Vale of Glamorgan Council
Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
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Agenda Item No 6

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee: 17th July 2018

 

Report of the Director of Learning and Skills

 

Schools Admission Forum Representation

 

Purpose of the Report

  1. To seek nomination of a Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee Member to the Schools Admission Forum.

Recommendation

  1. That the Scrutiny Committee nominates a Member to sit on the Schools Admission Forum.

Reason for the Recommendation

  1. The membership of the Schools Admission Forum includes a Member of the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee as well as the Cabinet Member for Learning and Culture.

Background

  1. All Councils are required to have a Schools Admission Forum in accordance with Section 85A of the School Standards & Framework Act 1998 as amended by section 46 the Education Act 2002 and the Education (Admissions Forum) (Wales) Regulations 2003.
  2. Schools Admission Fora have a key role in ensuring a fair admission system and must act in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2013. The role of the forum is set out in the Code and is outlined below:
  • Consider how well existing and proposed admission arrangements serve the interests of children and parents within the area of the Local Authority.
  • Promote agreement on admission issues.
  • Consider the comprehensiveness and accessibility of the admissions literature and information produced for parents by each admission authority within the area of the Forum.
  • Consider the effectiveness of any proposed co-ordinated admission arrangements.
  • Consider the means by which admissions processes might be improved and how actual admissions relate to the admission numbers published.
  • Monitor the admission of children who arrive in the Local Authority's area outside a normal admission round with a view to promoting arrangements for the fair distribution of such children among local schools, taking account of any preference expressed in accordance with arrangements made under section 86(1) of the 1998 Act and in accordance with this Code.
  • Promote effective admission arrangements for children with Special Education Needs, Looked After Children and children who have been excluded from school.
  • Consider any other admissions issues that arise.

Relevant Issues and Options

  1. The current membership of the Schools Admissions Forum is shown below:

 

MEMBERS NOMINATED BY

REPRESENTATIVE

Local Authority - any Member or officer of the Authority

Cllr Bob Penrose (Chair)
 

One Scrutiny Member tbc
 

Lisa Lewis (Vice Chair)
 

Mike Matthews
 

Jane Werrett

Church in Wales Diocesan representatives

Andrew Ricketts

Roman Catholic Diocesan representatives

Anne Robertson

Schools  - community and voluntary controlled

Sian Lewis
 

Menna Roberts
 

Fiona Greville

Schools - foundation

tbc

Schools - voluntary aided

Ceri Thomas

Parent governor representatives

Clare Kynaston

Representatives of the local community

Norman Craggs
  1. Note - other Local Authority officers attend the Forum in an advisory capacity.
  2. Headteachers are elected to the Forum by their cluster groups.  Governors are elected by the Vale School Governors Association. 
  3. The Schools Admission Forum must have a minimum of 10 members in order to ensure that the membership of the Forum is not too limited and the interests of schools are properly represented.  The Forum must have a maximum of 26 members as required by the School Admission Code 2013 and membership is restricted to the categories listed above. The Forum should be kept to a manageable size in order to facilitate constructive discussions.
  4. Members are able to nominate a substitute to attend meetings of the Schools Admissions Forum in their absence.
  5. Core members and School members of the Forum are appointed for a period not exceeding four years.
  6. The meeting date for the remainder of the 2018/19 financial year are as follows: (venue to be confirmed)
  • 16th November 2018, 2pm.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

  1. There are no resource implications arising directly from this report.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

  1. There are no sustainability and climate change implications arising directly from this report.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

  1. All Councils are required to have a Schools Admission Forum in accordance with Section 85A of the School Standards & Framework Act 1998 as amended by section 46 the Education Act 2002 and the Education (Admissions Forum) (Wales) Regulations 2003.

Crime and Disorder Implications

  1. There are no crime and disorder implications arising directly from this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

  1. There are no equal opportunities implications arising directly from this report.

Corporate/Service Objectives

  1. This report is consistent with the Council's priorities for an aspirational and culturally vibrant Vale.

Policy Framework and Budget

  1. The recommendations of this report are within existing policy framework and budget.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

  1. Ward Member Consultation is not appropriate.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

  1. Learning and Culture.

Background Papers

None.

Contact Officer

Lisa Lewis, Operational Manager, Strategy & Resources

Officers Consulted

Trevor Baker, Head of Strategy, Community Learning and Resources

Responsible Officer:

Paula Ham, Director of Learning and Skills