Agenda item

School Admissions Task & Finish Group Update

To receive an update on School Admissions Task and Finish Group.

Minutes:

Sal Thirlway apologised that the report in the agenda was the report presented to the October meeting of Schools Forum rather than the most up to date report.  He offered to circulate the updated report with the minutes.

 

Sal Thirlway stated that the Task and Finish Group had met twice since October.  At the April meeting the group focused on the Fair Access Protocol, feedback received and the forward plan for the group.

 

The group met again in July with the intention to sign off the Fair Access Protocol.  However, it was decided to delay this to take into account the new School Admissions Code which comes into effect on 1 September 2021.  Discussions were had about how to improve the management of waiting lists, and how schools can manage their own waiting lists.  Conversations were also had about the secondary strategy consultation.  Due to the imminent end of term, this consultation would take place in the Autumn term.

 

Sal Thirlway stated that it was important to prepare for possible bulges in the future and involve schools in the planning to prepare for them.

 

The group was also alerted to a Post-16 consultation which was going to be launched in the Autumn term, in preparation for a Post-16 strategy review.

 

The group was going to review its Terms of Reference, including its title, in recognition of the fact that the group  was a substantive sub-group of Schools Forum and an ongoing entity, rather than a ‘task and finish’ group.  There was also going to be a review of the membership structure to ensure it had the right level of involvement.

 

Brian Prebble had been elected chairman of the group.

 

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

 

·           Ginny Rhodes believed that significant additional provision was needed for secondary school places for September 2022.  She stated that it was important for schools to understand the strategy in order to prepare their marketing campaigns and open days.  She stated that open days would start in September 2021 and she was seeking to understand the planning arrangements and decision making for secondary school places for September 2022.  She was concerned that previously, schools had been approached about additional places for September 2021 very late in the application process, and there had been a commitment to not be in this position again;

·           Sal Thirlway stated that conversations with schools about potential additional places would start much earlier this year, he anticipated to start discussions in September.  He stated that it was difficult to be precise on estimates so early in the year;

·           Ginny Rhodes was concerned that September was too late as parents would not know if there would be additional tutor groups or not;

·           Sal Thirlway affirmed that he would endeavour to expedite the process;

·           In response to a question, it was confirmed that the responses to questions raised by Amanda Woodfin at the last meeting had been circulated via email.  It was agreed to re-circulate this information to members of the Forum;

·           Shirley Austin confirmed that an email was sent in response to Amanda Woodfin’s questions.  However, she pointed out that the email failed to give satisfactory answers to the questions raised.  She was concerned that there was still no assurance that schools would be informed about school place numbers on national offer day as the software was not ready yet.  She asked that Schools Forum be kept informed about this situation and the conversations which were taking place in the Task and Finish Group;

·           Emma Clarke also asked that information about primary places be shared with schools early in the process, especially if an extra class was required.  She suggested that the information be distributed in January;

·           Sal Thirlway stated that a new school admissions portal was being built which would enable real time reporting and would be accessible to all schools.  However, building this portal would take at least another 12 months.  He stated that work was being undertaken to deliver the information requested by schools as early as possible;

·           Shirley Austin was also concerned that not all children in Year 6 with EHCPs had been placed for September 2021;

·           Sal Thirlway agreed to review and circulate the responses to the questions previously raised by Amanda Woodfin.

 

There was recognition of the fact that Officers were doing everything they could to meet the request for early information about school placements.  It was agreed that the revised answers to the questions raised previously would be circulated within 30 days of this meeting.

 

Councillor Margetts agreed to talk with Sal Thirlway about this issue outside of the meeting.

 

Brian Prebble stated that the membership of the Task and Finish Group had been discussed and there was a desire to keep it open to all schools, not limited to Schools Forum members only, with a potential rotation of members.

 

In response to a comment, Sal Thirlway stated that the primary focus of the group remained school admissions.  However, as the group was evolving it was important to keep the school community informed about the wider strategy and planning surrounding school admissions and education.

 

The Chairman suggested that in relation to the quorum of the meeting, it be specified in the Terms of Reference that of the five minimum quorum, at least three should be school representatives.

 

The Chairman suggested that the group presents two reports yearly to Schools Forum, with one report in January and the another in July.  The reports are to give details of the progress and outcomes of school admissions in the Borough.

 

The Chairman suggested inviting a school admissions expert to join the group.  He also commented that he was concerned with the idea of rotating membership as it could mean losing valuable expertise and slowing down progress.

 

Brian Prebble stated that a two-year membership had been suggested.

 

RESOLVED That:

 

1)     Schools Forum noted the update on the work of the School Admissions Task and Finish Group;

 

2)     Schools Forum would be kept informed about discussions taking place in the School Admissions Task and Finish Group;

 

3)     Schools would be given information about school placements as early as possible;

 

4)     Sal Thirlway would review the answers to the questions raised by Amanda Woodfin at the previous meeting and circulate it to Schools Forum within 30 days.

Supporting documents: