Agenda and minutes

Councillor R Harker

Mrs S Knights – Primary School Parent

Ms P Hill – Leeds Primary Care Trust

Mrs S Duxbury – Prospect

Mr J Daulby – Community High Schol

Mr I Garforth – Foundation Schools

Mr P Forbes – David Young Community Academy

Mr J Fryett – Fair Access Project Director

Ms A Williamson – Choice Advice Service

In Attendacne

Mrs V Buckland – Education Leeds

Mrs D Leonard – Legal Services

Mr J Grieve – Governance Services

To receive any opening remarks from the Chair

The Chair welcomed everyone in attendance to this, the February meeting of the Leeds Admission Forum.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from: Mrs F Beevers, Mrs H Lewis and Mrs L Bryan

To receive an update on the Membership of the Leeds Admission Forum: Appointments, Resignations and Outstanding Vacancies

(Report attached)

The Chair sought an update on the Membership of the Forum: appointments, resignations and outstanding vacancies.

In providing a response the Clerk to the Forum reported that two nominations had been received for the Community School (Primary) position and one for the Controlled School position.

There still remained a vacancy within the Local Community Representatives Group and this was being actively pursued.

All nominations will be forwarded onto the Director of Children’s Services (Commissioning and Partnership) who had delegated authority to approve appointments to the Forum

RESOLVED – To note that all vacancies were been actively pursued

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th November 2009

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th November 2009 be accepted as a true and correct record

To consider any matters arising from the minutes

(a)  Matters Arising (Minute No. 21 refers) – An outstanding response awaited by Forum Member Paul Forbes from the Director of Integrated Children’s Services following his enquiry about the status of a number of children that had come to his attention. Mr Forbes reported that a response had been received and a meeting had been set up.

(b)  Proposed Admission Number Changes as part of the Admission Arrangements for the September 2011 Round (Minute No. 22 refers) – The Chair sought an update and asked if the consultation process for the schools who would be physically expanding had ended?

  In responding Mrs Buckland, Head of Service, Admissions and Transport said consultation was still ongoing with deadline for comments by 12^th February 2010. A number of Governing Bodies/ Schools had responded, raising issues such as increased traffic generation and loss of pupils to neighbouring schools. All responses would be collated and incorporated within a report which would be submitted to the Executive Board in April 2010. It should be noted that this statutory consultation was separate from the annual consultation on admission arrangements for 2011. 

To consider the minutes of the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee held on 12^th January 2010

(Copy attached)

The Minutes of the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee held on 12^th January 2010 were circulated for Members consideration and approval.

Sue Knight, Chair of the Sub Committee said that due to the adverse weather conditions attendance at the meeting was low, with the meeting being inquorate.

Commenting on the minutes of the meeting Mr Daulby, referring to Minute No. 11 (Matters Arising from the Previous Meeting) said the process for appointing a Project Director for the East Area appeared to be very slow moving.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12^th January 2010 be accepted as a true and correct record

To consider a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds setting out details of the implementation of new processes for the recording of Fair Access data on the admission of children through Fair Access Panels.

(Report attached)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report setting out details of the implementation of new processes for the recording of Fair Access data on the admission of children through the Fair Access Panels.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted

To consider a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds providing an update on the responses, so far received, to the consultation on admission arrangements for September 2011.

(Report attached)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report which provided an update on the response, so far received, to the consultation on admission arrangements for September 2011.

Addressing the report Mrs Buckland said that 11 responses had been received to date, mainly positive and in agreement with the proposals.  The closing date for the consultation is 5^th February 2010.  Of the responses received one  expressed concerns about the in-year coordination scheme. In respect of the concerns raised about the migration of children from the Colton area to Primary Schools within the Garforth Trust, no responses had been received so far.

RESOLVED – That the update on the consultation process be noted.

To consider a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds providing an update on the initial preferences and the impact on demand for September 2010

(Report attached)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report providing an update on the initial preferences and the impact on demand for school places for September 2010

Addressing the report Mrs Buckland said that although there would be a general demographic decline in young people entering secondary school over the next few years there were approximately the same numbers entering in September 2010 as there were in September 2009.  Demand overall had therefore remained broadly similar. 

The birth rate had been rising for the last couple of years and there was now a small, but increasing number of primary schools who would be unable to accommodate their nearest children. The number of primary schools oversubscribed on first preferences was increasing with 79 schools to date, that said, there are still some surplus places within the primary sector. 

Main Issues

Primary Sector

There are slightly more schools this year where nearest children were unlikely to be offered places.  However, the Admission Team were still receiving a number of changes including new preferences as well as information on children who have moved out of the area and no longer require places.  At present there were 22 schools where it may be difficult to offer all the nearest children places.  The situation was being monitored to ensure that children who would be unable to access a school within a reasonable distance were identified.

There were a small number of schools who were experiencing a very high sibling year which does affect the places available for other children.  Parents who might otherwise expect to gain places at some schools may face disappointment, but in a number of cases this was a one year problem. 30 community or voluntary controlled schools had first preferences where 50% or more of their admission limit were siblings, with 33% of preferences across the City being siblings.  There continues to be around 1000 more places across the primary sector, spread throughout the City, than there are preferences.  Although parental preferences are not met in all cases, there are reasonable alternatives available.  There had been an increase of around 370 applications over the same time last year.  It was anticipated that there would be a large number of applications which arrive after the offer day, as this typically occurs, and these would be managed accordingly.  It is believed that the change in legislation to introduce a national closing date for applications would improve this position in the future if the government take the opportunity for national advertising, as they do with tax returns.

Secondary

Roundhay High School continues to be oversubscribed, although there were a number of the neighbouring schools who were experiencing a decline in preferences and there are sufficient places in the area.  Continuing to build on last year’s popularity John Smeaton was oversubscribed again on first preferences.  There is a significant increase in preferences at Allerton High although there appears to be no issue with children who have the school as their nearest, the additional demand is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

To receive the Forum’s Work Programme for the period 2010/11 and consider if further adjustments are required to the programme

(Report attached)

Members received and considered the Forum’s Work Programme for the period 2010/11

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the scheduled Work Programme for 2010/11

(ii)  To update the Work Programme to reflect the decisions made at   today’s meeting

To consider other business (If any)

Rosebank Primary School  - The Chair reported that he had received a letter from the Headteacher of Rosebank Primary School drawing his attention to the following issues raised by the school:

• The lack of consultation to expand schools
• Possible school closures
• Lack of school places at local schools
• The cancellation of school appeals

In responding Mrs Buckland said that this was the first occasion she had been made aware of the school’s concerns, had she been contacted previously she would have been able to provide a response.

The Chair said he would provide a copy of the letter to Mrs Buckland in order that a suitable response could be provided

To note that future meetings of the Forum  will be scheduled as follows:

Tuesday 22^nd June 2010

Tuesday 16^th November 2010

Meetings to be held in the Civic Hall, Leeds commencing at 4.00pm

RESOLVED – To note that future meetings of the Forum will be scheduled as follows:

April 2010 (Date to be finalised)

Tuesday 22^nd June 2010

Tuesday 16^th November 2010

Meetings to be held in the Civic Hall, Leeds commencing at 4.00pm