Decision details

To consider the final admission arrangements for 2020/21

14.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to consult on the on admission arrangements for the 2020/21 school year.

14.2     RESOLVED - to approve consultation on the following proposed admission arrangements for the 2020/21 school year:

1. The proposed admission priorities and community areas;

2. The proposed admissions numbers, including the proposed increase to the

PAN (Published Admission Number) for Willingdon Community School;

3. The proposed co-ordinated admissions schemes with the following

changes:

·         That the primary and secondary scheme be amended slightly to

reflect the assumption that it is in the best interests of summerborn

children to be admitted to reception at compulsory school

age where their parents request it, unless there are clear reasons

why this would be inappropriate, and that own admission

authority schools in East Sussex should be advised of this

assumption and encouraged to adopt it by the County Council;

·       That parents still be required to make a case for this so that it

can be demonstrated that the County Council has considered the

rationale behind the request and made the decision in the child’s

best interests;

·       That the County Council continue to advise all parents whose

request for admission out of year group is agreed of the potential

difficulties this could cause later on, and continue to require

parents to agree that they have understood this and take

responsibility for this decision.

4. That with respect to in-year admissions (for example, families moving into

the area with a child who has already been deferred in another area or

admission authority) that the County Council should work on the same

assumption;

5. That in cases where parents submit in-year applications (or phase transfer

applications for junior or secondary school) for their children to be

educated out of year group where this has not happened before, or where

they have come from provision that does not follow the National

Curriculum (e.g. private provision or overseas) the County Council advise

parents of a likely delay and make a decision in the best interests of the

child in consultation with the Headteacher of the relevant school as in the

case of summer-born children applying at reception entry; and

6. That the County Council adopt the recommendation set out in a letter from

the Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for School Standards, that the

definition of ‘looked after children and previously looked after children’ in

the glossary of the County Council’s ‘Apply for a school’ guidance be

amended to clarify that ‘this may include children previously in state care

outside of the UK’.

Reason

14.3     The County Council is required by law to carry out consultation on admissions arrangements every seven years or sooner if any changes to those arrangements for the schools where the local authority is the admissions authority.