TITLE	School Admission Arrangements 2017/2018
FOR CONSIDERATION BY	The Executive on 18 February 2016
WARD	None specific
DIRECTOR	Judith Ramsden, Director of Children’s Services
LEAD MEMBER	Charlotte Haitham Taylor, Executive Member for
Children’s Services

OUTCOME / BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY The school admission arrangements address the local authority’s statutory duty to ensure that all school places for maintained schools and Academies (excluding special schools) are allocated and offered in an open and fair way and comply with the School Admissions Code and relevant regulations and legislation and support the council’s key priorities. The School Admissions Code (14) requires that in drawing up admission arrangements, admission authorities must ensure that the practices and the criteria used to decide the allocation of school places are fair, clear and objective. Parents should be able to look at a set of arrangements and understand easily how places will be allocated.
RECOMMENDATION That the Executive determines the 2017/2018 admission arrangements for community and controlled schools and co-ordinated admission schemes as set out in the annexes to this report.
SUMMARY OF REPORT The main co-ordinated admission schemes apply to all state funded schools within the Borough (including free schools and academies), and include the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools. These schemes deal with applications for entry to primary (F2 reception), junior (year 3) and secondary (year 7) schools. It also allows for co-ordination for middle schools within the primary scheme and upper school entry specifically to year 9 and year 10 (e.g. university technology colleges, The Forest School and selective schools) within the secondary scheme. There is no longer a legal requirement to co-ordinate in-year admissions except to community and voluntary controlled schools. The local authority has prepared an in-year co-ordinated admissions scheme, which if adopted would apply to all community and voluntary controlled schools; the participation of voluntary aided schools, free schools and academies is subject to agreement by the individual trust/governing body. Admission matters are reviewed and determined annually, subject to consultation unless no changes are proposed. A number of changes are proposed which required consultation and are detailed later in this report. Consultation on the proposed changes opened on December 7, 2015 and closed on January 20, 2016. The consultation was available to view on the council’s website and notified to neighbouring local authorities; The Dioceses of Oxford and Portsmouth; all schools and early years settings with a request to notify parents of the consultation and through the issuing of a press release and social media. No responses to the consultation were received and therefore no changes will be considered to the original proposed arrangements prior to determination. The proposals contained in the report do not have any direct implications for the Council’s capital or revenue budgets.

