Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 27 November 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 27 November 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 joint report of the Corporate Director for People and the Democratic Services Manager.

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) reviewing the terms of reference, core membership of the group and frequency of meetings. Changes in the School Admissions Code which came into force on 1 February 2012 remove the duty on Local authorities to establish an Admissions Forum for their area.

The Forum considered a proposed membership of the Forum and agreed to broaden the membership with the aim of securing representatives who would be willing to take an active role representing their sector in the Forum’s meetings. The Forum also agreed that twice yearly meetings in Spring and Autumn terms with the facility to hold additional meetings if necessary was appropriate to manage the anticipated business.

RESOLVED – (1) That the future membership, appointment and tenure of members of the Forum as detailed at paragraph 4.1 in the report be agreed, in particular, the membership to comprise:

(2) That the role and responsibilities of the Forum as detailed at paragraph 4.2 in the report be agreed;

(3) That the frequency of meetings as detailed in paragraph 4.3.5 in the report be agreed;

(4) That the quorum for meetings of the Forum be a quarter of the members of the Forum but no less than two;

(5) That the Senior Adviser School Support make arrangements to fill the vacancies within the core membership of the Forum to give effect to these decisions.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the outcomes of the annual consultation on admission arrangements and Published Admission Numbers to be determined in 2014/15 and school terms and holiday dates for 2014/15.

RESOLVED – (1) That with the exception of the item contained in the consultation document in relation to Cheadle Hulme High School (Academy) the 2014/15 admission arrangements for all other maintained schools in Stockport be determined unchanged from those determined for 2013/14;

(2) That the proposal by the Governing Body of Cheadle Hulme High School (Academy) to include a new category in the 11 – 16 oversubscription criteria for 2014/15 as proposed at paragraph 2.3 of the report be supported;

(3) That the proposal by the Governing Body of Cheadle Hulme High School (Academy) for the determination of their admission arrangements for entry into Sixth Form for 2014/15 as proposed at paragraph 2.4 of the report be supported;

(4) That the proposal by the Governing Body of Hazel Grove High School (Academy) for the determination of their admission arrangements for entry into Sixth Form for 2014/15 as proposed at paragraph 2.5 of the report be supported;

(5) That the Forum support Option 2 for school terms and holidays for 2014/15;

(6) That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Forum on the pattern of school terms and holidays across AGMA.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update on work underway to ensure that the Council can continue to meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) upon the current position regarding the allocation of places to maintained primary and secondary schools in September 2013.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted; and

(2) That a more detailed report be submitted to the next meeting of the Forum providing statistical information regarding the reception and Year 7 intakes to schools.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Forum be held at 10.00 am on 13^th November 2013 in the Conference Room, Services to People, 3rd Floor, Stopford House.