Agenda item - School Admission Arrangements 2024-25

Report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning

RESOLVED: That the Committee –

      i.         Agreed to make no changes to the council’s admission arrangements (other than the changes listed below) or school catchment areas (where applicable).

     ii.         Agreed to consult upon a change to the Published Admission Number (PAN) of Downs Infant School from 120 to 90 pupils.

    iii.         Agreed to consult upon a change to the Published Admission Number (PAN) of Hertford Infant School from 60 to 30 pupils. As part of an overall approach to securing the future provision of a ‘Hertford’ education offer, with the vision to create a one form entry, single site, primary school in the future.

   iv.         Agree to consult upon a change to the Publish Admission Number (PAN) of Hove Junior School (Holland Road site) from 96 to 64 pupils to reflect changes previously made to Hove Infant School (Connaught Road).

     v.         Agreed to make no changes to the “relevant area”.

23.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families     Children & Learning which detailed the proposed school admission          arrangements for the academic year 2024-25 for the schools in the city        where the Council is the admission authority.

23.2    Cllr O’Quinn was informed that several meetings have taken place with      the bigger schools to articulate the context and need to address this    issue in the future. The Head of School Organisation also advised that    continuous conversations were ongoing with both head teachers and           governing bodies to determine their requirements in terms of support,     consideration, advise and information around contributing to the need    to reduce Published Admission Numbers (PAN).

23.3    In response to a query regarding the rationale behind the numbering of           the reduced PAN for Hove Junior School, the Head of School Organisation confirmed that Junior Schools were not restricted by        Infant Class Sizes Regulations, therefore, up to thirty-two places could   be admitted. They advised that given the longstanding evidence that       those schools could accommodate more children, if the PAN was           restricted to a multiple of thirty, it could be challenged.

23.4    Cllr Brown was advised that dialogue remained open with both diocese of our voluntary aided schools regarding the PAN and how those schools      could work collectively and collaboratively together. Further, as there         were fewer children in the city, the schools would continue to discuss           and demonstrate how they operate efficiently.

23.5    Cllr Meadows was informed that these proposals related to primary     schools, which did not have catchment areas linked to them. The Head   of School Organisation confirmed that conversations had begun with          them, though there was more time to engage with headteachers and        school governing bodies to address this matter, whilst recognising the           additional complexity ofcatchment areas.

23.6    RESOLVED: That the Committee –

      i.         Agreed to make no changes to the council’s admission arrangements (other than the changes listed below) or school catchment areas (where applicable).

     ii.         Agreed to consult upon a change to the Published Admission Number (PAN) of Downs Infant School from 120 to 90 pupils.

    iii.         Agreed to consult upon a change to the Published Admission Number (PAN) of Hertford Infant School from 60 to 30 pupils. As part of an overall approach to securing the future provision of a ‘Hertford’ education offer, with the vision to create a one form entry, single site, primary school in the future.

   iv.         Agree to consult upon a change to the Publish Admission Number (PAN) of Hove Junior School (Holland Road site) from 96 to 64 pupils to reflect changes previously made to Hove Infant School (Connaught Road).

     v.         Agreed to make no changes to the “relevant area”.