Consultation on Admission Arrangements for 2006-2007

CONSULTATION ON ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2006-2007

Author:David Ayres, Interim Head of Education Access 01992 555933

Executive Member:Robert Gordon

1.Purpose of the Report

To enable the Cabinet to:

(a)comment on the statutory consultation proposals

(b)consider responses received to the consultation proposals for community and voluntary-controlled schools.

(c)make recommendations to the County Council at its meting on 24th March 2005 for determination of the arrangements for 2006-2007.

1. Summary

2.1The statutory consultation for school admissions for the school year 2006-2007 was carried out in January and February 2005. It covered five areas as follows:

• Middle, Junior, Primary, First, Infant and Nursery School Admission
• Secondary/Upper School Admission
• Proposed Published Admission Numbers (PAN)
• Admission to 6th Forms
• Co-ordinated schemes for Admission for Primary and Secondary Schools

2.2Admission Rules for Middle, Junior, Primary, First, Infant and Nursery Schools

i)Amendments to the arrangements for In-Year Admissions (Casual Admissions) to strengthen the position of Looked After Children

ii)Modified arrangements for In-Year Admissions (Casual Admissions) for primary schools subject to review and re-organisation.

It is recommended that these proposals should be adopted.

2.3Admission Rules for Secondary/Upper schools

Amendments to the arrangements for In-Year Admissions (Casual Admissions) to strengthen the position of Looked After Children.

There is also a proposal that Rule 4 should apply to Tring School.

It is recommended that these proposals should be adopted.

2.4Schedule of Published Admission Numbers (PAN)

Changes to PANs as a result of re-calculation of capacity, building adaptations, etc. middle, junior, primary, first, infant and nursery school admission.

It is recommended that the proposed PANs are adopted.

2.5Admission Rules for 6th Forms

Changes in detailed rules relating to admission levels, minimum qualification requirements and tie-breaks.

It is recommended that the proposed arrangements, some of which have been amended in the light of feedback from consultation, be adopted.

2.6Co-ordinated Schemes of Admission for Primary and Secondary Schools

A technical change necessitated by the Regulations whereby middle schools are considered under the primary rather than the secondary scheme as at present.

It is recommended that the Primary and Secondary co-ordinated schemes be adopted, subject to minor changes in wording as a result of feedback from consultation, and subject to further work to agree timetable dates with neighbouring authorities.

2.7A Summary and Analysis of Responses Received from Schools and Other Consultees is attached in the form a report to the Scrutiny Committee on 16th March 2005. Similar information was provided for the Hertfordshire Admissions Forum on 24th February 2005.

1. Conclusions

3.1It is recommended that the proposed changes that were put out to consultation be adopted subject to changes of detail or changes of a minor nature made in the light of feedback from consultation.

3.2The Cabinet is asked to consider these and make appropriate recommendations to the County Council on 24th March 2005 so that it can determine the admission rules for community schools and arrangements for a co-ordinated scheme for 2006/07 in accordance with the regulations.

3.3The proposed rules for community and voluntary controlled middle, junior, primary, first, infant and nursery schools are attached as Appendix 1.

3.4The proposed rules for community and voluntary controlled secondary and upper schools are attached as Appendix 2.

3.5The proposed Published Admission Numbers for each school are attached as
Appendix 3.

3.6The proposed arrangements for admission to community and voluntary controlled Sixth Forms are attached as Appendix 4.

3.7The proposed arrangements for the co-ordinated schemes for admission arrangements are attached as Appendix 5.

1. Background

The full set of proposals relating to the admission arrangements for 2006-2007 are set out at Appendices 1-5. These take into account:-

the responses to consultation (summarised in the report to Scrutiny Committee on 16th March 2005 – Appendix 6)

comments made by the Admissions Forum on 24 February

Scrutiny Committee met on 16th March 2005. A verbal update on any comments made by the committee will be made at the meeting.

