report had been considered by the Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning on 12^th July, 2005.

The changes are as follows:-

(1)               Following sight of a number of decisions made by the Adjudicator, it has become clear that the admission of pupils in public care should appear as the first criteria.  It would be preferable to make clear, before the list of criteria, that children with statements of SEN will gain a place at the school named in the statement and that the admission will be agreed through the statementing process.

(2)               The admissions criteria (down to ‘children who live nearest to the school’), have no tie breaker and places are normally allocated up to that point even where the admission number is exceeded.  This guarantees a place, for instance, at the catchment area school, if a preference for that school is made by the closing date.  This can cause problems, particularly in Key Stage 1 where class sizes are an issue, but, in many cases, the LEA can anticipate this and plan accordingly.

                  A greater problem exists, however, where there are a number of late applications, which miss the deadline, but can still be dealt with by the appropriate allocation date.  If the admission number is close to being reached before the late applications are considered and then the late applications contain a number of catchment area preferences, there is currently no option other than to agree all of those preferences.  A tie-breaker, based on distance, could alleviate this problem.

For parents applying on time for catchment schools they will still be successful.

The tie-breaker may not have to be used very much but it was in line with that used by many other Authorities.

The meeting raised the following questions:-

-                      How did the change in SEN criteria affect transfers?

Transfers were always considered as individual applications.  The main question posed in a transfer situation was whether the school was full or not.  In the case of a child with a Statement of SEN, the school would be contacted about accommodating that child before the school is named in the statement.

-                      Would an extra-district child who applies on time be given a place over a catchment child in a situation where their application was late?

This could be the case.  It is clear from previous judgements that the LEA must allocate to any child in accordance with the admission criteria and within the terms of the co-ordinated scheme.

The LEA worked very hard to send out reminder letters to parents, the first letter advising parents to apply being sent in July rather than September. 

In view of (1) above, Voluntary Aided Schools may wish to re-examine their admissions criteria in future years.

The meeting was informed of admission policies at neighbouring authorities and the fact that they did not always allow catchment and siblings into a school.  Governing Bodies will be asked to respond to these proposed changes in the consultation document.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the appropriate consultation with School Governing Bodies takes place, as usual, in the Autumn Term 2005.

(2)  That the results of the consultation be fed back to Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning and the Local Admissions Forum.