Councillors and committees

Issue - meetings

Admission Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools and Coordinated Schemes for September 2021

Meeting: 28/01/2020 - Cabinet (Item 13)

13 Admission Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools and Coordinated Schemes for September 2021 pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet make the following recommendations to the Council on 4 February 2020.

 

Recommendation 1

That priority is introduced for children of staff for September 2021.

 

Reasons for decision

·         there was overwhelming support for this proposal

·         it will help community and voluntary controlled schools with staff recruitment and retention

·         it is permitted under the School Admissions Code

·         the definition of children of staff is compliant with the Code

·         it will put community and voluntary controlled schools on an equal footing with those academies, foundation, free, trust and voluntary aided schools which already give priority for children of staff

 

Recommendation 2

That the Published Admission Number (PAN) for Reception at Worplesdon Primary School is decreased from 60 to 57 for September 2021.

 

Reasons for decision

·         It will enable children admitted to the Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND) specialist centre to be educated in the mainstream class more than 50% of the time

·         It will reduce the likelihood of the school having to take qualifying measures to meet infant class size legislation

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

·         There will still be sufficient places for local children if the PAN is decreased

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

 

Recommendation 3

That no changes are made to the assessment of nearest school for 2021 admission.

 

Reasons for decision

·         It will allow time for a wider review of the use and definition of nearest school ahead of consultation for 2022 admission

·         It will enable parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences for 2021 admission

 

Recommendation 4

That the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) for September 2021 for all other community and voluntary controlled schools (excluding Worplesdon Primary School which is covered by Recommendation 2) are determined as they are set out in Appendix 1 of Enclosure 1.

 

Reasons for decision

·         Most other PANs remain as they were determined for 2020 which enables parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences for 2021 admission

·         The PAN for Ash Manor School has been increased from 210 to 240 as part of a planned expansion

·         The School Commissioning team supports the PANs

 

Recommendation 5

That the aspects of Surrey’s admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2021 for which no change has been consulted on, are agreed as set out in Enclosure 1 and its appendices.

 

Reasons for decision

·         The existing arrangements are working well

·         This will ensure stability and consistency for the majority of Surrey’s parents, pupils and schools

·         The arrangements enable parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences

·         The arrangements enable the majority of pupils to attend their nearest schools and in doing so reduce travel and support Surrey’s sustainability policies

·         The changes highlighted in bold in sections 14 and 15 of Enclosure 1, which have not otherwise been referenced in  ...  view the full decision text for item 13

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for All-Age Learning explained this annual report and highlighted the changes that were contained in the recommendations.

 

The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families asked a question about what the council was able to do in relation to infant class size in relation to children under Special Guardianship Orders (SGO). The Cabinet Member for All-Age Learning responded that the council were not allowed to change infant class size limits for SGO children unless they came under the definition of Looked After Children (LAC) or had left LAC to become SGO.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet make the following recommendations to the Council on 4 February 2020.

 

Recommendation 1

That priority is introduced for children of staff for September 2021.

 

Reasons for decision

·         there was overwhelming support for this proposal

·         it will help community and voluntary controlled schools with staff recruitment and retention

·         it is permitted under the School Admissions Code

·         the definition of children of staff is compliant with the Code

·         it will put community and voluntary controlled schools on an equal footing with those academies, foundation, free, trust and voluntary aided schools which already give priority for children of staff

 

Recommendation 2

That the Published Admission Number (PAN) for Reception at Worplesdon Primary School is decreased from 60 to 57 for September 2021.

 

Reasons for decision

·         It will enable children admitted to the Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND) specialist centre to be educated in the mainstream class more than 50% of the time

·         It will reduce the likelihood of the school having to take qualifying measures to meet infant class size legislation

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

·         There will still be sufficient places for local children if the PAN is decreased

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

 

Recommendation 3

That no changes are made to the assessment of nearest school for 2021 admission.

 

Reasons for decision

·         It will allow time for a wider review of the use and definition of nearest school ahead of consultation for 2022 admission

·         It will enable parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences for 2021 admission

 

Recommendation 4

That the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) for September 2021 for all other community and voluntary controlled schools (excluding Worplesdon Primary School which is covered by Recommendation 2) are determined as they are set out in Appendix 1 of Enclosure 1.

 

Reasons for decision

·         Most other PANs remain as they were determined for 2020 which enables parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences for 2021 admission

·         The PAN for Ash Manor School has been increased from 210 to 240 as part of a planned expansion

·         The School Commissioning team supports the PANs

 

Recommendation 5

That the aspects of Surrey’s admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2021 for which no change has been consulted on, are agreed as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13