Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provides an indication of the initial preferences and the impact on demand for September  2011

(Report attached)

Members considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provides an indication of the initial preferences and the impact on demand for September 2011

In providing background information, Mrs V Buckland reported that entry into secondary school in September 2011 and September 2012 was expected to be the smallest cohorts of children in the City.  There were about 300 fewer children applying this year for year 7 places.  The government introduced a national closing date for applications for both primary and secondary applications. Whilst the national offer day for secondary remains 1^st March, the closing date for applications for primary is not until 15^th January, putting the offer date to 20^th April this year. There was no national primary offer day but it was likely to be mid April each year.

Main Issues

Secondary

Education Leeds had been able to offer 86% of parents their first preference school, an increase of 2% from last year.  Of the 779 parents who had not been given their first preference, over a quarter of them were asking for Roundhay.  Despite being advised that they were not likely to be offered a place, parents continued to ask for the school.  In these cases parents are very strongly advised to be realistic with at least one of their preferences.  The other most oversubscribed schools were Abbey Grange, Allerton High and Pudsey Grangefield. 

All children who expressed a preference for their nearest school were able to be offered one.  Many traditionally popular schools were not full this year due to the small cohort entering year 7. Approximately 100 children did not express any preference despite advising their primary schools and follow up work by the Choice Adviser. A further 200 parents who did express a preference were not able to be allocated any of them.  None of these families asked for their nearest school as one of their preferences.  There were a total of 7624 places allocated.

Primary

At this stage only preliminary overview can be provided. Approximately 8200 preferences were received, which is similar than this time last year.  However the closing date last year had been October and a great deal of chasing up had taken place by February.  This year due to the later closing date, the  chasing up the remaining preferences is only just beginning . 

At present a similar number of schools were oversubscribed to that as last year.  There were a number of schools where it would be expected to see more preferences, the Admission Team would shortly be contacting all nurseries with children known to be on their roll who had not yet expressed a preference.

In conclusion Mrs Buckland said secondary demand had fallen and there were no areas of the city where nearest children were unable to gain a place.  Birth rates were rising for Reception and due to legislative changes the offer day would not be until 20th April so detailed information was not yet available.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)   That a further report providing a update be brought to the next     Forum meeting.