Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability
DECISIONS made by the Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability, Councillor Bob Standley, on 10 February 2025 at Remote Meeting via Microsoft Teams
Councillor Murphy spoke on item 4 (see minute 45)
41. Decisions made by the Lead Cabinet Member on 9 December 2024
41.1 The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2024.
42. Disclosures of interests
42.1 Councillor Redstone declared a personal interest in item 4 as the vice chair of governors for the Genesis Federation (Beckley and Peasmarsh primary schools). He did not consider this to be prejudicial.
43. Urgent items
43.1 There were none.
44. Reports
44.1 Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.
45. Admission arrangements for East Sussex Schools 2026-27 (determination)
45.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children's Services.
DECISIONS
45.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to:
1) approve the proposed admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools for the 2026-27 academic year as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;
2) approve the proposed published admission numbers (PANs) for Community and Voluntary Community schools for 2026-27 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, specifically the proposed PAN reductions at Motcombe Infant school and Wadhurst CE Primary School, but not Pashley Down Infant School; and
3) approve the proposed co-ordinated schemes of admissions as set out in Appendices 3-6 of the report.
REASONS
45.3 The School Admissions Code 2021 (‘the Code’) states that admission authorities must determine (set) their admission arrangements annually.
45.4 Forecasts show that reduced PANs at Motcombe Infant School and Wadhurst CE Primary School will be sufficient to meet in area demand for the foreseeable future.
45.5 The headteacher and governing body of Pashley Down Primary School requested a reduction in PAN to reflect the falling numbers of primary school aged children in their local areas, however, the headteacher and governing body of Pashley Down Infant School have since withdrawn their request to reduce the PAN and have advised that they would like to retain the PAN of 90 for 2026-27.
45.6 The determined admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Community schools in 2026-27 will be published on the East Sussex County Council website by 15 March 2025 as required under current legislation. Any objection to these arrangements can then be made to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator until 15 May 2025. The final arrangements will be published in the composite prospectus online (and available in hard copy on demand) by 12 September 2025 as required by the School Admissions Code 2021.