1. Responses to the Consultation

Over 800 copies of the consultation document were distributed for comment. 24 responses were received by the close of consultation (3% return rate). An analysis of the responses received is attached in the report to Scrutiny Committee (Appendix 6 to this report). On the face of it the level of response is disappointing. However, it should be noted that no major changes to the admission arrangements had been proposed and that those changes which were put forward were largely of a minor and/or technical nature.

1. Recommendations

3.1Middle, Junior, Primary, First, Infant and Nursery School Admission
2006-2007 (Appendix 1)

Recommendation 1
To agree the proposal to amend the arrangements for In-Year Admissions (Casual admissions) to strengthen the position of Looked After Children.

Places will be allocated on the basis of the Rules (oversubscription criteria) which apply for the main round of admissions. The highest priority therefore will be afforded to children with Statements of Special Educational Needs naming the school and children in public care.

Recommendation 2
To agree the proposal to modify the arrangements for In-Year Admissions (Casual admissions) to Primary Schools subject to review and re-organisation.

In some areas of the County, primary school provision within a locality has to be looked at with a view to re-organisation and rationalisation of places. Under these circumstances there is a need for the management of a planned and orderly transfer of pupils to any new schools. We anticipate that in future, a local framework will be drawn up and that the arrangements will need to be operated in place of the normal continuing interest processes

3.2Secondary/Upper School Admission (Appendix 2)

Recommendation 1
To agree amendments to the arrangements for In-Year Admissions (Casual Admissions) to strengthen the position of Looked After Children.

Places will be allocated on the basis of the Rules (oversubscription criteria) which will apply for the main round of admissions. The highest priority therefore will be afforded to children with Statements of Special Educational Needs naming the school and children in public care.

In addition, two requests were received as part of the consultation feedback for change.

The first relates to Tring School which has asked to have Rule 4 applied to its admissions from September 2006 (Priority for Children of Staff permanently employed at the school to reduce recruitment and or retention difficulties).

Recommendation 2
To agree to the inclusion of a criterion relating to priority for children of staff permanently employed at Tring School.

The second request was to do with the inclusion of Edworth (which is in Bedfordshire) into the area served by neighbouring Hertfordshire school (Ashwell) and, into the priority area served by Knights Templar School.

Recommendation 3
To continue with the existing arrangements and therefore not to agree to the request for the inclusion of Edworth into Hertfordshire priority areas.

• Proposed Published Admission Numbers (PAN) (Appendix 3)

A schedule of PANs, amended in the light of feedback from the consultation, is attached at Appendix 3. Where the level of the PAN is still under discussion with school, or where it is likely because of review and re-organisation of schools there could be change, the PAN in the schedule is marked accordingly.

Recommendation 4
To put forward the proposed PANs for Hertfordshire Community and Voluntary-Controlled schools as set out in the schedule for adoption by the County Council for 2006-2007.

3.3Admission to 6th Forms (Appendix 4)

The Code of Practice requires that the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) should relate to student who will be newly admitted to the roll of the school for the first time at Year 12. It is also necessary to set out the minimum entry requirements for the 6th Form and for tie-break arrangements in the event of oversubscription.

The attached schedule (Appendix 4) sets out a summary of the proposed arrangements. In the light of feedback from consultation, some amendments have been made to the PAN and to the admission criteria of particular schools.

Recommendation 1
To endorse the revised and updated 6th Form arrangements to take effect from September 2006.

3.4Co-ordinated schemes for Admission for Primary and Secondary Schools (Appendix 5)

The primary and secondary co-ordinated schemes of admissions were introduced for the first time under the new arrangements for September 2004. A technical change has been necessitated by the regulations where by middle schools are considered under the primary rather than the secondary scheme.

In addition, there continue to be practical issues to be resolved relating to timescales for cut-off dates and dates for exchange of information between neighbouring LEAs.

Recommendation 1
To approve the co-ordinated schemes of admissions for primary and secondary schools for 2006-2007 with the proviso that timescales for cut-off dates and dates for the exchange of information between neighbouring LEAs will be subjec to further discussion at officer level and in consultation with the Executive Member.

