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ITEM EX13

EXECUTIVE – 6 APRIL 2005

CO-ORDINATD ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS

Report by the Director for Learning & Culture

Introduction

  1. A revised School Admissions Code of Practice came into force in January 2003. Two key features of that Code are that:

  1. Oxfordshire has introduced coordinated admissions schemes for both primary and secondary schools for entry in 2005. There is a requirement for both schemes to be reviewed each year and the revised schemes then have to be adopted by 15 April of the year preceding entry. In addition since November 2004 Oxfordshire has been running a pilot of the coordination of in-year secondary admissions.

  2. This means that the schemes of co-ordination for secondary and primary admissions for entry in September 2006 have to be agreed by 15 April 2005. The purpose of this report is to seek the endorsement of the Executive to the arrangements for September 2006 following statutory consultation.

  3. The Code envisages all admitting authorities in the area of a LEA being included in the relevant co-ordinated admission scheme, as is the case with the current schemes. This means that all admission authorities in Oxfordshire will be included, as now, in the appropriate scheme.

  4. It is proposed to make only minor changes to the current schemes of coordination.

  5. The Code also requires admission rules for schools for entry in September 2006 to be determined by 15 April 2005. Individual admitting authorities are responsible for consulting upon and determining admission policies for their schools. The County Council is the admissions authority for community and voluntary controlled schools and has consulted upon the proposed admission rules for 2006.

  6. The proposed schemes of co-ordination, the admission rules for community and voluntary controlled schools, and the proposed admission numbers for community and voluntary controlled schools have been attached as annexes to this document. They have also been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre and further copies are available from the contact officer.

    7. The Co-ordinated Admission Schemes for Primary and Secondary Admissions

  7. The proposed schemes of co-ordination for admission to primary, junior, infant and secondary schools will apply to all maintained schools in Oxfordshire for entry in the academic year 2006/07.These schemes ensure that:

    • No child of primary school age will be offered more than one Oxfordshire school

    • No child living in Oxfordshire, of secondary transfer age, will receive an offer of more than one place, inside or outside Oxfordshire.

  1. In order to meet the requirements of the Code of Practice and help ensure the cooperation of all admission authorities in Oxfordshire, and neighbouring LEAs, the following steps were taken:

    • The co-ordinated admission schemes were formulated in December 2004

    • The schemes were referred for comment to the Admissions Forum in December 2004

    • The formal consultation document was sent to statutory consultees (including neighbouring LEAs) at the beginning of February 2005

  1. 236 primary, infant, and junior schools, 35 secondary schools, all county councillors, 6 neighbouring out county schools, and 9 neighbouring LEAs were consulted on the proposals. There were 11 queries raised by consultees regarding the coordinated schemes but no admitting authorities within Oxfordshire have expressed opposition to the schemes of coordination. Neighbouring authorities expressed no concerns of any kind.

  2. Where necessary the two schemes have been amended in the light of comments received from consultees.

  3. The Diocese of Oxford has stated that it is in agreement with the proposed schemes of coordination.

  4. The Admissions Forum is in agreement with the proposed schemes.

    5. Proposed Admission Rules for Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary, Infant, Junior, and Secondary Schools

  5. The proposed admission rules for primary, infant, junior, and secondary schools include the following amendments to the current admission rules for 2005-2006:

    • There is a change to the wording of Rule 2, regarding Looked After Children, to ensure compliance with the requirements of the School Admissions Code of Practice and which ensures they have priority irrespective of whether they live in the designated area

    • The inclusion of a rule regarding non-catchment siblings attending The Cherwell School and Peers School (currently this rule applies to all other community and voluntary controlled secondary schools but not to The Cherwell School and Peers School)

    • Catchment areas are referred to as "designated areas"

    • The inclusion of an admission rule related to partner infant schools for junior school admissions

  1. The admission rules are applied only when a school is oversubscribed, to determine which pupils should be given priority for places. When there are sufficient places, all those who apply will be offered a place.

  2. The proposed admission rules are shown at Annex 7 (download as .doc file) and (Annex 8 download as .doc file).

  3. Only 1 query was received regarding the admission rules for community and voluntary controlled schools.

    4. Proposed changes to catchment areas

  4. The proposed changes to catchment areas were small and were intended to ensure that the catchment/designated school is the nearest school. Only two queries were received on this part of the consultation.

  5. The Admissions Forum felt that only those changes that were unopposed should be adopted and therefore only those proposals appear in Annex 4 (download as .doc file)

    6. Proposed Admission Numbers

  6. The proposed admission numbers have been set with regard to the net capacity of the schools concerned. There were 9 queries regarding this part of the consultation. In 2 cases this led to a revision of the proposed admission number for the school concerned and these changes are incorporated in the document.

    7. Financial Implications

  7. There are no financial implications since these proposals can be implemented within existing financial resources.

    8. Conclusion

  8. The proposed coordinated admission arrangements and admission rules meet the requirements of the School Admission Code of Practice.

  9. The Admissions Forum supports the proposals set out in the annexes to this document.

RECOMMENDATION

The Executive is RECOMMENDED to agree the coordinated admission arrangements and admission policies described in this report.

KEITH BARTLEY
Director for Learning & Culture

Background papers: The School Admissions Code of Practice

Contact officer: Neil Darlington, Tel: 01865 815844

March 2005

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