To approve the commencement of the Council’s consultation on admission arrangements to ensure the statutory requirement for admissions consultation is met. The Council is the admissions authority for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools.

1.      That the commencement of consultation for the proposed changes to the Council’s admission arrangements for the academic year 2020/21 be approved to:

·      include priority for children of staff to the following schools’ oversubscription criteria; Dunstable Icknield Lower, Fairfield Park Lower, Greenleas School, Heathwood Lower, Shefford Lower, Soutcott Lower and Thomas Johnson Lower;

·      include priority for children previously in state care outside of England for all community and voluntary controlled schools;

·      to reduce the Published Admission Number for Linslade Lower School from 45 per year group to 30 per year group with effect from September 2019.

2.         To authorise the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, to determine the Council’s admission policy for 2020, by 28 February 2019, as required by legislation.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children that sought approval to commence the consultation on the admission arrangements for the academic year 2020/21.  The report also outlined the proposed changes to the admission arrangements for all Central Bedfordshire Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools.

The Deputy Executive Member for Families, Education and Children advised that there was an additional change to the admission arrangements to be consulted upon, as well as those set out in the report:

·      to reduce the Published Admission Number for Linslade Lower School from 45 per year group to 30 per year group with effect from September 2019.

Reason for decision:  The Council was required to consult on changes to its admissions arrangements where these were proposed and was required to consult within the statutory timescales set out in the School Admissions Regulations. 

RESOLVED

1.      that the commencement of consultation for the proposed changes to the Council’s admission arrangements for the academic year 2020/21 be approved to:

·      include priority for children of staff to the following schools’ oversubscription criteria; Dunstable Icknield Lower, Fairfield Park Lower, Greenleas School, Heathwood Lower, Shefford Lower, Soutcott Lower and Thomas Johnson Lower;

·      include priority for children previously in state care outside of England for all community and voluntary controlled schools; and

·      to reduce the Published Admission Number for Linslade Lower School from 45 per year group to 30 per year group with effect from September 2019.

2.         to authorise the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, to determine the Council’s admission policy for 2020, by 28 February 2019, as required by legislation.