Contact: Martin Goff, 01962 846185, [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

1. That the Executive Member for Education approve that the County Council adopt

· the revised admission policies for community and voluntary controlled schools set out in Annexes A and B;

· the schemes for co-ordinating primary and secondary admissions, set out in Annexes C, D and E;

· the published admission numbers for community and voluntary controlled schools set out in Annexes F and G;

· the school specific criteria listed in Annexe H;

· the boarding policy listed in Annexe I.

2. That the Director of Children's Services, on behalf of the County Council and having regard to any advice from the Admission Forum, be empowered to:

· authorise the publication of local notices in those instances where there is agreement with governors of community and voluntary controlled schools that a lower PAN should be published;

· lodge an objection to the Schools Adjudicator in respect of any aspect of an admission authority school's or neighbouring LA's admission arrangements which appear to be at variance with legal requirements or Code of Practice advice, taking into account factors at the school, the possible effect on admissions to other schools and the outcome of further consultations, if any;

· amend the list of school specific criteria as appropriate during the course of the academic year; in consultation with the Executive Member for Education.

1.2 This decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priority:

"Maximising well-being" - by promoting parental opportunity to express a preference for a school place and enabling children to attend a preferred school and so have a sound start to their schooling.

"Enhancing our quality of place" - through promoting access to local schools through the newly adopted equal preference allocation system and oversubscription criteria that give priority to children from each school's local community.

1.3 The five outcomes specified in the Children Act are set out below, with a summary of how the proposals in the corresponding report contribute to their achievement:

· being healthy: (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle) - the County Council admissions policy gives priority to pupils living in the catchment area, thus maximising opportunities for children to walk or cycle to school and thereby increasing opportunities for exercise and reduced car dependence;

· staying safe: (being protected from harm and neglect) - the Council's admission policy attempts to reduce the home/school distance and hence the time needed to get to school, thus restricting the time a pupil might potentially be at risk;

· enjoying and achieving: (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood) - by encouraging a high standard of education for children wherever possible within their own community;

· making a positive contribution: (being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour) - the admissions policy aims to safeguard friendship and neighbourhood groups by providing primary education as close to pupils' homes as reasonably practicable. At the secondary level some additional priority is given to out of area pupils attending linked primary schools.

· economic well-being: (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life) - the Code of Practice requires all admission arrangements to be fair to all pupils and give them a sound start to their schooling and future ability to provide both for themselves and their families.

2 Other Options considered and rejected:

2.1 Following consultation in Autumn 2006 a new School Admissions Code, allied to the Education and Inspections Act 2006, was laid before parliament on 8 January and came into effect on 27 February 2007. The Code to some extent has statutory effect and requires changes in HCC's admission arrangements, at both primary and secondary levels. Consequently the other option considered but rejected was Hampshire's previous admission arrangements, including its `first preference first' allocation system.

3 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

3.1 None.

4 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

4.1 None.

5 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

5.1 N/A

Approved by: Date:

........................................ ........................................

Councillor David Kirk

Executive Member for Education