Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

It is recommended that Cabinet make the following recommendations to the County Council:

Recommendation 1

That the published admissions number for Reception at Cranmere Primary School is decreased from 90 to 60 for September 2019.

Reasons for Decision

·        It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school, albeit they would have preferred a reduction in PAN to 30

• There would still be sufficient places for local children if the PAN is decreased
• It would help support other local schools in maintaining pupil numbers
• It would help the school plan its classes and resources

·        It would have no impact on children who are currently on roll at the school

Recommendation 2

That the published admissions number for Reception at William Cobbett Primary School is decreased from 40 to 30 for September 2019.

Reasons for Decision

·        It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school

• There would still be sufficient places for local children if the PAN is decreased
• It would help support other local schools in maintaining pupil numbers

·        It would make organisation of the school more effective

·        It would make appeals easier to defend under Infant Class Size legislation

·        It would have no impact on children who are currently on roll at the school

Recommendation 3

That a feeder link is introduced to The Dawnay School from Polesden Lacey Infant School at Year 3 for September 2019, as follows:

a.     Looked after and previously looked after children

b.     Exceptional social/medical need

c.      Siblings

d.     Children attending Polesden Lacey Infant School

e.     Children for whom The Dawnay School is the nearest school to their home address

f.       Any other children

Reasons for Decision

• There was overall support for this change

·        It is supported by Governors at Polesden Lacey and The Dawnay schools

·        It would align the arrangements for The Dawnay School with Eastwick Junior Schoolso that both are seen as destination schools for children attending Polesden Lacey Infant School

• It would provide continuity and a clearer transition for parents, children and schools and would reduce anxiety for parents
• It would maximise the opportunity for families to keep children at schools with agreed links

·        It is consistent with Surrey’s planning principles set out in the School Organisation Plan

·        Eligibility to transport is not linked to the admission criteria of a school and as such attendance at The Dawnay School would not confer an automatic right to transport to Polesden Lacey Infant School

Recommendation 4

That a feeder link is introduced to Reigate Priory School from Dovers Green and Holmesdale Community infant schools on a tiered basis for September 2019, as follows:

a.   Looked after and previously looked after children

b.   Exceptional social/medical need

c.    Siblings for whom Reigate Priory School is the nearest to their home address

d.   Children attending either Dovers Green or Holmesdale Community infant schools for whom Reigate Priory School is the nearest to their home address

e.   Other siblings

f.     Other children attending either Dovers Green or Holmesdale Community infant  ...  view the full decision text for item 10

The Cabinet Member for Education explained that each year, Surrey County Council is responsible for processing approximately 29,000 applications for a school place from Surrey residents and coordinates offers for over 350 schools. The admission arrangements for each school determine which children can be offered a place and Surrey’s coordinated admissions scheme ensures that, as far as possible, no child receives an offer at more than one school. 

It was explained that Surrey County Council was responsible for setting the admission arrangements for its community and voluntary controlled schools and the coordinated admission schemes. Academies, foundation, free, trust and voluntary aided schools have responsibility for setting their own admission arrangements and therefore their admission arrangements were not covered in the report.

Members were informed that there were seven recommendations within the report for endorsement and following statutory consultation on Surrey’s admission arrangements for September 2019, Cabinet was asked to consider the responses set out in Enclosure 4 and make recommendations to the County Council on admission arrangements for Surrey’s community and voluntary controlled infant, junior, primary and secondary schools and the coordinated schemes that would apply to all schools for September 2019.

The report covered the following areas in relation to school admissions:

·        Cranmere Primary, Elmbridge – Recommendation 1

·        William Cobbett Primary, Waverley – Recommendation 2

·        The Dawnay School, Mole Valley – Recommendation 3

·        Reigate Priory School, Reigate & Banstead – Recommendation 4

·        Published Admission Numbers for other community and voluntary controlled schools – Recommendation 5

·        Admission arrangements for which no change is proposed – Recommendation 6

·        Primary and secondary coordinated admission schemes that will apply to all schools for 2019 – Recommendation 7

Members queried what the situation was with regards to academies and how this would impact on forecast planning and were informed that this was done by negotiation and through maintaining good relationships with all the schools in the family of Surrey schools. Officers were commended for the detailed work that they had done.

Cabinet Members commented on the amount of work undertaken and that the coordinated system was important for providing clarity and assurance for parents.

RESOLVED:

It is recommended that Cabinet make the following recommendations to the County Council:

Recommendation 1

That the published admissions number for Reception at Cranmere Primary School is decreased from 90 to 60 for September 2019.

Reasons for Decision

·        It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school, albeit they would have preferred a reduction in PAN to 30

• There would still be sufficient places for local children if the PAN is decreased
• It would help support other local schools in maintaining pupil numbers
• It would help the school plan its classes and resources

·        It would have no impact on children who are currently on roll at the school

Recommendation 2

That the published admissions number for Reception at William Cobbett Primary School is decreased from 40 to 30 for September 2019.

Reasons for Decision

·        It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school

• There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10