ITEM CMDSI3 CABINET MEMBER FOR SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT – 4 APRIL 2007DISCRETIONARY AWARDS FOR STUDENTS Report by Director for Children, Young People &
Families 1. The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 conferred a revised power on local authorities to make discretionary awards to new students. Authorities have three choices: (a) to determine not to take up the power in any circumstances and not make any provision for considering applications; (b) to decide to exercise the power only in respect of certain groups or categories of students; or (c) to decide to exercise the power generally and consider applications from all students – but still in accordance with the policies of the local authority and general eligibility. 2. The local education authority is required to decide each year how far it will exercise its powers to make awards in the following year. Initially the County Council continued to offer awards in line with (c) above, with financial provision in the Education base budget to enable these awards to be funded. In 2001-2002, this funding provision was discontinued and in the light of this the Authority changed its policy, bringing it into line with option (a). In succeeding years the Executive, and then the Cabinet, agreed to maintain this approach. In 2007-2008, as in 2006-2007, there is no budgetary provision for discretionary awards. RECOMMENDATION 3.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED not to exercise the power to make discretionary
awards for the 2007-2008 academic year and not to make any provision for
considering applications. KEITH BARTLEY Background papers: Nil Contact Officer: Neil Darlington, Service Manager Admissions & Student Support Tel: (01865) 81 5844 March 2007
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