Agenda item

To consider the draft Annual Report of the Leeds Admission Forum for the Academic Year 2007/08

(Report attached)

Members considered the draft Annual Report of the Leeds Admission Forum for the Academic Year 2007/08.

The report made reference to the admission policy for community and voluntary controlled schools, it explained the system in Leeds was based on sibling priority and nearest school.  An equal preference system was in operation so that parents could be as aspirational as they wish with their higher preferences, but were encouraged to include their nearest school as a safety net.  The system had worked well for a number of years. It was reported that the Aided and foundation schools, and academies in Leeds had admission policies which complied with the School Admission Code.  The report further explained that the Fair Access Protocol was operating well, with all schools admitting pupils where required, and working in partnership with each other.

The report suggested that there were no significant barriers to prevent access to the schools.

Issues addressed in the report included:

• The number and percentage of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd preferences met and factors affecting preferences.

• The number of appeals made within the area. 

• Information on the ethnic and social mix of pupils attending schools and factors that might affect this.

• How well admission arrangements serve the interests of looked after children

• How well admission arrangements serve the interests of children with SEN

• How well the local fair access protocol has worked and how many children have been admitted to each school under the protocol

• The degree to which schools and the local authority are meeting their infant class size duties

• Other information relevant to whether admission arrangements are fair and promote parental choice and fair access

The report concluded that schools were generally reflective of their local area, and that fair access was being achieved.  All of the necessary information that parents need to apply for school places was available through the local authority website.  The website was easy to use and the information had the Plain English Campaign kitemark.  The local authority works with the schools to provide better access for disabled children, and all schools appropriately admit children who had a statement of SEN naming their school.

Looked After Children were the highest priority in all admission policies, and any movement during the school year was facilitated by the Fair Access Protocol.  There was no evidence to suggest that ethnicity or social factors were providing a barrier to access.  The majority of schools had a greater proportion of children on roll with free school meals than lived in their local areas. 

A discussion ensued on the cost of school uniform/ PE kit. John Daulby, Schools Member questioned the figure quoted for his school suggesting the figure was lower in price than indicated in the report.

In responding Mrs Buckland said that not all schools had supplied the requested information and an estimated figure had been used. In respect of the figure quoted for John Smeaton Community College, the figure quoted in the submitted report was the figure supplied by the schools administration staff.

The Chair suggested that the report be circulated to all Head teachers to ensure that the data it contained was accurate and up to date.

In summing up the Chair said the document was very useful and informative but further enhancements were required:

• Ensure the schools data was accurate and up to date
• To emphasise the work undertaken by the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee and the Area Management Boards
• To aspire to achieve greater parental preference

RESOLVED

(i)  To note that the draft report was a useful and informative document but further enhancements were required

(ii)  That all schools be contacted to ensure the schools data was accurate and up to date

(iii)   To emphasise the work undertaken by the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee, the Voluntary Aided School Admission Policies Sub Committee and the Area Management Boards

(iv)  To include within the report the LEA’s aspirations to achieve greater parental preference

(v)  That Governing Bodies of schools with uniform or music fee charges more than 10% above the City average be contacted to secure a reduction in costs or ensure a suitable scheme is available for less well off parents.