Agenda item

This report provides the Committee with the opportunity to review the amended Council Admissions Policy together with the details of the pilot coordinated admissions with faith schools.

(a)  Councillor Sarah Merry (Cabinet Member for Education) will be in attendance and may wish to make a statement;

(b)  Nick Batchelar (Director, Education and Lifelong Learning) and Officers from the Education Directorate will present the report and be available to answer any questions members may have; and

(c)   Questions from Committee Members

The way forward for this item will be considered at the end of the meeting.

The Committee was advised the report provided an opportunity to review and appraise the draft cabinet report seeking to approve the Schools Admission Policy together with details of the pilot coordinated admissions with faith schools.  Further minor amendments had been made to the Policy, which would be considered at Cabinet on 16 March 2017.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Merry, Cabinet Member for Education to make a statement.

Councillor Merry explained there were two elements to the report.  The annual review of the Council’s School Admission Arrangements 2018/19 and the proposed implementation of Co-ordinated Secondary School Admission Arrangements for the period 2018-2020.

Nick Batchelar drew attention to the Annual Review and of the Admissions Policy.  As part of the consultation specific views and suggestions were received from local ward councillors, in particular that Admissions Criteria include the longevity of residents in an area.  Analysis also included no evidence of abuse of the system.  Unique situations may develop through the Band B proposals and the 21^st Century School Cap funding and report would be produced in early autumn.

The Chairperson invited the Committee to ask questions.

The Committee asked that since the Local Development Plan was now in place could a further examination of the catchment area be considered, as part of Recommendation 2.  Officers in response agreed that the suggestion could be part of Recommendation 2.

Members of the Committee asked if the Admissions Policy was subject to change following the consultation and if so could change be incorporated.   This was in relation to the suggested length of residency in an area as supposed to closest proximity to a school.

The Officers explained the consultation process in detail and the significant changes that could be applied, which could result in alternative outcomes.  The introduction of a “length of catchment area residence” criterion would not be recognised as best practice and was outlined in Welsh Government’s School Admissions Code.

The Schools Admissions Criteria was addressed.  It was recognised there were larger numbers of pupils coming into secondary education than before and there were less places to offer even to catchment area pupils. 

Members of the Committee continued to explore the possibility of the Criteria being based on the length of residency as supposed to proximity, as outlined in the Cabinet Report Recommendation 2.

Officers referred to Welsh Government Code.  Clear objectives had been set for the Criteria.  The suggestion of longevity as supposed to proximity was reasonable and would need to be analysed in depth.

The Committee was advised that Cardiff High School was expanding to an 8 form entry.  The Marlborough intake would support the 8 form entry and as a result of this demand additional provision had been provided and consolidated. 

AGREED – That the Chairperson writes on the Committee’s behalf to the Cabinet Member to convey their comments and observations.