Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval for proposed admissions policies and admissions numbers in community and voluntary controlled schools and for co-ordinated admissions schemes in the City of York area, with regard to the school year beginning in September 2020.

Note: Annexes J-Z and Annex AA to this report have not been included in the printed agenda papers but are available to view with the published agenda on the website.

Resolved:  (i)      That the coordinated schemes and admission policies for all City of York Council schools for the 2020-2021 school year, as set out in Annexes B-I and AB-AF to the report, be approved.

                   (ii)      That the proposed published admission numbers for all City of York Council schools for the school year beginning in September 2020, as set out in Annex A, be approved.

Reason:     To meet the statutory requirements of the School Admissions Code of Practice.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval for proposed admissions policies and published admissions numbers for:

·        community and voluntary controlled schools (for which City of York Council (CYC) was the admission authority) and

·        co-ordinated admissions schemes for the City of York area, for which CYC was the co-ordinating local authority

with regard to the school year beginning in September 2020.

Consultation carried out on the proposals was detailed in paragraphs 10 to 18 of the report.  The Executive Member had the option to approve, reject or modify the proposals relating to community and voluntary controlled schools and could choose to raise a statutory objection to the admission arrangements of voluntary aided and academy schools.

The following proposed changes to published admissions numbers (PANs) were detailed in paragraphs 30 to 50:

·        Voluntary controlled schools: St Paul’s CE Primary - increase from 27 to 28.  Recommended for approval.

·        Voluntary aided / academy schools: Manor CE Academy – increase from 232 to 240 and Vale of York Academy – decrease from 190 to 150.  Both recommended not to oppose.

These changes were included in the proposed admission numbers attached at Annex A.

In response to questions from the Executive Member, officers at the meeting confirmed that admissions arrangements for voluntary aided and academy schools were broadly similar to those for the local authority’s schools.  It was considered to be in the interests of residents to align these processes as far as possible in order to maintain equality of opportunity. The Executive Member thanked officers for their comprehensive report and

Resolved:  (i)      That the coordinated schemes and admission policies for all City of York Council schools for the 2020-2021 school year, as set out in Annexes B-I and AB-AF to the report, be approved.

                   (ii)      That the proposed published admission numbers for all City of York Council schools for the school year beginning in September 2020, as set out in Annex A, be approved.

Reason:     To meet the statutory requirements of the School Admissions Code of Practice.