Agenda item - School Admission Arrangements 2013/14

Extract from the proceedings of the Children & Young People Cabinet Member Meeting held on the 4^th April 2012, together with a report of the Strategic Director; People (copies attached).

6.1             Councillor Shanks introduced the report and stated that following further consideration of the issue in regard to the proposals for extending the catchment area for Dorothy Stringer / Varndean Schools, she wished to recommend the changes as detailed.  She believed that the revised boundary changes supported the admission arrangements across the city and should be implemented.  She also wished to thank Councillor Wealls for bring the matter to the attention of the council.

6.2             Councillor Lepper stated that she supported the proposal and that the authority needed to press ahead and address the needs of the children in the city and their education.  There was a need to tackle the problems and fins solutions for the children and their parents and she hoped that the consultation process would be thorough and as open as possible.

6.3             Councillor Wealls thanked Councillor Shanks for taking on board the concerns that had been raised and acknowledged that the objective had to be to enable children to attend school and extra-curricular activities.  There was a clear need to consult parent s and he hoped this would be extensive and clearly understood by parents in terms of what the implications were for their children.  He hoped that parents would be contacted directly as it had shown that sending letters via he children was not sufficient.

6.4             Councillor Littman stated that as a ward councillor he supported the proposed changes which he felt were generally a good thing.

6.5             Councillor Jones stated that he was aware of the long history in regard to school admission arrangements and that he supported the changes proposed.  However the need for clear and concise consultation had become evident and he hoped that the future process would prove to be more open and transparent and reach all affected.

6.6             Councillor G. Theobald noted that ex-councillor Allen was in attendance and that they had both argued previously for the change to boundary  along Dyke Road and whilst the proposed changes went some way he hoped that further consideration could be given to this point.

6.7             Councillor Shanks noted the comments and stated that there was a need to look at how children could be supported to enable them to attend extra-curricular activities and also noted the point about boundary changes, although there was also a need to take account of the availability of places.  She then moved the recommendations as outlined in the report.

6.1             The Mayor noted that the report had been moved and put the recommendations to the vote.

6.2             RESOLVED:

(1)   That alteration to the boundary between the catchment areas for Dorothy Stringer/Varndean and Blatchington Mill/Hove Park for 2013/14 as indicated by the yellow area on the indicative plan appended to the report, the Dorothy Stringer/Varndean catchment area to include the area to the east of Dyke Road be approved; and

(2)   That commensurate with that in (1) above, the sibling link to be retained for a five year period to expire in 2018/19.