A report providing the Committee with an update on School Admissions for 2020.

The Director of Education, Brighter Futures for Children, submitted a report providing the Committee with an update on School Admissions for 2020.

The report explained that on 26 June 2020 the DfE had issued a consultation on a revised version of the School Admissions Code which had run for 16 weeks until 16 October 2020.  The Code imposed mandatory requirements and included guidelines that set out aims, objectives and other matters in relation to the discharge of functions relating to admissions.  Ministers were not proposing a wholescale review of the admission system and had said the it was clear from feedback that the main round of admissions largely worked well but, that there were problems with the in-year admissions processes and Fair Access Protocols.  The proposed changes therefore sought to clarify these responsibilities and introduce a more robust process for their management. 

The report stated that the number of applications for places at the Borough’s primary schools had increased in the current year and slightly fewer parents (83.44%) had been allocated their first choice for their children compared to previous years.  The current year also saw a new Primary School, Green Park Village Academy, opening in Green Park.  The report included a table that detailed the number of applications for the previous three years and stated that 96.24% of children had been offered on of their four preferences.

With regard to Secondary Schools, 2020 saw 72.67% of children had been allocated their first preference, which was higher than the previous two years, and overall, 92.13% of children had been offered one of their four preference.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That the 2022/23 School Admissions policies and coordinated schemes be considered in February 2021.