Decision details

Proposed decision –

To determine the primary and secondary school co-ordinated admissions schemes for 2026 intake year and the admission arrangements for Kent community and voluntary controlled primary schools and the admission arrangements for Kent community and voluntary controlled secondary schools for 2026 intake year.

·      Reason for the decision

Admission authorities are legally required to determine admissions arrangements for their schools by 28 February each year. It is intended that admissions arrangements for schools where KCC is the admissions authority are to remain broadly unchanged. It is proposed, however, to make changes to the Published Admissions Number of the following schools, which are proposed as a result of reduced forecasted demand in the locality around the school:

·         Sevenoaks Primary School - reduce Published Admissions Number to 60

·         Woodlands Primary School - reduce Published Admissions Number to 60

·         Tunbury Primary School - reduce Published Admissions Number to 60

·         Downs View Infant School - reduce Published Admissions Number to 60

·         Bodsham CofE Primary School - reduce Published Admissions Number to 10

·         Herne Bay Infant School – reduce Published Admissions Number to 60

·         Guston CofE Primary School - reduce Published Admissions Number to 20 and addition of Service Pupil Premium criterion.

Each consultation ran between 2 December 2024 and 13 January 2025.

Local Authorities are also required to consult with all schools within their geographical boundaries on an Admissions Scheme, which details how the co-ordinated and in year admissions processes will operate for the forthcoming year. This consultation ran between 10 December 2024 and 29 January 2025. 

Following the completion of all consultations, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills is requested to approve the proposed admission arrangements and scheme.

Legal Implications  

  Section 13A of the Education Act 1996 states every admission authority must, before the beginning of each school year determine the admission arrangements which are to apply for that year 7. Local authorities are required by Section 92 of the School Standards and Framework Act and the Education (School Information) (England) Regulations 2008 to publish admission arrangements for all maintained schools in their area. Under section 88(1A) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (as inserted by section 42 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006) it is the duty of a governing body of a community or voluntary controlled school, for which a local authority is the admissions authority, to implement any decision relating to the admission of pupils taken by the admission authority. Similarly, under section 89(3A) of the 1998 Act and regulations, the governing body of a voluntary aided or foundation school must implement a decision of the local authority, made under the relevant co-ordinated admission arrangements, whether a child should be granted or refused admission to the school.  Failure to do so would amount to a breach of the admission authority’s statutory duty.     

As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I agree to approve the determined admission arrangements as set out below:

a)       The Coordinated Primary Admissions Scheme 2026/27 incorporating the In Year admissions process as detailed in Appendix A

b)       The Co-ordinated Secondary Admissions Scheme 2026/27incorporating the In Year admissions process and Kent Test process as detailed in Appendix B

c)       The oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools in Kent 2026/27 as detailed in Appendix C

d)       The oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary Schools in Kent 2026/27 as detailed in Appendix D

e)       The Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools 2026/27 as set out in Appendix C

f)        The Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary Schools 2026/27 as set out in Appendix D

g)       The relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Infant, Junior and Primary Schools 2026/27 as detailed in Appendix A and the relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Secondary Schools 2026/27 as set out in Appendix B