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APPENDIX 1

Hertfordshire County Council

CHILDREN SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

MIDDLE, JUNIOR, PRIMARY, FIRST, INFANT, NURSERY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Admission rules for community and voluntary-controlled middle, junior, primary, first, infant and nursery schools for the school year 2006-2007

There are no changes proposed to the Admission Rules for 2006-2007 other than to the wording of Rule 4 which we are obliged change by the Code of Practice

Text in italics clarifies how the rule is applied.

March 2005

The rules proposed for community and voluntary-controlled primary, junior, infant and nursery schools are as follows:

(1)Children who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs which names the school.

(2)Children for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a particular medical or social need to go to the school, and those who are in public care.

A panel of officers will determine whether the evidence provided is sufficiently compelling to meet the requirements for this rule.

(3)In the case of junior schools, children who attend the linked infant school at the time of their application.

(4)Children who have a brother or sister on the roll of the school or linked school from reception through to Year 5 in infant, junior and all-through primary schools; and from reception through to Year 3 in first schools; and from year 4 to year 8 in middle schools at the time of application.

A sibling means the sister, brother, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, or child of the parent or partner, and in every case living in the same house from Monday to Friday.

The change to the wording of Rule 4 is a necessary consequence of following the Code of Practice and including middle school transfer into the Primary Scheme.

(5)Children for whom the school is their nearest community or voluntary-controlled school.

These will be measured using ‘the shortest designated route’ which is:

• a public route with a proper made-up surface, such as tarmac or concrete;
• a road which does not need to have a separate pavement; or
• a cycleway adopted by Hertfordshire County Council.

The route can be lit or unlit.

(6)Children who live nearest to the school.

We apply these rules in the order that they are printed above. If more children qualify under a particular rule than there are places available, we use a tiebreak by applying the next rule to those children.

An application has not been made until both the main Hertfordshire application form has been filled in and should a voluntary-aided or foundation school require it, that school’s supplementary form.

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APPENDIX 2

Hertfordshire County Council

CHILDREN SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

UPPER AND SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Admission rules for community and voluntary-controlled co-educational and single sex schools for the school year 2006-2007 (except Tring).

Admissions rules for Tring voluntary-controlled co-educational school for the school year 2006-2007.

There are two changes proposed

i)The use of ‘nearest’ rather than ‘closest’ in criteria 7 and 8.

ii)The addition of Rule 4 (children of staff permanently employed at the school where the Local Authority has determined, having regard to the wishes of the Governing Body, that this is necessary to reduce recruitment and/or retention difficulties) for Tring School.

Text in italics clarifies how the rule is applied.

March 2005

The rules proposed for community and voluntary-controlled co-educational schools (except Tring) are as follows:

1. Children who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs which names the school.
2. Children for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a particular medical or social reason for attending the school, and those who are in public care.

A panel of officers will determine whether the evidence provided is sufficiently compelling to meet the requirements for this rule.

1. Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of application.

A sibling means the sister, brother, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, or child of the parent or partner, and in every case living in the same house from Monday to Friday.

1. Children of staff permanently employed at the school where the Local Authority has determined, having regard to the wishes of the Governing Body, that this is necessary to reduce recruitment and/or retention difficulties.

“Children” means children by blood or by marriage, or the child of a partner, and in every case living in the same house from Monday to Friday.

1. Children who live in the priority area for the school and who demonstrate an aptitude in the area of the school’s specialism (with those demonstrating the greatest aptitude being given priority). This rules applies to 10% of places in those schools determined by the LEA having regard to the wishes of their Governing Bodies. This rule will not be applied to any community or voluntary-controlled school this year.
2. Children who live in the priority area and for whom it is their nearest Hertfordshire maintained non-faith co-educational school. Where more children qualify under this rule than there are places available, places will be allocated to those who live nearest to the school.

These will be measured using ‘the shortest designated route’ which is:

• a public route with a proper made-up surface, such as tarmac or concrete;
• a road which does not need to have a separate pavement; or
• a cycleway adopted by Hertfordshire County Council.

The route can be lit or unlit.

