Archived decisions
Item 6 Annexe E
Co-ordinated scheme for admissions to Year R in primary and infant schools in September 2006 (DRAFT)
1 Principles and scope of the scheme
1.1 The scheme has been drawn up to fulfil the requirements set out in chapter 2 of the revised Code of Practice on admissions (Department for Education and Skills 2003), in particular the need to ensure that
· School admission arrangements should work for the benefit of all parents and children in an area. The arrangements should be as simple as possible for parents to use, and help them to take the best decisions about the preferred school for their children (2.2).
In drawing up admission arrangements, admission authorities should aim, amongst other things, to ensure that:
· The arrangements enable parents' preferences for the schools of their choice to be met to the maximum extent possible;
· Admission criteria are clear, fair and objective, for the benefit of all children, including those with special educational needs, disabilities or in public care (2.3)
· ... (2.3)
1.2 The scheme aims to ensure that parents will be treated fairly and consistently regardless of the status or location of the school for which they make an application.
1.3 The Hampshire scheme takes into account all relevant legislation including the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Education Act 2002, legislation on sex discrimination, race relations, disability (particularly the new Code of Practice for schools), and relevant regulations, in particular the Education (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (Secondary Schools) (England) Regulations 2002.
1.4 The scheme applies to all 4 -11 primary and infant schools in Hampshire, including foundation and voluntary aided schools.
1.5 The Hampshire scheme is a "first preference first" scheme which aims to allocate a place at parents' highest preference school with a place available.
1.6 The scheme sets out key actions rather than detail. Administrative procedures will be made available to schools as at present via the manual of guidance.
2 The co-ordinated scheme for primary and infant admissions September 2006
2.1 Terminology
LEA - local education authority
Home LEA - the LEA in which the child lives
Maintaining LEA - the LEA responsible for a particular school
Admissions team - refers to the Hampshire county admissions team unless specifically stated otherwise
CR2 common application form - the application form issued to parents when applying for a place in a Reception class in a Hampshire school
First preference policy - parents' preferences are taken into account when places are allocated
Equal preference policy - places are allocated on the basis of the published criteria, regardless of parents' preferences
Hampshire parent - a parent living in Hampshire (but whose child[ren] may not necessarily attend a Hampshire maintained school).
2.2 Information for parents
The Code sets out clearly the information which should be made available to parents before they decide on their preferences (4.14 - 4.18). The Education (School Information) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2002 set out these requirements in detail in Schedules 2 and 3.
Sufficient copies of the LEA "composite prospectus", including CR2 application forms, will be sent to all Hampshire primary and infant schools so that they are available for Hampshire parents "no later than six weeks before the date up to which parents may express a preference for a school in respect of the admission school year" (Regulation 7(2)).
2.3 Applications by Hampshire residents for schools within Hampshire
Applications must be made on the CR2 common application form, giving two preferences, and returned to the parents' preferred Hampshire primary or infant school by midday on Friday 18 November 2005. In addition to the CR2, the governors of some voluntary aided and foundation schools may require a supplementary form to be completed (to ensure they have sufficient criteria-related information to be able to allocate places correctly). This form is additional to, and does not replace, the CR2, which must be completed for every application.
2.4 Applications by Hampshire residents for schools outside Hampshire
The Code of Practice requires parents to use the maintaining LEA's application form. Hampshire parents who wish to apply for a first or second preference school in another LEA must use the application form issued by that LEA.
2.5 Applications from non-Hampshire residents for Hampshire schools
Parents must use the Hampshire CR2 form issued by the preferred Hampshire school and submit the application to the Hampshire school by the published deadline.
2.6 The Hampshire scheme and `Equal Preference' schools
Hampshire's scheme aims to offer a place in the parents' first preference school. If a place is not available in the first preference school, the application form will be sent to the second preference school. If a place is not available in the second preference school, the application form will be sent to the admissions team.
Some voluntary aided and foundation schools may use an `equal preference' policy for assessing applications. If they can offer a place to a first preference applicant, this place will be allocated. If they can offer a place to a second preference applicant, this place can only be allocated if there are no places in the parents' first preference school.
