Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 November 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

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 2015/16.

The Forum also considered the outcome of the consultation regarding the adoption of an additional oversubscription criterion to the existing community secondary school oversubscription criteria to include children of staff who have been employed at the school for a minimum of two years or are offering a shortage subject/area.

The Forum noted the decision of the Schools Adjudicator which had deemed the 2014/15 arrangements relating to transitional siblings unfair and that implementation of this decision would likely result in appeals to the Education Appeals Panel.

RESOLVED: - (1) That the Forum note that, with the exception of the item in relation to community secondary schools and the removal of the transitional sibling criteria from community primary schools, the admission authorities for all other schools in Stockport have established that the admission arrangements for 2015/16 be determined unchanged from those published for 2014/15; and

(2) That the Forum support the inclusion of a new category in the oversubscription criteria used for all maintained community secondary schools to include children of staff as

proposed at 2.3 to the report.

(3) That the authority ensure that arrangements are put in place to monitor the application of this criterion.

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 outcome of consultation on proposed school terms and holiday dates for 2015/16. The Forum was advised that whilst stakeholders had been consulted on two Options – Option A and Option B, having considered the responses, a further Option – option C -  had been developed that encompassed elements of both Option A and Option B which the Local Authority believed met the requirements expressed by all stakeholders and was recommended for approval. 

RESOLVED – That the Forum supports Option C as set out in the report for school terms and holidays for 2015/16.    

To agree a date for the next meeting of the Forum.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Forum be held on 22^nd October 2014 at 4 pm.