PART I

RECONSTITUTION OF THE HAMPSHIRE ADMISSION FORM

1. Since 1999 Hampshire has had an Admission Forum which exists to provide the Local Education Authority with advice on matters relating to school admissions and admissions policy. The Forum contains representatives of the Education Authority - currently Councillors Mrs A.E. Bailey, Mrs P.A. West and Jo Kelly - headteachers, dioceses, parents, governors, neighbouring Local Education Authorities and specialist groups. It has made a very positive impact and has done much valuable work in formulating coherent and co-ordinated admissions arrangements between the various admissions authorities in Hampshire (the County Council for community schools, and the school's governing body for foundation and church aided schools).

2. The Education Act 2002 and linked regulations now require all Local Education Authorities to set up an Admission Forum. In the case of Hampshire that requirement can build on experience to date, but the regulations specify some changes in membership. In particular there can no longer be separate representation for parents and governors, and a requirement instead that the parent governor representatives elected to serve on the Education Policy Review Committee should serve as well on the Admission Forum. There are concerns at this change, which has the net effect of reducing the size of the forum from 27 to 23, but the County Council will of course do its best to make the new Admission Forum work as effectively as its predecessor.

3. The first meeting of the new Forum must take place before 20 March, and it will be necessary to appoint Members to serve on it before then. The Council is therefore requested to give the necessary delegated authority for individual appointments to be made.

RECOMMENDATION:

That delegated authority be given to the Executive Member for Education to make individual appointments to the Hampshire Admission Forum having regard to nominations and recommendations as required by legislation and in accordance with the existing Forum's recommendations concerning term of office.

8FR420103