Agenda item - School Admission Arrangements 2020/21

Report of the Executive Director for Families, Children & Learning. (Copy attached)

RESOLVED:  That a consultation on the proposed changes to the school admission arrangements for 2020-21 be undertaken as detailed in the report namely:-

(i)           Amending the admission priorities which will apply in the event of oversubscription to include children who have been in state care outside of England and have ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, within the definition of looked after and previously looked after children

(ii)          Agreeing to make no change to the “relevant area”.

22.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Families, Children, & Learning. The report was introduced by the Head of School Organisation.

22.2    Councillor Phillips enquired if there was a plan to review the current admissions arrangements, she further requested if the expanded capacity at Dorothy Stringer and Varndean was likely to accommodate the projected number of catchment children for September 2020.

22.3    The Head of School Organisation stated that BHCC expected to meet the projected number of catchment children for September 2020. It was concluded that there was high level of support for the current arrangements.

22.4    The chair stated that there was no appetite for changes to the current arrangements and reaffirmed that there was no support for change to catchment areas.

22.5    Councillor Penn requested clarification in reference to the use the word England.

22.6    The Head of School Organisation stated that the Department of Education had specifically stipulated England however it was noted that this proposal covered England and Wales. The Head of Organisation stated that clarity would be provided in future following further correspondence with the Department of Education.

22.7    Ms Mortensen enquired of any further changes to primary admission numbers.

22.8    The Head of School Organisation stated that proposals were made in January and that this was a complicated process. It was further stated that efforts to hold more discussions with head teachers regarding pupil numbers and spare spaces with a view to reaching agreements in developing ways forward, were underway.

22.9                RESOLVED:            That a consultation on the proposed changes to the school admission arrangements for 2020-21 be undertaken as detailed in the report namely:-

(i)            Amending the admission priorities which will apply in the event of oversubscription to include children who have been in state care outside of England and have ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, within the definition of looked after and previously looked after children

(ii)                Agreeing to make no change to the “relevant area”.