Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 December 2012 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers are invited to declare any interest which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Services to People and the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in relation to the allocation of places to maintained primary and secondary schools in September 2012 and the pattern of admissions to secondary schools after the normal admissions round during 2011/12 together with the number of appeals that had been lodged and heard.

The Forum discussed the new arrangements whereby all applications are now made on-line and the impact of the increase in preferences from 3 to 6.  

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the information contained in Appendix 2, Table A and Appendix 7 be checked amended and re-circulated to members of the Forum.

(3) That future reports include an additional column to show the number of those appellants that were refused entry to their preferred school were subsequently allocated a school place.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Services to People.

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out details of the Fair Access Protocol which was in place to ensure access to education is secured quickly for children who have no school place but for whom a mainstream school is important and the arrangements in place to ensure the provision of education for permanently excluded pupils. The report provided details of the formula and principles used to guide the number of admissions to each school and the operation of the Fair Access Protocol and the number of pupils permanently excluded from school in 2011/12.

The Forum discussed the arrangements in place for post exclusion education for those permanently excluded. Members also noted that exclusion was usually due to either persistent disruptive behaviour or a single incident of such seriousness to require permanent exclusion and the potential impact of exclusion particularly on Year 10 and Year 11 pupils.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Services to People.

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the annual consultation on admission arrangements at all maintained schools in the Borough and on school terms and holiday dates at maintained primary and secondary schools in the borough for the academic year 2014/15. 

RESOLVED – That with regard to school term and holiday dates for 2014/15 the authority consult on Options 1, 2 and 3 contained in the report.

To consider a verbal report of the Corporate Director for Services to People.

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People reported that Cheadle Hulme High School (Academy) were proposing to seek a variation to the PAN. The application had yet to be formally agreed by the Governing Body and submitted to the authority, and that when it was received, Forum Members will be consulted.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Forum members be provided with details of the number of Stockport students going to 6^th Forms outside Stockport and vice versa.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Services to People.

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in relation to the pressure upon school places in Stockport and the works underway to ensure that the Council can continue to meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places.

The Forum was advised that whilst local authorities are recommended to have 8% spare capacity, that a realistic ambition was to ensure a surplus of approximately 5% spare places to allow for more parental choice.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

RESOLVED – (1) That the next meeting of the Forum be held on 26^th February 2013 at 6pm

(2) That the Corporate Director, Services to People prepare a report for the Executive Member, Lifelong learning and Achievement and Chair of the Forum reviewing the terms of reference and core membership of the group in advance of the next meeting of the Forum.

(3) That the report also give consideration to the frequency of meetings of the Forum.