Contact: David Robotham (ext 6209).

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

(i) That the `Relevant Area' in regard to school admissions and the associated statutory consultations be defined as the administrative boundary of Hampshire County Council

2 Reason

2.1 There is a statutory requirement to consult and review the decision every two years.

2.2 The consultation has been carried out in compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements.

3 Other options considered and rejected - not applicable.

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted - not applicable.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable.

6 Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 The previous decision was due to be reviewed in July 2001.

Approved by Date of decision

Councillor D Allen

Contact: David Robotham, Principal Admissions Adviser (01962 846209)

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines the regulations affecting the requirements for consultation with regard to school admissions and in particular, sets out the results of consultation on `Relevant Areas'. The report recommends that the county administrative boundary should continue to be taken as defining the relevant area for Hampshire and therefore continue to form the basis for future consultations about admission arrangements.

2. Background

2.1 Section 89 of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act sets out the requirement for Local Education Authorities to consult annually about admission arrangements. The manner of and matters for consultation are further detailed in The Education (Determination of Admission Arrangements) Regulations 1999. Both assume that the consultation is based on a `relevant area', the purpose of which is to ensure that appropriate consultation takes place with all interested parties in a suitable geographical area. This is of particular importance in LEAs located in large urban areas where cross-border movement of pupils is very significant.

2.2 The way in which the relevant area is to be determined is set out in The Education (Relevant Areas for Consultation on Admissions Arrangements) Regulations 1999. Following consultations with Hampshire's nine neighbouring education authorities and all aided and foundation school governing bodies, the Education Committee, at their meeting in July 1999 formally approved the proposal that the county administrative boundary should define Hampshire's relevant area. This decision must be reviewed every two years.

2.3 Although there is inevitably some cross-boundary movement of pupils as a result of parental preference, Hampshire has formal arrangements with only two other LEAs. In the south-west of the county, some Hampshire pupils attend Dorset schools for their secondary education. On the border with Southampton, Hampshire pupils are included within the area for the Townhill schools, in particular Bitterne Park Secondary School, maintained by Southampton LEA.

3. Consultations

3.1 At its meeting on 9^th May 2001, the Local Admissions Forum recommended that the relevant area for Hampshire should continue to be defined by the county's administrative boundary and that consultations about the relevant area should be carried out on this basis.

3.2 As a result, consultations were undertaken with all nine of Hampshire's neighbouring LEAs, all five dioceses with schools in Hampshire and all foundation and aided school governing bodies within Hampshire. Comments were invited on the specific proposal to continue to identify the administrative boundary of Hampshire as defining the relevant area. Replies were received as follows:

Replies received Agree Do not Agree

LEAs (9) 4 4 0

Dioceses (5) 1 1 0

Foundation Schools (20) 7 7 0

Aided Schools (56) 12 12 0

3.3 Informal consultations with Southampton City Council and Dorset County Council are on-going and regular concerning the arrangements referred to in 2.3 above. There is no proposal at present either to change the arrangements or for any of the three LEAs involved to include in their relevant area any part of a neighbouring LEA.

3.4 It appears that all nine of Hampshire's neighbouring LEAs will also be continuing to define their `relevant areas' in terms of their administrative boundaries.

4. Conclusion

The results of the consultation strongly suggest that there is no desire either on the part of schools or neighbouring LEAs to change the present, relatively simple arrangement.

Recommendation

That the County Council's administrative boundary should continue to be used as the definition of the `relevant area' for future consultations on school admission arrangements in accordance with The Education (Relevant Areas for Consultation on Admissions) Regulations 1999.

Section D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it. is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. the list includes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None