Agenda and minutes

Councillor R Harker

Mrs P Hill – Health Representative

Mr J Young – IGEN

Mr M Woods – Aided School

Mrs S Knights – Special School Governor

Mr I Faulkingham – Primary School Governor

Mrs L Bryan – Other Member

Mr J Fryett – Other Member

In Attendance

Mrs V Buckland – Education Leeds

Mrs D Leonard – Legal Services

Mr J Grieve – Governance Services

To receive any opening comments from the Chair

The Chair welcomed everyone to this additional meeting of the Leeds Admission Forum. The Chair apologised for the timing of the meeting, he was aware that it was the first week of term and not the best time for School Representatives to be away from school.

The meeting had been called in order that the Forum could contribute to a consultation exercise organised by the Department for Children, Schools and Families on the Revised School Admissions Code. The proposed new code includes major implications for the future of Admission Forums, it is therefore important that due consideration be given and the Forum respond appropriately. The consultation runs until 2^nd October 2008.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from: Councillor M Coulson, Councillor R Finnigan, Councillor A Shelbrooke, Mr N Pyke, Mr R Finnigan, Mrs F Beevers, Mrs S Ulyett, Mr D Shipley, Mr B Stott, Mr S Camby, Mr J Daulby, Mr P Forbes, Mrs G Ladden and Mr A Reese  

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23^rd April 2008

The minutes of the previous meeting were submitted for comment/approval.

The Chair referred to Minute No. 43 and requested if the second resolution could be amended to read that Fiona Beevers be elected Vice Chair of the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee for a one year period

RESOLVED – That with the inclusion of the suggested amendment the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23^rd April 2008 be accepted as a true and correct record

To consider any matters arising from the minutes

There were no issues raised under matters arising

To note the minutes of the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee held on 15^th April 2008

The Minutes of the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee held on 15^th April 2008 were submitted for comment/ approval

John Fryett said he had recently been appointed Project Director for the Leeds Inclusive Learning Strategy (LILS). Commenting on the minutes Mr Fryett said many of the topics included within the minutes were currently ongoing and no conclusions had been reached

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee held on 15^th April 2008 be accepted as a true and correct record

To consider a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds setting out details of a Consultation Exercise on the proposed revised School Admissions Code. Responses to the consultation process are required by 2^nd October 2008

(Report attached)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report setting out details of a DCSF Consultation Exercise on the proposed School Admissions Code. The consultation runs until 2^nd October 2008

Addressing the report Mrs Buckland, Admissions and Transport Manager, Education Leeds reported that there were proposals in the consultation which would require further changes to primary legislation relating to Admissions Forums.  The new duties being placed on the local authority would lead to some duplication of functions with the Admissions Forum role.  The local authority had a duty through the Education and Skills bill to report on the legality, fairness and effectiveness of admissions arrangements to the Schools Adjudicator. The report would cover the extent to which admission arrangements meet the needs of vulnerable children, such as children in care and children with statements of special educational needs or those with behavioural problems.  It would also include the number of admission appeals heard and upheld and how many children had been admitted under the Fair Access Protocol.

Forum Members considered the response form appended to the report, discussing in detail each of the 33 questions and providing comment/opinion  upon them

RESOLVED –

(i)  That Officers be instructed to complete the response form on the lines indicated.

(ii)  That in respect of Questions No. 20 & 21 (Fair Access) these be referred to the  Challenging and Vulnerable Children’s Sub Committee for comments

(iii)  That following the receipt of (ii) above, the Chair be authorised to sign and forward the response on behalf of the Forum

To consider any other business (If any)

There were no issues raised under any other business

To note that future meetings of the Leeds Admissions Forum will take place on:

Tuesday 7^th October 2008

Tuesday 25^th November 2008

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

RESOLVED – That future meetings be scheduled as follows:

Tuesday 7^th October 2008

Tuesday 25^th November 2008

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