Agenda item

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Young People which updated the Board on the 2009/10 Admissions round to Primary and Secondary Schools and gave information on the commencement of the consultation process with schools, during the autumn term 2009 and the statutory requirement to the local authority to co-ordinate in–year admissions for all schools in the 2010 and subsequent admissions round.

The Board was advised that on 10^th April 2008, the Executive Board approved a Council School Admissions Policy and Admission arrangements for the September 2009 intake to all community and voluntary-aided primary schools in Halton. Halton’s Admission Arrangements continued to reflect the requirements within the revised Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) School Admissions Code.

The Board was further advised that Halton continues to meet above the annual average percentage for first preference applications for secondary schools. For the 2009 admissions round Halton met 90% of first preferences for secondary schools (against a national average of 83%) and 92% first preferences for primary schools.

It was noted that details of the school allocation for the September 2009 intake were attached as Appendix A for secondary schools and Appendix B for primary schools, to the report.

The Board was further advised that pupil numbers had increased slightly to the 2009 admissions round. 1,448 pupils were admitted to primary schools in 2008 compared to 1,469 in 2009, and 1,438 pupils were admitted to secondary schools in 2008 compared with 1,463 in 2009.

It was important to recognise that where a preference could not be met, parents/carers had a right of appeal to an independent admission appeal panel. The panel could uphold or decline an appeal based on the individual circumstances of the case presented by the parents/carer, and if the panel decided to admit further pupils to the school that this would not prejudice the provision of efficient education and the efficient use of resources at the school. The decisions made by the independent admission appeal panels were legally binding on all parties: the Local Authority and the School Governing Body as Admission Authority, Schools, and parents/carers.

The slight increase in pupil numbers from 2008 to 2009 had an impact on the number of appeals heard. 110 appeals were heard for the September 2008 intake across the primary and secondary sector compared with 136 in 2009. 25 appeals were upheld for the 2009 intake compared with 19 for the 2008 intake.

The report also set out the number of Halton residents where pupils were seeking admission to a secondary school in an neighbouring authority, that whilst Halton was currently a net exporter of pupils that one of the key drivers for the Building Schools for the Future Programme included the introduction of 21^st Learning, the expansion of popular and successful schools, and the delivery of a diverse range of educational opportunities through community, joint faith, trust and academy schools. It was felt that these factors which were currently being introduced in Halton would support the aims of returning Halton pupils into Halton schools, and attracting where possible out of borough pupils to Halton.

The Board was advised that as part of this secondary school re-organisation process, and links to the BSF Programme, that from September 2010 Fairfield High School would close and re-open as part of an extended Wade Deacon High School operating on two sites.

It was noted that from the academic year 2009/10 onwards, local authorities must co-ordinate all in year applications. In relation to the academic year 2010/11 the arrangements for co-ordinating these applications must be formulated by 1^st January 2010. Regulations prescribed that parents/carers must complete a common application form allowing them to express at least three preferences which may be for schools within or outside their home local authority area, and to give reasons for their preferences.

It was estimated that between 300 – 350 pupils per term moved between schools either moving between Runcorn and Widnes, within Runcorn, within Widnes or move into the Borough.

Wherever a parent/carer wished to change school, or sought admission to a Halton School for the first time, they would be required to complete a preference form and submit the form to the Local Authority, following which the application would be considered. If a place could be allocated the admission would be agreed, normally from the beginning of the next term, and if a place could not be allocated at the school of preference, an alternative offer would be made and parents would be offered the right of appeal against the school they had been refused.

It was further noted that the in-year co-ordinated scheme would also need links with the Fair Access protocol. The Fair Access Protocol existed to ensure that access to education was secured quickly for children who had no school place but for whom a place at a main stream school or alternative provision was appropriate, and to ensure that all schools in the area admitted their fair share of children with challenging behaviour.

Arising from Members’ comments and questions the following was noted:

·        what the criteria for entry to Widnes High schools would be following the changes to Wade Deacon and Fairfield High School;

·        how the fair access protocol would operate in oversubscribed schools. It was noted that there would be places available at all schools under this protocol;

·        the need for careful forward planning to increase admission numbers and that this was being completed incrementally over the next few years.

RESOLVED: the report be noted and that a report on the outcome of the consultation would subsequently be reported to the Board.