Issue - items at meetings - School Admissions Arrangements - Outcomes and Issues 2008/09

Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached).

That the outcomes of the school admission arrangements for 2008/9 are noted.

48.1       The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the School Admissions Arrangements, which set out the outcomes of the school admission arrangements for those starting school in September 2008, and the operation of the key policies for those applying outside the main admission round (for copy see minute book).

48.2       The Head of School Admissions and Transport highlighted the significant reductions registered in terms of the directed allocations made for secondary school admissions 2008/09; he explained that after an initial figure of 83 applicants directed to a school they had not given as a preference, by September only 38 applicants had not been allocated a place at any of their preferred schools. This was in contrast to 150 applicants in the same situation in the 2007/08 admissions.

48.3       The Head of School Admissions and Transport also highlighted that, due to demand in central Hove, one additional class had been agreed at Davidgor Infant school and another at West Blatchington Infant School to accommodate local children. He also reported on the outcomes of the school admission appeals, where, in secondary schools, successful appeals were reduced to 38 for 2008/09 admissions round compared to 63 successful appeals last year.

48.4       Cllr Hawkes praised the work of the officers involved in this process. She hoped that next year it would be possible to even further the number of directions undertaken. She requested that officers continued to use what had proved to be successful strategies and monitored the projections of pupil numbers for the future, particularly where the Hove area was concerned. 

48.5       The Director of Children’s Services indicated that, through the use of GP registration data, officers were aware that the school age population was increasing in Hove. She explained that, in view of this, officers were looking at ways to enhance the provision for schools in this area, which could entail the creation of a new primary school or enlarging existing schools.

48.6       RESOLVED - That the outcomes of the school admission arrangements for 2008/9 be noted.