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Introduction
This is a consultation on the proposed admissions arrangements for community and voluntary-controlled schools and the co-ordinated schemes for primary and secondary admissions for the school year 2009/10. The consultation period runs from 7 January to 15 February 2008.
During the autumn term there was the opportunity to pre-consult with various key stakeholders, including the Hertfordshire Association of Secondary School Headteachers (HASSH), the Hertfordshire Primary Headteachers’ Forum, the Admission Forum and the Hertfordshire Governors’ Forum.
This document contains:
Section / Contents / Page1 / A summary of the key areas for consultation in the arrangements for 2009/10 / 3
2 / Timetable for consulting on admissions arrangements / 7
3 / Admission rules for community and voluntary-controlled first, infant, primary, junior and middle schools for the school year 2009/10 / 8
4 / Admission rules for community and voluntary-controlled
co-educational and single sex upper and secondary schools for the school year 2009/10 (except Tring) / 9
5 / Admissions rules for Tring voluntary-controlled co-educational school for the school year 2009/10 / 14
6 / Explanatory notes for the admission arrangements for community and voluntary-controlled school in Hertfordshire for 2009/10 / 15
7 / Sixth form admission arrangements for community and voluntary-controlled schools for 2009/10 / 17
8 / Published admission numbers (PAN) 2009/10 for community and voluntary-controlled schools / 21
9 /
Co-ordinated Schemes of Admission for community and voluntary-controlled Primary, Junior, Middle, Secondary and Upper Schools for 2009/10
/ 30Response form (attached as a separate document)
You can let us know your views by:
§ Completing the online form on our website at www.hertsdirect.org/csfconsultations - replying online is quick, easy and secure.
§ Completing and returning the response form at the back of this document.
Please ensure that your response is received by 15 February 2008.
Section 1: A summary of the key areas for consultation in the arrangements for 2009/10
1.1 Proposed admission rules for 2009/10
The proposed admission rules for 2009/10 that will be used to allocate places at over subscribed schools are included from page 8. These proposed rules are the same as those the County Council adopted for 2008/09, with two exceptions.
1. Sibling Rule:
The secondary sibling rule uses wording determined by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) when considering the County Council’s 2008/9 rules.
The primary sibling rule also follows the OSA ruling, but explains in detail for parents what is meant by being in the final year of each type of school.
2. Distance Measurement
The method for measuring home to school distances is to be improved for 2009/10 admissions. At present the measurement is from the nearest point to the child’s home on the ‘designated route’. In future, to avoid the possibility of any anomalies, the measurement would be from the actual home.
1.2 Schemes of co-ordination for primary and secondary schools for 2009/10
The schemes of co-ordination simplify the admission process for parents, and set out how the arrangements of Hertfordshire’s 130 admission authorities work in practice. Any necessary changes are proposed year on year in the light of experience.
The suggested changes for 2009/10 reflect the requirements of the Looked After Children Regulations, recognise links with the Fair Access Protocols, and take account of the high level of online applications. There are also some minor drafting improvements for the sake of clarity.
The schemes are included in pages 30 – 58.
1.3 Continuing Interest (CI) process
Proposal (i): To only allow parents to go on the CI list for unsatisfied higher ranked
preferences (schools that are ranked higher on their original
application than the school they were offered).
Background
Currently families are able to re-express their preferences for different schools after the initial allocations. Priority on the CI list is based on the admission rules.
The argument for this arrangement is that the position changes between application and allocation. At the time of application parents will not know how heavily over subscribed each school will be. After allocation, the position will be much clearer and parents can make a more informed choice about where places may arise through CI; and should have an opportunity to re-express their preferences.
The contrary view is this is unfair because those who did not rank the school originally, should not gain a place ahead of a family who ranked the school from the beginning, regardless of how well they met the rules. Plus:
· families can currently appeal for their original preference and for each CI preference; and
· there is a delay in releasing places which become available, because, having accepted CI places, families can hold two allocations for up to ten working days.
This proposal therefore prevents queue jumping and recognises that a parent who always listed a school has a stronger claim for a place than a parent who changed his/her mind after the allocation day. Parents would still need to apply to go on CI lists for any unsatisfied higher ranked preference(s).
This may change the pattern of applications. Parents may make more realistic preferences at the outset if they do not have the option of being able to go on the CI list for ‘fall-back’ schools later on.
It would still be necessary for families who move into the area or move house after the application deadline to go onto the CI list for schools they did not originally rank.
Proposal (ii): To reallocate the original school place once the parent has been
offered a place on CI.
Background
Currently, if a place becomes available through CI, that place is reoffered to the parent and the parent is given ten working days to confirm they wish to accept that offer. Only then is the original offer de-allocated and offered to the next applicant on the CI list at the next run of CI. This creates a time delay which is unnecessary with a parent holding two school places for a period of time.
1.4 Secondary in year admissions
Proposal: Adopt a dual approach to secondary in year admissions. Those students who already attend a local school and want a transfer, would be admitted termly, or half-termly. Those who move into the area, would be admitted throughout the term as at present, or would be subject to the school’s arrangements for student integration. In any difficult cases, admission should ‘prejudice’ the school rather than the child.
Background
The Hertfordshire Association of Secondary School Headteachers (HASSH) asked for a review of the current system, to improve the arrangements for the admission and integration of pupils who may already attend a local school and want a transfer, or who move into the area.
At present before a transfer is agreed, parents and the current school are asked for further information about the student and the reasons for the request. Parents can be encouraged to remain with the current school. Depending on individual circumstances, students may be dealt with by the Admissions and Transport Team or, if they are ‘Hard to Place’, by the Integration Team under the locally agreed fair access protocol.