1. Children who live in the priority area who live nearest to the school.
2. Children who live outside the priority area and for whom it is their nearest Hertfordshire maintained non-faith co-educational school. Where more children qualify under this rule than there are places available, places will be allocated to those who live nearest the school.
3. Children living outside the priority area who live nearest to the school.

We apply these rules in the order they are printed above. If more children qualify under a particular rule than there are places available, we use a tiebreak by applying the next rule to those children.

Priority Areas

The co-educational priority areas in the admission rules are based on the following towns and parishes (parish boundaries are as of 1st April 2003). These apply to Rules 5 to 7.

Hitchin (for The Priory)

Hexton, Hitchin, Holwell, Ickleford, Langley, Lilley, Offley, Pirton, Preston, St. Ippolyts, Wymondley.

Letchworth Garden City (for Highfield, Fernhill)

Letchworth Garden City

Baldock and surrounding villages (for Knights Templar School)

Ashwell, Baldock, Bygrave, Caldecote, Clothall, Hinxworth, Newnham, Radwell, Rushden, Sandon, Wallington, Weston.

Buntingford, Puckeridge and Royston (for Edwinstree, Freeman College, Greneway, Meridian, Ralph Sadleir and Roysia Schools)

Anstey, Ardley, Aspenden, Barkway, Barley, Braughing, Brent Pelham, Buckland, Buntingford, Cottered, Great Munden, Hormead, Kelshall, Meesden, Nuthampstead, Reed, Royston, Standon, Therfield, Westmill, Wyddial.

Stevenage (for Barclay, Barnwell, Collenswood, Heathcote, Marriotts, Nobel and Thomas Alleyne Schools)

Aston, Benington, Datchworth, Graveley, Knebworth, Stevenage, Walkern.

Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Berkhamsted, Tring, Garston, Watford, Chorleywood and Rickmansworth (for Adeyfield, Astley Cooper, Bridgewater, Cavendish, Francis Combe, Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Longdean and Westfield Schools).

Abbots Langley, Aldbury, Berkhamsted, Bovingdon, Chipperfield, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Flaunden, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Little Gaddesden, Maple Cross, Nash Mills, Nettleden with Potten End, Northchurch, Northwood, Pinner, Rickmansworth, Sarratt, Tring, Tring Rural, Watford, Watford Rural, Wigginton.

Harpenden and St. Albans (for Beaumont, Roundwood Park, Sandringham, and Sir John Lawes Schools)

Ayot St. Lawrence, Colney Heath, Flamstead, Harpenden, Harpenden Rural, Kimpton, King’s Walden, London Colney, Markyate, Redbourn, Ridge, Sandridge, St. Michael,
St. Pauls Walden, St. Stephens, St. Albans, Shenley, Wheathampstead.

Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Potters Bar and Brookmans Park (for Monks Walk, Onslow St. Audreys, Sir Fredric Obsborn and Stanborough Schools)

Ayot St. Peter, Codicote, Essenden, Hatfield, North Mymms, Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn, Woolmer Green.

Ware and Hertford (for Chauncy, Sele and Simon Balle Schools)

Bayford, Bengeo Rural, Bramfield, Brickendon Liberty, Great Amwell, Hertford, Hertford Heath, Hertingfordbury, Hunsdon, Little Berkhamsted, Little Munden, Sacombe, Stanstead St. Margarets, Stapleford, Tewin, Thundridge, Ware, Wareside, Watton-at-Stone, Widford.

Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth (for Birchwood High School)

Albury, Birchanger, Bishop’s Stortford, Eastwick, Elsenham, Furneux Pelham, Gilston, Great Hallingbury, High Wych, Little Hadham, Little Hallingbury, Much Hadham, Sawbridgeworth, Sheering, Stocking Pelham, Thorley.

Borehamwood and Bushey (for Hertwood School)

Aldenham, Bushey, Elstree and Borehamwood.

Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Turnford and Cheshunt (for Broxbourne, Sheredes and Turnford Schools)

Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Nazeing, Northaw & Cuffley, Stanstead Abbots, Waltham Cross.