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Report to: |
Lead Member for Education, Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability
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Date of meeting:
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18 October 2021 |
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By: |
Director of Children’s Services
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Title: |
Permission to Consult on Proposed
Admission Arrangements for 2023-24 |
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Purpose: |
To seek the agreement of the Lead Member to consult on the proposed admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools in East Sussex for the 2023-24 academic year (and on the proposed co-ordinated schemes of admission for the same year), as required by the School Admissions Code 2021. |
1) To agree to consult on the proposed admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools for the 2023-24 academic year as set out in appendix 1.
2) To agree to consult on the proposed published admission numbers (PANs) for Community and VC schools for 2023-24, as set out in appendix 2. This includes two proposed changes as set out in the report.
3) To agree to consult on the proposed co-ordinated schemes of admissions as set out in appendices 3-5.
1.1 The School Admissions Code 2021 states that admissions authorities must determine (set) their admissions arrangements annually. However, provided the relevant admissions authority is not proposing any changes to their admissions arrangements, there is no requirement to consult annually. Where there is no change to arrangements consultation must take place every 7 years.
1.2 As part of the consultation process, and in accordance with current statutory requirements, the consultation will include parents, schools, the relevant Dioceses and neighbouring local authorities, and details of the proposed arrangements will be posted on the Council’s website.
1.3 The relevant area for the purpose of consultation is the administrative County of East Sussex, and there are no proposals to change this for 2023/24.
2.1 The Lead Member is advised that it is proposed to make no changes to the admission priorities this year. However, the Lead Member is advised that the format of the arrangements as set out in Appendix 1 has changed to reflect the changes to the Council’s website.
2.2 The proposed changes to the Co-ordinated Scheme are to the dates only.
2.3 The consultation will include the foundation school Priory School, Lewes, and Hailsham Community Academy, who are responsible for their own admission arrangements. This is because their trusts have requested that the Council consults on their behalf as they propose to use the Council’s admission arrangements.
2.4 It is proposed to amend the Publish Admission Numbers of the following schools as set out in Appendix 2:
· Southover CE Primary School- reduce from 45 to 30
· Willingdon Community School- increase from 200 to 210
2.5 The headteacher and governing body of Southover have requested a further reduction in PAN (following discussion with headteachers of schools in Lewes Town) to reflect the continuing declining birth rate in the local area.
2.6 The headteacher and governing body of Willingdon Community School have requested an increase in the PAN to enable the school to meet demand from within the area served by the school, whilst avoiding a negative impact on other local schools.
3.1 The County Council is required by law to consult on its admissions arrangements every seven years, or sooner if any changes to those arrangements are proposed for the schools for which it is the admission authority. The Lead Member is recommended to agree to consult on the attached admissions arrangements for 2023/24 with the minor proposed changes outlined in section 2 above.
3.2 The results of the consultation will be reported back to the Lead Member after the consultation period closes in January 2022 with recommendations for amendments as necessary resulting from comments received. Final admission arrangements will be determined by 28 February 2022 and published by 15 March 2022 in line with statutory deadlines.
ALISON JEFFERY
Director of Children’s Services
Contact
Jo Miles, Head of Admissions and Transport
Tel. No. 01273 481911
Email: jo.miles@eastsussex.gov.uk
Local Members
Councillor Wendy Maples
Councillor Stephen Shing
Appendices
Appendix 1- proposed admission arrangements for Community and VC schools for 2023-24
Appendix 2- proposed PANs for Community and VC schools for 2023-24
Appendix 3- proposed co-ordinated scheme of admissions for East Sussex secondary schools 2023-24
Appendix 4- proposed co-ordinated scheme of admissions for East Sussex infant, junior and primary schools 2023-24
Appendix 5- proposed co-ordinated scheme for in year admissions for East Sussex schools for the academic year 2022-23