Background Under the Education and Skills Act 2008 (as amended) and the statutory School Admissions Code, admission authorities must consult annually on their admission arrangements (or at least every seven years where no changes are proposed). The Council is responsible for setting the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools. Individual governing bodies are responsible for setting the admission arrangements for the nine voluntary aided schools and nine academy/free schools in the Borough. Wokingham consulted between December 7, 2015 and January 20, 2016. The local authority did not consult on any changes for 2016/17. Local authorities must also agree co-ordinated schemes for school admissions in their area. These provide that parents can apply to their home authority for admission to any state-funded schools, including schools in other authorities, and receive a single offer of a place. This applies to the main admission rounds for entry to primary; transfer from infant to junior, and transfer from primary to secondary education. Applications are also co-ordinated for middle and upper schools within the primary and secondary co-ordinated schemes. In addition the Council operates a co-ordinated scheme for in-year applications for school places within its area. Whilst this scheme is no longer a statutory requirement; clarification has been received from the Department for Education that local authorities are required to co-ordinate for community and voluntary controlled schools, and to those voluntary aided and academy/free schools which agree to participate in the scheme. Currently all but one own admission authority schools in the borough are included within the in-year co-ordinated scheme; the exception is Earley St Peter’s CE Aided Primary School. This school is still required to notify the local authority when an application is received and the outcome of that application. The value of the in-year co-ordinated scheme is that it ensures that children who arrive in the borough or whose parents wish to change school mid-year are swiftly allocated school places, where possible in line with parental preference. Where a place cannot be offered in line with parental preference, parents are notified of their statutory right to appeal and allocated the most accessible school with places available. It further ensures that multiple place offers are not held for one child, so maximising the potential supply of places for all children. Without the in-year co-ordinated scheme alternative arrangements would be required to monitor outcomes and to consider applications for places at those schools where the Council administers admissions on behalf of the school. Admission arrangements for each school year must be decided by March 15 in the previous year (one month earlier than in previous years due to the issuing of a revised School Admissions Code on December 19, 2014. Therefore the 2017/2018 arrangements must be decided by March 15, 2016. Once decided, there is a statutory duty to administer admissions strictly in accordance with the determined arrangements, without variation except in prescribed circumstances to meet a change in school organisation; a change in law, or to comply with a decision by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. Determination of the co-ordinated admission schemes must be notified to the Secretary of State for Education by March 15 in the previous year, failure to do so can mean that a scheme is imposed on the local authority. All determined admission arrangements for schools within its area must be sent to the local authority to enable it to publish the details on its website and notify how objections can be made by 15 March of the determination year.
Analysis of Issues The changes proposed are: Clarification to criterion B to make it clear that it applies to “families who have exceptional medical or social needs as the grounds for their child’s admission to a particular school” Amendment to the residency requirements to meet criteria D and E Amendment to the wording relating to Crown Servants following the issuing of guidance by the Department for Education Amendment to how we operate waiting lists and the requirement for parents to confirm annually, at the end of each academic year, whether they wish their child to remain on the waiting list for the following academic year Proposal to increase the designated area of Nine Mile Ride Primary School to include a small area of the borough identified as not currently included in the designated area of any school Proposal to prioritise two year olds attending school nurseries in the Foundation Stage 1 (F1) admission policy. Proposed timetable for co-ordinated schemes. Clarification to oversubscription criterion B It is proposed to clarify the wording of criterion B to make it clear that it applies to “families who have exceptional medical or social needs as the grounds for their child’s admission to a particular school”. Previously this referred to “children who have exceptional medical or social needs as the grounds for their admission to a particular school”. However note 2 suggested that we would consider evidence from an independent professional aware of the case relating to the child, parent/carer or other children living at the same address. As the criterion applies to families, it is proposed to ensure that the wording is clear within the criterion. Amendment to the residence requirements to meet oversubscription criteria D and E The residency requirements were the subject of an internal audit carried out in summer 2016 in response to parental concerns that school places may have been allocated unfairly to children on the basis of misleading information provided by their parents claiming to live within the designated area of schools for whom the local authority could not allocate to every child within the designated area. In response to the audit and to ensure that the wording is clear; this section has been revisited and various minor amendments/additions are proposed namely: The inclusion of the wording “An address will not be accepted where the child was resident other than with a parent or carer unless this was part of a private fostering or formal care arrangement.” The inclusion of wording specifically related to circumstances where a family has more than home. “Checks will be made to determine whether an address declared on the application form is that of a second home with the main home being elsewhere. If there are two or more homes, evidence will be required as to which is the main home showing that the other property is either let out on a long term rental (6 months plus), that the property is uninhabitable, or that the address is in the process of being sold and family live permanently in the declared property. This evidence is required to prove where an applicant was living at the time of making the application”. Further clarification is proposed to the paragraph relating to moving to a house which is within or nearer to the designated area of the preferred school to make it clear that this is “after allocation”. Clarification that applicants will be asked to declare that the address used is “expected to be” their place of residence beyond the date of the pupil starting school. The audit report suggested that parents in rental properties would have difficulty to state categorically that the address would be their place of residence in September due to the nature and timing of rentals. Furthermore, it is proposed to make clear that “in deciding whether a place was allocated on the basis of a misleading or fraudulent application, an admissions panel will consider any supporting evidence giving reasons why the move as necessary prior to the child starting school”. It is proposed to include under the list of further information that may be required “ the address where child benefit or other benefit (if applicable) is paid”. Amendment to the wording relating to Crown Servants The Department for Education issued guidance relating to Crown Servants. The council’s policy has always included reference to Crown Servants within the section relating to service families. Whilst Wokingham Borough Council has not had many requests for admission as a returning Crown Servant; it is proposed to strengthen how such applications will be considered as follows: “Families of crown servants returning from overseas to live in the Wokingham borough may apply for a place in advance of their move provided the application is accompanied by an official letter confirming the posting to the UK and the expected relocation date. Where a parent is unable to provide confirmation of a relocation address, an indication of the area may be provided, narrowed down as far as possible, to which the family intend to return. Preferences will be considered but applications will be considered under criterion G (other children) until the parent is able to provide confirmation of the new address such as proof of exchange of contracts or a signed rental agreement. If a place cannot be offered at a preferred school; no alternative school will be offered until confirmation of the relocation address within the borough is received but the right of appeal will be advised. It is the responsibility of parents to keep the school admissions team informed of any changes to their planned address during the application process. For information, the measuring point for service families with an assignment order to move to the service accommodation has been expanded to state that “in the absence of a new home postal address, the authority will use the former Hazebrouck Barracks (co-ordinates: Easting 476869 and Northing 166249) as the postal address to determine distance to a preferred school.”
Clarification to waiting lists An amendment is proposed to how we operate waiting lists and the requirement for parents to confirm annually, at the end of each academic year, whether they wish their child to remain on the waiting list for the following academic year in accordance with the School Admissions Code. Proposal to increase the designated area of Nine Mile Ride Primary School Children’s Services seeks to ensure that all areas within the borough are included within the designated area of at least one school to enable families to receive priority to that school. A small area has been identified which is not included within the designated area of any school in the borough and it seeks to address this anomaly by its inclusion within the designated area of Nine Mile Ride Primary School. The area in question includes Spring Gardens at the bottom of Church Lane. We are proposing to incorporate the area not covered by Finchampstead CE Aided Primary School into the designated area of Nine Mile Ride and to redraw the line at this point to follow the Devil’s Highway as a defined geographical feature. As the northern section of the designated area of Finchampstead CE Aided Primary School follows the Devil’s Highway, it is proposed to redraw the southern section of the Nine Mile Ride to at least this line to incorporate land not included in the admission arrangements of Finchampstead CE Aided Primary School. No further changes to designated areas are proposed, therefore subject to the above, designated areas agreed as part of the 2016/2017 admission arrangements will be applied to 2017/2018. Proposal to prioritise two year olds attending school nurseries in the Foundation Stage 1 (F1) admission policy The council previously agreed a specific criterion as part of the Foundation Stage 1 (F1) admissions policy to prioritise two year olds admitted to school nurseries. It is proposed, to ensure continuity in early years education, to remove that criterion and clarify the policy as follows: “Some nurseries or foundation stage units might admit children after they become two years old if they are entitled to the free extended provision. Where there are more applications than places available children who are entitled to the free extended provision will be ranked according to the following oversubscription criteria detailed under the heading “Allocation of places (oversubscription criteria)” above. Where any criterion is oversubscribed, children will be ranked according to the straight line distance that they live from the school with priority being given to children who live closest to the school. Once such children are placed on roll at a nursery, they will be automatically entitled to take up a three year old place and the number of places for three year olds will reduce.” Date changes to the co-ordinated schemes The proposed timetable for the co-ordinated schemes is below and the proposed arrangements have been changed to reflect it. PROPOSED TIMETABLE CO-ORDINATED ADMISSION SCHEMES 2017/2018 Date Action July 9, 2016 State-funded schools to provide school information to enable composite prospectus to be compiled By September 11, 2016 Application packs for secondary transfer to be distributed via primary schools and on request By September 12, 2016 Composite prospectus published on council’s website September 11, 2016 Online admissions open for applications for transfer to secondary school October 31, 2016* National closing date for secondary transfer applications November 26, 2016 Secondary transfer applications to be forwarded to Wokingham Borough own admission authority schools for consideration November 2016 Application packs to be posted for entry to primary to parents who are either attending Wokingham borough early years’ settings or who have registered with the school admissions team or who are transferring to junior school to be distributed via infant schools or on request, November 12, 2016 Online admissions open for applications for entry to primary and transfer to junior school January 15, 2017* National closing date for evidence to be provided to meet Wokingham Borough Council criteria for those transferring to secondary school; transferring to junior school; or starting school. January 15, 2017 Ranked lists to be submitted to the local authority by own admission authority schools for secondary transfer February 10, 2017 Entry to primary and junior transfer applications to be forwarded to Wokingham Borough own admission authority schools for consideration February 16, 2017 SEN Team to inform parents of pupils transferring to secondary school or to junior school with statements of special education need of their allocated school By February 28, 2017 Appeals timetable published to website (own admission authority schools will publish details on the school’s website) March 1, 2017 National secondary offer day – letters posted by first class post March 15, 2017 Secondary transfer: Deadline for accepting the offer of a place Late applications to be processed Waiting list information available March 15, 2017 Ranked lists to be submitted to the local authority by own admission authority schools for the entry to primary and junior transfer March 30, 2017 Closing date for notification of a secondary appeal to be heard together March 31, 2017 Final co-ordination with other local authorities for entry to primary and junior school transfer April 18, 2017 (next working day) National offer day for primary applications for those starting school and transfer to junior school offer day – letters posted by first class post May 3, 2017 Entry to primary and junior transfer: Deadline for accepting the offer of a place Late applications to be processed Waiting list information available May 18, 2017 Closing date for notification of an entry to primary or junior transfer appeal to be heard together End May/early June 2017 Local authority to advise schools of final allocation details May/June 2017 Secondary appeals to be heard in accordance with published timetable June/July 2017 Starting school and junior transfer appeals to be heard in accordance with published timetable

