Decision details

Report of the Cabinet Member for Eduation seeking approval for Admissions Arrangements, consisting of Coordinated Schemes, Admissions Policies and Supplementary Information Form for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools for September 2023 entry.

Having complied with paragraph 15 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.

(i)  To approve the Admissions Policies, the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) and the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools and the schemes for coordinating Infant-Primary, Junior and Secondary admissions for the school year 2023-24 as set out in appendices 1 to 7.

(ii)  To authorise the Executive Director - Wellbeing, Children and Learning to take any action necessary to give effect to the admissions policies and to make any changes necessary to the admissions policies where required to give effect to any Acts, Regulations or revised Schools Admissions or School Admissions Appeals Codes or binding Schools Adjudicator, Court or Ombudsman decisions whenever they arise.

This report is presented as a general exception item in accordance with the Access to Information Procedure Rules of Part 4 of the Council's Constitution. Amendments to the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to information) (England) Regulations 2012 require 28 days’ notice to be given prior to determining all Key Decisions. This notice was not given in this case due to the nature of the decision needing to be taken not being determined. This was due to a delay in school forecasting information that meant it was not clear if any changes to the admission arrangements and policies were needed, that would have triggered the need for a consultation period.

As a requirement of the Admissions Code 2021, all admission authorities must determine their admission arrangements by 28th February of the determination year. For 2023 entry, the determination year is 2022. This is further reason why this report is being presented as a Regulation 15 exception, as the determination must occur by this date and cannot be held until a later Future Plan.

The proposed policies are at Appendix 1, 2 and 3. There are no changes from the 2022-23 arrangements

An alternative option considered was to not consult on or determine local admission arrangements. This has been rejected because it would be unlawful.

An alternative option considered was to consult upon and recommend changes to the PANs of some schools. This has been rejected due to the lack of evidence presented from pupil forecasting at the present time