To approve commencement of consultation on the Council's Admissions Arrangements and co-ordinated scheme for the academic year 2016/17.

1.         That the commencement of consultation for Central Bedfordshire’s proposed admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools for the academic year 2016/17 be approved, noting specific changes to existing admission arrangements including:

(i)         revised wording on the Council’s admission arrangements to make it clearer how places for pupils with a statement of Special Education Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan are allocated, how the Fair Access Protocol works, and the addition of foster siblings in the sibling definition;

(ii)        in response to the recommendations made in the annual report of the Chief Schools Adjudicator published in November 2013, the removal of nursery, pre-school and other childcare criteria from those school admission policies which currently contain them;

(iii)       A revised catchment area for Russell Lower School in Ampthill.

2.         That the commencement of consultation for Central Bedfordshire’s co-ordinated admissions schemes for the academic year 2016/17 be approved.