Agenda Item No. 8(c)

THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING: 26 APRIL 2017

REFERENCE FROM CABINET:  3 APRIL 2017

C3525         SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS 2018/2019 (RE) (SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – LEARNING AND CULTURE) -

Cabinet was advised of the outcome of the Council’s statutory consultation exercise on school admission arrangements for community schools in accordance with the Education (Determination of Admission Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2006.

The Council had a statutory duty to consult on school admission arrangements annually. The school admission arrangements had to be determined by 15 April, 2017 for implementation for the academic year 2018/2019.

The School Admissions Policy was issued for consultation on 16 January, 2017 to headteachers and chairs of governors of all schools in the Vale of Glamorgan, neighbouring local authorities and diocesan directors of education. The consultation period concluded on 1 March, 2017.

The Council was required to produce a draft School Admissions Policy each year for the subsequent school year's admission round detailing school admission arrangements for all maintained schools in its area. The policy was available within the Council’s Parental Guide to School Admissions which was available on the Council’s website, at local libraries and all schools in the Vale of Glamorgan.

If approved, the admission arrangements detailed in the draft School Admissions Policy would be operational for the 2018/19 academic year.

At the meeting, the Leader requested for consistency that the Schools Admissions Policy for 2018/2019 document, attached at Appendix A to the report, be published with the Council’s corporate branding.

This was a matter for Executive decision.

Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained therein

RESOLVED –

(1)       T H A T the Schools Admissions Policy for 2018/2019, attached at Appendix A to the report, be approved to ensure that the statutory requirement to determine the policy by 15 April, 2017 was met.

(2)       T H A T the use of article 14.14 of the Council's Constitution (urgent decision procedure) be authorised in respect of resolution 1 above.

Reasons for decisions

(1)       To review school admission arrangements annually and to determine the arrangements for 2018/19 following appropriate consultation by 15 April, 2017.

(2)       To meet the 15 April, 2017 deadline.