Decision details

Report of Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Schools and Lifelong Learning seeking approval of the admissions arrangements for community and voluntary controlled infant, primary, junior, secondary schools for 2020-21.

(i)  To approve the Admissions Policies and the Published Admissions Numbers (PANs) for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools and the schemes for coordinating Infant-Primary, Junior and Secondary admissions for the school year 2020-21 as set out in appendices 1 to 7.

(ii)  To authorise the Service Director, Children and Families Services 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.

1.  Southampton City Council (the admission authority) proposes changes to the 2020-21 admission policies for Infant-Primary, Junior and Secondary admissions. Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements, the admission authority must first publicly consult on those arrangements. Consultation must be for a minimum of 6 weeks and must take place between 1 October and 31 January of the school year before those arrangements are to apply. Admission Authorities must set (‘determine’) admission arrangements annually.

2.  The Council is required by statute and regulations to approve its admissions policies for the school year starting September 2020 (including Published Admissions Numbers – PANs). The deadline for this is 28February 2020. This is a requirement of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as amended by the Education Act 2002 and the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and the School Admissions (Admission Arrangements and Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended by The School Admissions (Admission Arrangements and Coordination of Admission Arrangements) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014.

3.  The proposed policies are at Appendix 1-4. There are changes from the 2018-19 arrangements.

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