Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds which provides an update on the September 2010 Admission Round

(Report attached)

Members considered a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds which provided an update on the September 2010 Admission Round

In providing some background information on the report Mrs Buckland, Head of Service, Admissions and Transport, Education Leeds said that Education Leeds was responsible for allocating children to primary, infant, junior and secondary schools and defending admission appeals for community and voluntary controlled schools. The company was also responsible for

co-ordinating admissions between the voluntary-aided and foundation schools, the neighbouring Local Authorities and the Academies.

Mrs Buckland suggested that over recent years there had been an increase in the birth rate, both nationally, and locally although the number of children entering secondary school was still falling. Previously Education Leeds  allocated all children that were believed to live in the City a school place even if they had not applied, after all applications had been dealt with. It was reported that this was no longer possible and there were 140 fewer secondary places allocated, and 60 additional primary places allocated. However as September term approached many parents who had not previously applied had now done so, and a further 480 primary places had been allocated since 1 March.  Mrs Buckland suggested that it was becoming  increasingly difficult to place these children within a reasonable distance. 

Mr Buckland said that as the numbers of children entering secondary school continued to fall in line with the demographics of the City, the authority had  been able to offer all children a place in their nearest school, if they had requested one.  It was anticipated a further two years of low numbers entering secondary school was expected before the increases in births begin to pass into the secondary sector.

Mrs Buckland reported that 44% of applications were now received using the on-line service.This was almost double the number who used the service in 2009

It was reported that there have been over 100 more secondary appeals this year although primary appeals had remained steady.  The number of in year appeals has fallen by 60 and was likely to be due to the number of cases now handled through Fair Access, who are more successfully offered places.  The percentage that were successful fell last year by 30% and had fallen by a further 8%.

In conclusion Mrs Buckland said there had been an increase in the number of applications for admission that have been received in the last year for primary and a small reduction in secondary. The birth rate was rising both locally and nationally and around 250 more primary allocations were made this year.  Despite this increase the percentage of successful first preferences had also increased indicating that the programme of expansions that took place was of the appropriate size and location.  The number of secondary block appeals had sharply increased this year predominantly concentrated in three schools.

The number of in year appeals had fallen slightly accompanied by a further fall in the success rate. This indicates that the independent panels do not consider the cases being put forward by parents were strong enough to warrant offering places in schools that are already full. A change in the Appeals Code had meant that fewer schools send representatives to assist Education Leeds presenting officers in defending the appeals, however, the preparatory work undertaken on the written statements had proved effective.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted