Agenda and minutes

Councillor R Harker

Mrs S Knights – Primary School Parent

Mr I Garforth – Foundation Schools

Mr P Forbes – David Young Community Academy

Mr R Hamilton – Black Governors Information Network

Mrs F Beevers – York, Bradford, Ripon and Leeds CE Diocese

To receive any opening remarks from the Chair

The Chair welcomed everyone in attendance to this additional meeting of the Leeds Admission Forum

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from: Mrs L Bryan, Ms P Hill, Mrs S Duxbury, Mrs B Sice, Mr J Daulby, Mr M Woods, Mr J Fryett, Ms A Williamson, Mrs H Lewis and Mr T Waring

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

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

In responding the Secretary to the Forum reported that two nominations had been received for the Community School (Primary) position and one for the Controlled School position. Appointment was subject to approval by the Director of Children’s Services who had delegated authority to approve appointments to the Forum.

There still remained a vacancy within the Local Community Representative Group and it was reported that this was been actively pursued.

It was reported that the Prospect Representative; Mrs Shelia Duxbury had resigned as a Member of the Forum, Mrs Duxbury had suggested Mr Terry Walsh, Operations Director for Prospects in Leeds as a replacement Member

In passing comment Mr Forbes said that he was aware that “Prospect” was a major contractor to the Council and to his knowledge not a Community Organisation.

In responding the Chair suggested that further clarification was required to establish if the Local Community category was properly represented

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note that all vacancies were been actively pursued

(ii)  That the Secretary to the Forum be authorised to make all necessary enquiries to establish if the Local Community category was properly represented

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2^nd February 2010

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2^nd February 2010 be accepted as a true and correct record

To consider any matters arising from the minutes

Initial Preference Summary for September 2010 (Minute No.35 refers) – The Chair sought an update on this issue.

Mrs Buckland, Head of Service, Admissions and Transport reported that for the Secondary Schools all nearest preferences had been allocated. Some parents had not preferenced their nearest school and as a consequence had not obtained a school of their choice. In terms of number of appeals received it was reported that there was a slight decline in numbers compared to the previous year.

Primary Schools – It was reported that there were twelve schools where not all the nearest preferences had been allocated. In a small number of cases  the school had agreed to accommodate additional pupils. In most areas the level of demand was as predicted

To consider a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds of Education Leeds summarising the outcome of the consultation exercise with respect to the proposed changes to primary age education provision in the Horsforth area from September 2011

(Report attached)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report summarising the outcome of the consultation exercise in respect of the proposed changes to primary age education in the Horsforth area from September 2011.

Addressing the report Mrs Buckland said the initial proposal was:

(i)  To change the age ranges and admission limits of Horsforth Newlaithes Junior School and Horsforth Featherbank Infant School, to establish both as all age primary schools from September 2011, to provide 30 extra reception class places (210 in total), and

(ii)    To increase the size of West End Primary to provide 15 extra    reception places per year (105 places in total)

Mrs Buckland advised that as an outcome of the consultation the proposal to Newlaithes and Featherbank was to proceed, however the proposal for changes at West End Primary had been withdrawn at this time. It was considered that the  other changes would provide sufficient places in the first instance and that the situation would continue to be monitored

Members sought clarification about costs implications

Mrs Buckland said that costings were contained within section 5 of the submitted report but that they were also being addressed in a separate report to the Executive Board

The Chair questioned if the proposal would offer improved local choice for parents?

In responding Mrs Buckland confirmed the proposal would provide improved choice for parents and also rationalise transport arrangements

RESOLVED – It was the view of the Forum that the recommendations as set out in Section 3 of the Executive Summary be supported subject to appropriate funding being made available

To consider a report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds which details  the outcome of the consultation exercise to expand primary provision at a number of Leeds Schools for September 2011

(Report attached)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report summarising the outcome of the consultation exercise to expand primary provision at a number of Leeds Schools for September 2011

Addressing the report Mrs Buckland said that the original proposal was to expand 6 schools: Windmill Primary, Clapgate Primary, Rycroft Primary, Blackgates Primary, Calverley CE Primary and Cross Gates Primary. As a consequence of the consultation process it was being proposed to withdraw the expansion of Crossgates Primary and Calverley CE Primary

Mr Hamilton asked why Crossgates Primary and Calverley CE Primary were being withdrawn?

In responding Mrs Buckland said the proposals were not being supported by local people who were concerned that expansion of the schools would attract pupils from outside the area.

In terms of the proposals for Windmill Primary and Clapgate Primary, Mrs Buckland said that a new housing development on Sharpe Lane would create additional demand for places in the area. Funding of the two schools would be provided by a Section 106 Agreement negotiated as part of the planning consent

The Chair questioned if the proposal would offer improved local choice for parents?

In responding Mrs Buckland said that there had been some problems for parents accessing their first preference, there was also many in year transfers which had the effect of reducing choice for local families. The proposed expansions would improve local choice.

RESOLVED – It was the view of the Forum that the recommendations as set out in Section 5 of the Executive Summary be supported subject to appropriate funding being made available

To consider a report by the Chief Executive of Education Leeds setting out details of the outcome of the city wide consultation exercise on the future provision of government funded, girls only, secondary education in Leeds

(Report attach)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report setting out details of the outcome of the city wide consultation exercise on the future provision of government funded, girls only, secondary education in Leeds.

Addressing the report Ms Dee Reid, Head of Communications, Education Leeds said that extensive consultation had been undertaken following a  request from the Executive Board. The consultation  ran from 7^th January to 5^th March 2010 with over 10 public meetings being held.

As part of the consultation the following issues emerged:

• A significant number of respondents focused on the future of Parklands Girls High School which was subject of a separate report to the Executive Board
• The overall level of responses city-wide was low with no significant demand from across the city for girls-only provision emerging as a result of the consultation
• The quality of education was more important than single sex provision even when considering the faith perspective, although a choice was preferred
• There were suggestions that in the future, consideration could be given to providing a central location for any single sex provision which might make it more accessible to other families living near or in the city centre
• There were concerns about the transition arrangements available to those families who had already specifically chosen girls-only education and these were the subject of a separate report
• A number of respondents commented on the low attendance at the public meetings and perceived this as a link to insufficient  promotion of the consultation to particular communities in Leeds

In the debate that followed Members suggested that the response received was not sufficiently extensive to justify closure, in particular the  representation from Asian Women could have been greater. Concern was also expressed that once a decision was taken to cease girls-only provision at Parklands, alternative provision at a more centralised location may not  be forthcoming.

In responding Councillor Harker suggested that anyone wishing for girls-only provision did not make their voices heard

On a point of clarification Ms Reid said the proposal was to cease girls-only provision at Parklands but not to rule out possible future girls-only provision in the city

RESOLVED – It was

(i)  the view of the Forum that the  recommendation at 4.1(iii) of the Executive Summary was too imprecise for the Forum to support the recommendation at 4.1(ii) and a clear link between the two recommendations should be established

(ii)  noted that Councillor Harker would review the wording of the recommendation at 4.1(i) of the Executive Summary, which in the view of the Forum, would be better worded to read “note the outcome of the consultation”

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)

City of Leeds Schools – Mrs Knights sought clarification about the City of Leeds School suggesting that it’s proposed closure would have a significant effect on neighbouring schools.

In responding Councillor Harker confirmed the school was failing in terms of National Challenge, a report would be presented to the Executive Board with a decision on it’s future anticipated around July 2010.

The Chair thanked Councillor Harker for clarifying the position

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 the held in the Civic Hall, Leeds commencing at 4.00pm

RESOLVED – 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