Agenda item

Co-ordinated Admissions Schemes for 2015

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report containing for consideration the proposed scheme for transfer to Primary and Secondary schools in September 2015 including the proposed process for non-coordinated In-Year Admissions, and seeking determination of the various criteria and proposed admission numbers there in.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform introduced the report, and asked Head of Admissions & Transport, Scott Bagshaw to relay the detail before reporting that admissions performance had been very strong; secondary admissions currently sat at 83.5% parents achieving first preference and 97.4% receiving one of their stated preferences. Pressures in this area would continue to grow and it was crucial that the schemes put forward continued to be robust in order to avoid families missing out on their preferred schools.

Mr Bagshaw addressed the committee to expand on the comments of the Cabinet Member, he reported:

i. That no changes to the scheme were proposed for 2015, other than minor variances to some of the dates in order to simplify operational matters for some of the schools.

ii. That as the co-ordinated schemes were not subject to change this year, no public consultation had been undertaken in line with legislative requirements, but schools had been consulted and all had agreed to the proposals set out in the report.

Patrick Leeson, Corporate Director for Early Years reiterated that all schools in Kent had signed up to the scheme and welcomed this continued co-operation in light of the varied and changing nature of education provision in the county.

It was RESOLVED:

CABINET Co-ordinated Admissions Schemes for 2015
1.	That the Coordinated Primary Admissions Scheme 2015/16 incorporating the In Year admissions process as detailed in Appendix A be agreed
2.	That the Co-ordinated Secondary Admissions Scheme 2015/16 incorporating the In Year admissions process as detailed in Appendix B be agreed
3.	That the oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary schools in Kent 2015/16 as detailed in Appendix C (1) be agreed
4.	That the oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary controlled Secondary schools in Kent 2015/16 as detailed in Appendix D (1) be agreed
5.	That the Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools 2015/16 as set out in Appendix C (2) be agreed
6.	That the Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary Schools 2015/16 as set out in Appendix D (2) be agreed
7.	That the relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Primary Schools 2015/16 as detailed in Appendix C (3) and the relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Secondary Schools 2015/16 as set out in Appendix D (3) be agreed
REASON
1–7 inclusive	In order that the Council has a co-ordinated approach to admissions that all schools have agreed to adhere to thereby enabling statutory provision requirements to be met and percentage of parents receiving first or second place preferences to be raised.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED	No changes were proposed from the 2014 scheme which was the outcome of extensive consultation and consideration of options.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST	None.
DISPENSATIONS GRANTED	None.

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