Issue - meetings

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

i)    Agreed the Admission Arrangements as detailed in Appendix A of the report

ii)   Agreed the two Co-ordinated Schemes for the 2024 intakes as detailed in Appendix B and Appendix C of the report

Reasons for Recommendations: It is the duty of admission authorities to determine the admission arrangements for all their schools annually. It is the duty of local authorities to formulate and publish a co-ordinated scheme for the admission of pupils to all schools in the area.

Alternative Options Considered: All the above are statutory requirements therefore there are no alternative options available.

The Chair invited Cllr Dorothy Maxwell to speak. Cllr Maxwell made reference to the need to assist gifted children and those from less affluent backgrounds in accessing the school of their choice even if it was outside their catchment area, with particular reference to transport costs.

The Chair thanked Cllr Maxwell for her comments before inviting the Executive Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills, Cllr Scott Edwards to introduce a report that asked the Executive to discharge its statutory duty to consider and determine admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled North Northamptonshire schools for 2024 intakes and the Primary and Secondary Co-ordinated Schemes for the 2024 intakes.

Cllr Edwards, in response to Cllr Maxwell, stated that it would not be possible for the Council to pay transport fees for children applying to schools outside their catchment area, noting that there were charities that may offer bursaries for such travel.

Cllr Edwards reported that the admissions arrangements remained unaltered as those published for 2023, but the Council had a legal duty to consider and approve them. Reference was made to Appendix A of the report which detailed how the admissions process operated and provided admissions criteria for schools in North Northamptonshire. It was heard that this document should be circulated to all elected members to help assist with enquiries from the public.

Cllr Helen Howell spoke to echo the need for admissions criteria to be made widely available to provide better understanding of the admissions process.  

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

i)    Agreed the Admission Arrangements as detailed in Appendix A of the report

ii)   Agreed the two Co-ordinated Schemes for the 2024 intakes as detailed in Appendix B and Appendix C of the report

Reasons for Recommendations: It is the duty of admission authorities to determine the admission arrangements for all their schools annually. It is the duty of local authorities to formulate and publish a co-ordinated scheme for the admission of pupils to all schools in the area.

Alternative Options Considered: All the above are statutory requirements therefore there are no alternative options available.