The report seeks Executive approval to determine the Admission Arrangements for 2015/16, specifically the Council’s co-ordinated admissions scheme and the Council’s admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools.

1.      That the Council’s co-ordinated admissions scheme, as attached at Appendices 1 and 2 to the report be approved.

2.      That the findings of the Annual Report of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator which has upheld over 20 objections to nursery criteria and how this can be unfair and disadvantageous to children as well as the two responses to the consultation which were not supportive regarding the inclusion of this criterion be noted.

3.      That the proposed inclusion of the nursery criteria for Hawthorn Park and Tithe Farm Lower School will not be implemented in line with the responses and report of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.

4.      That the conversion of lower catchment areas in Houghton Regis to Primary catchment areas, as set out in section 31 of the report, be noted.

5.      That the implementation of a catchment area for Greenleas Kestrel Way but not the inclusion of nursery criteria for this site as per the revised admissions policy for the school, as set out in sections 34 to 37 of the report be approved.

6.      That the implementation of a catchment area for the second site of St Andrews Lower School, Biggleswade, including the admissions policy, be approved.

7.      That the published admission number at Watling Lower School remain at 45 for admissions in the academic year of 2015/16.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that set out the Admission Arrangements for 2015/16, specifically the Council’s co-ordinated admissions scheme and the admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools.

In response to a question, the Executive Member for Children’s Services confirmed that he would respond to the relevant Member with regard to the increase in the PAN at Russell Lower School due to the Warren Farm development in Ampthill.

Members noted that the Council would be consulting in the next academic year on the proposed removal of the criteria whereby priority was given to children who attended a nursery or pre-school associated with the school which they wished to attend, in order to meet the recommendations made by the Chief Schools Adjudicator in the Office of the Schools Adjudicator Annual Report.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations to determine its admission arrangements by 15 April 2014, for admissions in the academic year of 2015/16.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Council’s co-ordinated admissions scheme, as attached at Appendices 1 and 2 to the report be approved;

2.      that the findings of the Annual Report of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator which has upheld over 20 objections to nursery criteria and how this could be unfair and disadvantageous to children as well as the two responses to the consultation which were not supportive regarding the inclusion of this criterion, be noted;

3.      that the proposed inclusion of the nursery criteria for Hawthorn Park and Tithe Farm Lower School will not be implemented in line with the responses and report of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator;

4.      that the conversion of lower catchment areas in Houghton Regis to Primary catchment areas, as set out in section 31 of the report, be noted;

5.      that the implementation of a catchment area for Greenleas Kestrel Way but not the inclusion of nursery criteria for this site as per the revised admissions policy for the school, as set out in sections 34 to 37 of the report be approved;

6.      that the implementation of a catchment area for the second site of St Andrews Lower School, Biggleswade, including the admissions policy, be approved; and

7.      that the published admission number at Watling Lower School remain at 45 for admissions in the academic year of 2015/16.