Agenda item

Further to Minute No. 4 of the meeting of the Local Admissions Forum held on 1^st July, 2010 and to Minute No. 37 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 21^st July, 2010, 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 2012/2013 academic year.

The timetable for the year is:-

Autumn Term, 2010                          governing bodies to consider the

                                                            arrangements which will apply

by 10^th December, 2010                  all relevant details to be forwarded to the

Borough Council

from 4^th January until             period of consultation via the Borough

1^st March, 2011                                 Council’s Internet web site

by end of March, 2011                      Borough Council and the Local Admissions Forum consider any changes and forward any comments to appropriate Admission Authority(ies)

by 15^th April, 2011                            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 admission criteria for 2012/2013.

Included within the report were details of each community and controlled school’s proposed admission number for 2012/2013 (appendix two of the report submitted).

The Borough Council currently co-ordinates admission arrangements during the normal admission round. The Department for Children, Schools and Families’ ‘Admission Code of Practice’ required this to be extended to cover in-year admissions for all year groups with effect from 2011/12 and the Council’s scheme had been modified last year to take this into account.

The Local Admissions Forum noted the following intentions of the admission authority:-

(i) to revert to maintaining waiting lists for reception/foundation 2 places at primary schools only until 31 December, rather than for a whole academic year (reference - the Local Admissions Forum meeting held on 19^th March 2009); it was noted that waiting lists for Year 7 places at secondary school were maintained only until 31 December; and

(ii) to issue to parents a summary of the information contained in the admissions booklet (the whole booklet is available upon request and also via the Borough Council’s Internet web site).

During discussion of this item, reference was made to the possible establishment of schools in the region which would not be subject to local authority control:-

- a school for pupils aged 11 to 18 years, possibly using the former University of Sheffield premises near to Dearne Valley College;

- publicity about a ‘free’ school being established at premises within the Rotherham town centre;

- possible interest in establishing a school in the Catcliffe/Waverley area on the boundary between Rotherham and Sheffield.

It was also noted that Brinsworth Comprehensive School and Wales High School had gained Academy status with effect from 1^st October, 2010.

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 2012/13 academic year.

(3) That the admission authority’s intention to maintain waiting lists for reception/foundation 2 places at primary schools only until 31 December, with effect from the beginning of the 2011/12 school year, be noted.