Archived decisions

DETERMINATION OF SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS 2006/07

1. The Executive Member for Education has approved revised admission policies for community and voluntary controlled schools, including published admission numbers, together with schemes for coodinating primary and secondary admissions in September 2006, and school-specific criteria where there are special circumstances which justify such an approach. The adoption of these new arrangements follows extensive consultations with schools, governing bodies and neighbouring Local Education Authorities. They have the full support of the Hampshire Admissions Forum. In relation to the published admission numbers, the Executive Member's attention on 24 March 2005 was drawn to some textual changes to the Education Policy Review report of 15 March 2005 on this item, but none of these was substantial.

2. The most significant change in admission arrangements this year has been the Government's requirement for a single national offer date of 1 March 2005 for all secondary admissions with all letters being sent to parents by the Local Education Authority rather than, as in the past, by individual schools. Also, there has been a requirement to coordinate admissions with neighbouring Local Education Authorities so that no parent received more than one offer of a place in a secondary school. This has required substantial additional work by the county admissions team, together with IT advice and support both from within the Education Department and IT Services. However, the whole process has been successfully carried out by existing admissions team staff.

3. For 2006, the Local Education Authority must also coordinate admissions to primary schools as well as secondary schools and this will mean that some staffing adjustments will be needed. The main differences compared to the secondary scheme are that there is no requirement to coordinate cross-border applications nor to offer a minimum of three preferences. This means, therefore, that it will still be possible for parents living near the boundary with another Local Education Authority to apply for and be offered a place in schools in both areas.

4. The Executive Member has, in addition, authorised the County Education Officer to lodge an objection to the Schools Adjudicator in appropriate cases where a foundation or voluntary aided school's admission policy or a neighbouring Local Education Authority's admission arrangements appear to be non-compliant with legislation or advice in the Government's Code of Practice; and to authorise the publication of local notices where it is agreed with Governors of community or voluntary controlled schools to reduce their published admission number.

5. The arrangements summarised above are complex. They have all been the subject of detailed scrutiny by the Admission Forum. Copies of the various admissions policies have been placed in the Members' Rooms.

6. These decisions support aim 1 (maximising life opportunities), aim 4 (building strong and safe communities) and aim 5 (improving services) of the Corporate Strategy by setting out clear, fair and objective policies for admissions to schools, with priority for admission being given to those living within the local area, whilst ensuring that the County Council's procedures are fully up-dated to reflect legislation and government guidance.

DAVID KIRK

Executive Member for Education

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