Agenda item - Admissions Arrangements for Brighton & Hove Schools 2013/14

Extract from the proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on the 15^th March (to be circulated separately) and report of the Strategic Director; People (copy attached).

87.1         Councillor Shanks introduced the report and stated that she was pleased present the proposed admission arrangements for Brighton and Hove Schools in 2013/14.  She noted that a cross-party working group had been established to look at the admission arrangements and that this was a national problem and not just one faced by Brighton and Hove.  She also noted that following consultations changes had been taken on board and that further consultation was proposed for the Dorothy Stringer/Varndean areas and the points raised in the petition presented earlier could be considered as part of that process.  She was keen to work with the schools, parents and governors to provide access to places across the city and noted that there was a need to increase the Secondary School provision in the city.

87.2         Councillor Lepper expressed concern over the report and its failure to address the needs of both primary and secondary school children.  She stated that given the known changes in the child population across the city she was surprised to find that pressures for places remained and queried whether the children’s right to an education was being addressed.  She believed that the city was facing a crisis and action was required to address this otherwise the number of disillusioned parents would increase and children’s education would suffer.

87.3         Councillor Wealls stated that there was a lot in the report which should be commended.  However, it did appear that aspects of the consultation process were flawed and that people had not been made aware of the consequences and a prime example was that for Dorothy Stringer/Varndean which was highlighted by the petition today.  He suggested that the Cabinet Member should consider holding an emergency meeting to review the situation and if need be recommend further action.  He also suggested that the decision regarding the sibling link should be reconsidered.

87.4         Councillor G. Theobald referred to the previous Labour Administration and the decision to amend catchment areas and not to take account of the views that the boundary for Dorothy Stringer/Varndean should be taken up to Dyke Road.  He noted that concerns had been expressed by the then Labour Members for Preston Park which had not been accepted and this had contributed to the situation that was faced today.  He suggested that the mater should be looked at urgently and hoped that the Cabinet Member would address the matter in her right of reply.

87.5         Councillor Hamilton noted that there were also problems for Portslade South with the decision in 2010 that Benfield Junior would take in two reception classes which would then go to the Junior School at the exclusion of others.  This had a direct effect on St Peter’s and was something that should have been recognised and dealt with rather than still being unresolved some 18months later.  He therefore sought reassurance that the issue would be looked at as a priority.

87.6         Councillor Shanks noted the comments and stated that she hoped that progress was being made for Portslade as she was aware of proposals for St. Peter’s that should help to alleviate matters.  She was also aware that officers were working with staff at the Connaught School regarding the use of the old police station and the provision of buses and staggered start times.  She also acknowledged that there appeared to be a question mark over the consultation process and was assured by officers that she could call an urgent CMM to consider the matter further, albeit that there was a need to meet statutory timeframes.

87.7         The Mayor noted that the report had been moved and put the recommendations to the vote.

87.8         RESOLVED:

(1)         That the proposed school admission numbers set out in the consultation documents be adopted for the admissions year 2013/14, with the exception of Portslade Infant School which it is proposed will become a primary school with an admission number of 60, and St Nicholas’ CE Junior school which it is proposed will admit 60 reception children in addition to the 64 year 3 children proposed.  Both of these proposed changes are currently going through the statutory processes, in order to take effect in September 2013;

(2)         That the admission priorities for Community Schools set out in the consultation documents be adopted for all age groups, with the amendments set out below;

(3)         That priority 1 (Children in the Care of the Local Authority) should be extended to include ‘children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order);

(4)         That the proposal to alter the boundary between the catchment areas for Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA), and Blatchington Mill/Hove Park be adopted so that the shaded area on Map 4 of the consultation documents be included in the catchment area for PACA and not the catchment area for Blatchington Mill/Hove Park; and

(5)         That the proposal to amend the sibling link so that it only applies within catchment area be adopted, but that the protection for those living in areas which have changed catchment area be adopted as described in the consultation document.