It is usually disruptive for schools to admit a stream of new pupils throughout the term, particularly undersubscribed schools, and the Authority should seek to manage the in year admissions process to minimise disruption to schools. Equally, the transition for students needs to be smooth and this is best supported by effective and timely integration.
The Admissions Code makes clear that although children without a school place must be found one quickly, legislation allows admission authorities to defer entry to the start of the following term (if, for example, there is no need for an immediate transfer or the transfer request does not involve a house move). So a system which differentiates between those needing a school place quickly and other in year applicants can be beneficial to schools and students and is permissible.
1.5 Nursery admission rules and published admission numbers
Proposal: To end the current Hertfordshire County Council process and provide
guidance for schools to support a local application process similar to that
currently operated by private and voluntary preschool playgroups and day
nurseries.
The published admission numbers for nursery schools would then form part of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment under section 11 of the Childcare Act 2006.
Note: Attendance at a nursery school does not guarantee a place at the reception class of the school. In some cases, not all the children in the nursery class will be able to attend the reception class of the school, children who have not attended the nursery may better meet the reception admission rules than those who have attended the nursery.
Background
Currently Hertfordshire County Council co-ordinates nursery admissions and allocates places to maintained nursery schools and classes according to the published admission rules.
The traditional distinction between early years education and childcare is being removed by initiatives like the entitlement to 15 hours free flexible provision, changes to funding arrangements, and greater curriculum coherence.
Nursery school headteachers and officers are concerned that the current admission arrangements do not support these initiatives. For example a baby using day care services in a school that is a Children’s Centre may not meet the rules for that nursery school. It would not be possible to adapt central co-ordination to meet the emerging early years agenda, for example the flexible entitlement.
This consultation seeks feedback on the proposal explained above.
Running in parallel with this statutory admissions consultation is the Consultation on Early Years Admissions Arrangements for 2009/10.
The Consultation on Early Years Admissions Arrangements for 2009/10 covers two proposals. First, as described above, to change the current Hertfordshire County Council process for applying for a place in a maintained sector nursery class/school using the ‘Starting Nursery’ booklet process; and to provide guidance for schools to support a local application process. Secondly, to replace the current Early Years Plan with new guidance that will include the quality indicators that schools should meet in order to move to one start date (September) for nursery classes/schools and reception classes.
For more information on the Consultation on Early Years Admissions Arrangements for 2009/10, please access via www.hertsdirect.org/csfconsultations. This gives details about both proposals and asks for feedback about the detail of both proposals.
1.6 Proposed Published Admission Numbers for 2009/10 for community and voluntary-controlled Schools.
The proposed published admission numbers (PANs) for community and voluntary-controlled schools for 2009/10 are attached on page 21.
These proposed PANs are based on the Indicated Admission Numbers (IANs) derived from the ‘net capacity’, ie the number that can be accommodated according to the DCSF formula; unless there is a very robust reason for proposing a PAN that is below the IAN.
If following consultation, the County Council determines PANs that are below the IANs, statutory notices must be published. The community and voluntary-controlled schools where the proposed PAN is below the IAN are listed in the tables below with an explanation for the difference.
1.7 Sixth form admission arrangements for community and voluntary
controlled schools for 2009/10
The proposed sixth form admission arrangements are attached at Section 7. These include the proposed published admission numbers for those being admitted to the school for the first time.
Section 2: Timetable for consulting on Admissions Arrangements
DATE / KEY EVENT / COMMENT17 December 2007 / Cabinet / Authorised consultation.
7 January 2008 / Start of Consultation Period
· Admission Rules
· Published Admission Numbers
· Schemes of
Co-ordination
· Sixth Form Arrangements / Communications to statutory consultees along with representatives of the Church of England, Catholic and Jewish communities. Consultation document available on website. Circulation of proposed admission arrangements for Foundation and VA schools, on their behalf.
15 February 2008 / End of HCC Consultation (for community and voluntary-controlled schools) / Analysis of feedback on the LA’s proposals undertaken.
21 February 2008 / Hertfordshire Admission Forum / Opportunity to examine proposals put forward by all admission authorities (LA and governing bodies of foundation and voluntary-aided schools) and to receive feedback from consultation.
1 March 2008 / Final date for completion of consultation by all admitting authorities (as required by regulation).
14 March 2008 / Education Panel / Opportunity to comment on proposed admission arrangements.
17 March 2008 / Cabinet / To make recommendations in the light of consultative feedback on admission arrangements for 2009/10 for community and voluntary-controlled schools.
8 April 2008 / County Council / To determine the admission arrangements for 2009/10 for community and voluntary-controlled schools.
By 22 April 2008 / LA to publish notices in local newspapers where PANs lower than indicated by net capacity / Individual admission authorities to publish such a notice if PAN lower than indicated by net capacity.
Section 3: Admission rules for community and voluntary-controlled
first, infant, primary, junior and middle schools for the school year
2009/10
The rules for community and voluntary-controlled First, Infant, Primary, Junior and Middle schools are as follows:
Section 324 of the Education Act 1996 requires the governing bodies of all maintained schools to admit a child with a statement of special educational needs that names their school.
Rule 1 Children in public care (Looked after children).
Rule 2 Medical or Social: Children for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a particular medical or social need to go to the school.
A panel of officers will determine whether the evidence provided is sufficiently compelling to meet the requirements for this rule. The evidence must relate specifically to the school applied for under Rule 2 and must clearly demonstrate why it is the only school that can meet the child’s needs.
Rule 3 Linked School: In the case of junior schools, children who attend the linked infant school at the time of their application.
This rule only applies to pupils who are currently attending an infant school which has a linked junior school.