Agenda item

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement)

This report present findings and subsequent recommendations after a recent public consultation concerning Admission Arrangements for academic year 2016/17.

The Admissions Code of Practice 2012 requires Local Authorities/Admission Authorities to publically consult when it intends to make significant changes to its Admission Arrangements.  For academic year 2016/17 the Local Authority (LA) has proposed boundary changes to three catchment areas within the Heaton’s locality as well as an interim oversubscription criteria designed to mitigate disadvantage caused by these catchment changes.

The Local Authority’s rationale for such a change shall be detailed in this report along with findings from public consultation and subsequent recommendations

The Executive is requested to consider the report, consultation items and results of the admissions consultation to agree the following:

·         Consultation item 1 – The Local Authority supports the revised proposal (illustrated in Appendix 13) to change the catchment area for Norris Bank Primary School, St Thomas’ CE Primary School and Tithe Barn Primary School.

·         Consultation item 2 – The Local Authority supports the introduction of interim criteria for an initial 3 year period from 2016/17, to be reviewed each year prior to determination.

Officer contact:  Phil Beswick; 0161 474 3832; phil.beswick@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the outcome of a recent public consultation on the Admissions Arrangements for the academic year 2016/17. It had been proposed that the catchment boundaries be amended for three schools in the Heatons locality and interim oversubscription criteria be introduced for these schools to mitigate disadvantaged caused to families by these changes. The report set out the policy background to the consultation and set out the rational for the changes proposed.

The Executive Councillor highlighted the need to amend catchment areas in line with determinations from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator and efforts by the Council to work with schools in the area to expand capacity. The Executive Councillor also expressed her sympathy with those families who would be disadvantaged by the proposals but emphasised that the Council had to make changes to the catchment areas.

The Executive Councillor further clarified that in respect of references to the 2012 Schools Admissions Code of Practice, these were reflected in the latest version of the Code published in December 2014.

Executive councillors expressed sympathy with those parents who may be disadvantaged by the proposed changes, but acknowledged that the proposals being made were necessary and unavoidable.

RESOLVED – That the results of the recent admissions consultation be noted and that the following responses to the consultation items be approved:-

·         the Local Authority supports the revised proposal (illustrated in Appendix 13 of the report) to change the catchment area for Norris Bank Primary School, St Thomas’ CE Primary School and Tithe Barn Primary School;

·         the Local Authority supports the introduction of interim criteria for an initial 3 year period from 2016/17, to be reviewed each year prior to determination.