To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the ensuing year.

Councillor AM Toon was nominated and seconded for the Vice-Chairmanship.

RESOLVED:   That Mrs S Catlow-Hawkins be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Local Admissions Forum for the remainder of the ensuing year.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr A Leach, Mr T Plumer and Mr T Mepham.

To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Forum.

There were no named substitutes.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 June 2009.

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 18 June 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

Mr C Barker declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No.20 being Headteacher of Fairfield High school.

Councillor AM Toon declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No. 22 being a Governor at Trinity Primary school and Whitecross High school.

Mrs J Baker, Governor at Kingstone High school declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No.20 being Governor at Kingstone High school.

To consider any issues that Forum Members may wish to raise

A Member proposed that this item be included as the last item on future Agenda.

RESOLVED:   That the Late Items / Any other business item be included as the last item on future Admissions Forum Agenda.

To consider changes to the Planned Admission Numbers at Kingsland CE Primary, Aylestone High School and Fairfield High School.

The Forum considered a report presented by the Admissions and Transport Manager regarding proposed changes in the Planned Admission Numbers at Kingsland CE school, Aylestone High school and Fairfield High school.

The Admissions and Transport Manager informed the Forum that following the views of the Forum regarding the proposed changes in PANs for each school, the PANs would be put in place in September 2010.

In answer to a Member’s question, the Admissions and Transport Manager informed the Forum that in accordance with the new Admissions Code which came into force in February 2009, providing a school was able to take pupil numbers, a place would be granted whether the child is in the catchment area of the school or not. He reminded Members that the decisions of the Forum with regard to Kingsland CE Primary School, Aylestone High school and Fairfield High School would form part of the consultation process with schools in future.

A Member asked why some proposals for increases to PAN at schools were not supported by the officers and some are supported. The Admissions and Transport Manager informed Members that the new Admissions Code dictates that when a request is received for a popular school and provided that the school can take the number, the place will be granted.

A Member expressed the view that the current Admissions Code did not help the falling admission numbers in certain schools.

A discussion took place regarding the current pupil numbers that schools were able to take before there was a need to request an increase to PAN. Members also noted that outside of this factor, schools were bound to admit pupils as a result of the appeals process. 

A Member was of the view that schools generally did not know the full implications of the new Admissions code as it affects pupil admissions.

A Member suggested that where the Forum changes a PAN that schools should be notified of such changes through Cluster groups. The Assistant Director Planning, Performance and Development advised that if it was decided that all schools should be notified of PAN changes or oversubscription , that notification should be to made ‘on line’ to all schools.

At this point Mr C Barker, Headteacher at Fairfield High school, remained in the meeting but did not vote or participate in the decision relating to the request for a change in PAN for Fairfield High school.

Mrs J Baker, Governor of Kingstone High school, remained in the meeting but did not vote relating to the request for a change in PAN for Fairfield High school. She informed the Forum of the High school’s objections to the proposed increase in the PAN of Fairfield High school. She emphasised that any decision to increase the PAN of Fairfield High school could result in pupil numbers falling at Kingstone High school as a consequence and possible teacher redundancies.

In answer to a Member’s question, the Admissions and Transport Manager informed Members that future pupil  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To consider a proposed scheme for Co-ordinated In Year Transfers.

The Admissions and Transport Manager presented a report regarding a scheme that Herefordshire can adopt to meet the government requirement for all local authorities to have a ‘Coordinated In Year Transfer’ application process in operation from September 2010. He emphasised that the process was a statutory requirement and was part of the current Admissions Code. Schools had been consulted on the proposals.

Members noted that Herefordshire currently runs a voluntary scheme where the admissions and transport teams process 70 per cent of maintained schools in year transfer requests. The new formulated scheme would mean this would rise to 100 per cent.

RESOLVED:   That the Admissions Forum agrees that the In Year Transfer application process as set out in the Appendix to the report be submitted to the Department of Children’s Schools and Families for its approval.

To consider a proposed In Year Fair Access Protocol.

The Admissions and Transport Manager presented a report regarding a protocol that Herefordshire can adopt to meet the government requirement for all local authorities to have an ‘In Year Fair Access Protocol’ in operation. He emphasised that the protocol was designed to make it easier for parents to transfer to another school.

In referring to the categories of children covered by the Fair Access Protocol, paragraph 7 in the report refers, a Member suggested that service children should be included as a category.

A Member made reference to situations where schools state that the needs of students requesting access to that school, could not be met. Also that schools could override a request from a student before a student is formally statemented.

The Admissions and Transport Manager advised that the Panel should take account of such situations.

A Member made reference to the question on the ‘In Year Fair Access’ application form which asks for details of the date and address of the church at which a child is baptised and suggested that the question should be amended to take account of the fact that not all Christians have their children baptised.

A Member expressed the view that it was vital that a Choice adviser or Parent Partnership Service representative should be represented on the Placement Panel.

RESOLVED:   That subject to the following amendments, the Admissions Forum agrees to the proposed In Year fair Access Protocol for Herefordshire being submitted to the Department of Children’s Schools and Families for its approval:

(i)                 children of service personnel and other crown services being added to categories of children covered by the Fair Access Protocol;

(ii)               the question on the ‘In Year Fair Access’ application form which asks for details of the date and address of the church at which a child is baptised be amended to take account of the fact that not all Christians have their children baptised; and

(iii)             the Placement Panel Membership be amended to include either  a Choice Advisor or Parent Partnership Service representative.