TITLE	Update on 2016/17 Transfer Groups, Pressure In Other Year Groups and Planned Activity
FOR CONSIDERATION BY	Admissions Forum on 14 June 2016
WARD	None Specific
DIRECTOR	Judith Ramsden

OUTCOME / BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY That children are allocated school places in accordance with statutory requirements.
RECOMMENDATION That Forum members make comments as they see fit.
SUMMARY OF REPORT Enclosed with this report is allocation information for the three cohorts showing how places were allocated at schools against the school admission criteria together with appeal statements which gives information on how many children did not receive an offer of a preferred school place against the admission criteria who then formed the school waiting list pending confirmation from parents on their acceptance forms indicating that they wish to remain on school waiting lists.

Background Transfer to Secondary update Places are currently available at Wokingham borough secondary schools as follows: Bohunt School – 75 places Bulmershe School – 44 places Emmbrook School – 88 places Forest School – 39 places Oakbank School – 9 places It should be noted that without the additional Bohunt School places there would have been 75 surplus places (or 4% of capacity). Secondary appeals are in process. Maiden Erlegh and St Crispins have been completed, (13 and 5 appeals respectively, with none upheld). Transfer to year 3 in a Junior School. Places are currently available at Wokingham borough junior schools as follows: Emmbrook Junior School – 8 Gorse Ride Junior – 1 Oaklands Junior – 2 Shinfield St Mary’s – 1 Willowbank Junior – 1 Entry to Primary Places are currently available at Wokingham borough primary and infant schools as follows: Gorse Ride Infant School – 5 St Sebastians – 2 Windmill Primary – 2 The Council is currently engaged in creating a new school for this coming September in Shinfield. It is planned to open in Ryeish Green in temporary premises, offering 30 Reception places, before transferring to permanent premises for September 2018. The school will be sponsored by the Floreat Education Academies Trust. Loddon Primary School is expanding and 30 Reception and 30 Year 1 places have been offered. Beechwood Primary school is expanding and 15 additional places have been offered. Highwood Primary School will be expanded by 30 places per year from September 2017. Aldryngton Primary School may (dependent on ongoing feasibility work) grow by 15 places per year from September 2017. Appeals will be heard from 28th June 2016. Current appeal number are: Aldryngton 3 Bearwood 4 Beechwood 1 Coombes 3 Emmbrook 1 Evendons 1 Hatch Ride 1 Highwood 1 Hillside 2 Keep Hatch 1 Lambs Lane 6 Piggott 1 Radstock 1 Rivermead 1 St Nicholas Hurst 1 Shinfield IS 10 South Lake 1 Wescott 2 Whiteknights 3 Willowbank Infant 3
Analysis of Issues Secondary capacity has been increased to allow for additional children coming through from the primary sector and additional children to be generated by the new SDL housing developments across the borough. Junior capacity is close to being fully utilised. However Junior schools are not subject to Infant class size legislation. Reception capacity will increase (albeit still with a very low percentage of surplus places) once the new Ryeish Green School opens. It should be noted that outside the transfer groups other infant years are also under severe strain. In particular Year 1 is close to capacity, with more applicants to be processed than surplus places.

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)	N/A	N/A	N/A
Next Financial Year (Year 2)	N/A	N/A	N/A
Following Financial Year (Year 3)	N/A	N/A	N/A

Other financial information relevant to the Recommendation/Decision
N/A

Cross-Council Implications
N/A

List of Background Papers
N/A

Contact Piers Brunning	Service Childrens
Telephone No 0118 974 6084	Email Piers.brunning@wokingham.gov.uk
Date 06/06/16	Version No.