Issue - meetings

The Executive Director introduced  a report on admission arrangements that would be considered by the Executive on 5 August 2021, the purpose of which was to explain why the School Admission arrangements must be varied to comply with the new mandatory requirements of the new School Admissions Code (the Code) from September 2021, and to ask the Executive to vary the admission arrangements for its schools.

The Chair informed Panel members that he very much welcomed their views on this and future Executive reports that would be brought to them for consideration in the meetings ahead.

Arising from discussion the following principal points were noted:

      i.        The effective date of September 2021 for the new admission arrangements would not have any immediate impact on schools or carers as they were all used to working to an admissions code. All interested parties were aware of the requirements and had received sufficient notice;

    ii.        The Panel offered its support to the Chair, for it to be a sounding board for any further amendments that may be required to the School Admissions Code in future, noting the delegated powers that were proposed to be given to him;

   iii.        The reference in the report to children from abroad was in relation to children in state care in other countries; it was clarified this did not relate to refugees;

   iv.        A query regarding the provision of support to children who studied English as a second language would be responded to Cllr Maxwell outside of the meeting, noting it did not directly relate to the item on the agenda.

AGREED:

That the report be noted.