Issue - meetings

Background:

The report set out and sought approval of the details of the proposed changes to the primary and secondary admission schemes.

Each year the Local Authority was required to publish admission schemes and arrangements for primary and secondary schools. If changes were made from the previous year, the Local Authority had to undertake a consultation. The schemes set out how the Local Authority would co-ordinate the processing of applications to schools. The arrangements also set out the relevant entry arrangements (oversubscription criteria and published admission numbers) for Community and Voluntary Controlled primary, infant and junior schools. Academies, Voluntary Aided and Foundation schools undertook their own consultation on entry arrangements but had to co-ordinate with the Local Authority schemes.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

Approving the proposed admissions schemes would ensure that the Council meets its statutory duty to comply with admissions legislation.

Delegating the approval of in-year changes to the Director and Portfolio Holder would ensure swift decision-making should we need to make unforeseen amendments to dates/processes. For example, in the past we had to amend some scheme dates to avoid clashes with neighbouring local authorities who published their scheme dates at a different time to us.