* Dates may change to the next working day if the School Admissions Code is revised permitting national closing dates to be adjusted if the date falls on a weekend.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECOMMENDATION

The Council faces severe financial challenges over the coming years as a result of the austerity measures implemented by the Government and subsequent reductions to public sector funding. It is estimated that Wokingham Borough Council will be required to make budget reductions in excess of £20m over the next three years and all Executive decisions should be made in this context.

How much will it Cost/ (Save)	Is there sufficient funding – if not quantify the Shortfall	Revenue or Capital?
Current Financial Year (Year 1)	None	n/a
Next Financial Year (Year 2)	None	n/a
Following Financial Year (Year 3)	None	n/a

Other financial information relevant to the Recommendation/Decision
The proposals contained in the report do not have any direct implications for the Council’s capital or revenue budgets.

Cross-Council Implications
The School Admissions Code expects admission arrangements to promote sustainable travel and equal access to educational opportunities, in providing a fair system of school admissions that allows families to express school preferences and to access places at local schools. Robust and fair admission arrangements mitigate the risk of unforeseen additional revenue and capital costs to the local authority and individual schools arising as a consequence of successful admission appeals.

List of Background Papers
Proposed admission arrangements School Admissions Code 2014 and School Admissions Appeals Codes (2012) and associated School Admissions Regulations.

Contact Alan Stubbersfield	Service Children’s Services
Telephone No 07963 785829	Email alan.stubbersfield@wokingham.gov.uk
Date 22 January 2016	Version No. 2.0