2.7 Single notification date
All allocation decisions will be notified by schools to the admissions team. No school will write an offer letter to parents. Decision letters on all applications submitted on the Hampshire CR2 will be sent to parents BY THE LEA on 27 January 2006.
Under no circumstances may any governing body, headteacher or anyone else associated with the school or LEA offer a place to any pupil or inform a parent about the status of an application before the official single notification date. Neither should details of discussion about the number of applications or offers be included in those governing body minutes available to the public.
2.8 Late Applications
Late applications received after the 18 November 2005 deadline and before 13 January 2006 offer date will be considered only after all on-time applications have been dealt with, unless exceptional circumstances merit earlier consideration.
Schools will consult the LEA before deciding whether to give earlier consideration to a late application.
Parents wishing to change their preferences must formally withdraw their original application form and complete a new form which will be treated as a late application.
Late applications received after the 27 January 2006 offer date but before the start of the school year and applications made at other times during the school year will be accepted or refused in the usual way according to whether places are available. Applications will be made direct to the preferred school(s) using an out-of-round application form obtainable from individual Hampshire schools. A written response will be sent within five school days.
2.9 Waiting Lists
All community and voluntary controlled schools in Hampshire will maintain up-to-date waiting lists Governors of admission authority schools are expected to maintain a waiting list to ensure fairness to parents and to avoid later challenges.
Parents will be informed that the appeal process is entirely separate from the management of the waiting lists. The fact that parents may wish to appeal will have no effect on their child's position on the waiting list.
Parents who wish their child to be included on the waiting list must inform the school in writing. Any places that become available will be allocated according to the criteria of the admissions policy with no account being taken of the length of time on the waiting list.
2.10 Appeals
Responsibility for the management of appeals remains unchanged. The County Council arranges appeals in relation to community and voluntary controlled schools; individual governing bodies are responsible for appeal arrangements in foundation and voluntary aided schools. Church aided schools receive advice from their respective dioceses which will often make the appeal arrangements on schools' behalf.
3. General information affecting all admissions
3.1 Timescales for offers
During the main admission round, timescales are clearly set out and places are offered well before the place will be taken up.
In all other cases, places can be offered up to four school weeks in advance (six weeks at the end of the summer term). Parents should be told that, if the pupil has not taken up the place within this timescale, it may be withdrawn and offered to the next pupil on the waiting list.
3.2 Pupils with challenging behaviour
The Code (7.5) makes clear that, except in very clearly defined circumstances (7.7), it is normally unacceptable for a school to refuse to admit a child on the basis of their behaviour elsewhere. It is also unacceptable for a school to refuse to admit a child thought to be potentially disruptive, or who has exhibited challenging behaviour, on the grounds that that child ought first to be assessed for special educational needs.
Hampshire schools and LEA will follow this guidance.
3.3 Pupils with special educational needs but without statements
The Code states (7.19) that "children with special educational needs but without statements must be treated as fairly as other applicants. Admission authorities may not refuse to admit a pupil because they consider themselves unable to cater for his or her special educational needs".
Hampshire schools and LEA will follow this guidance.
3.4 Pupils with statements of special educational needs
The Code states (7.20) that "children with statements of special educational needs that name a school in the statement are required to be admitted to the school that is named. The governing body (even where it is the admission authority) does not have the right to refuse admission...."
Hampshire schools and LEA will follow this guidance.
3.5 Pupils with disabilities
The Code (7.21) states that "children with disabilities must be treated no less favourably than other applicants for admissions. Schools are under a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that pupils with disabilities are not placed at a substantial disadvantage, although this does not apply to the provision of auxiliary aids and services or to physical adaptations to buildings."
Hampshire schools and LEA will follow this guidance.
3.6 Home-school agreements
Admission cannot be conditional on parents signing a home-school agreement. (3.33)
3.7 Fraud in applications
Admission authorities reserve the right to withdraw a place if it was obtained fraudulently. (Code 7.26 - 7.27)