'School Place Planning and School Admissions in Bristol'
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Scrutiny Councillor workshop – Information Pack Bristol City Council Overview and Scrutiny – Councillor Workshop ‘School Place Planning and School Admissions in Bristol’ Date: Monday 19th December Venue: The Writing Room, City Hall Time: 1 – 4pm Information pack Thank you for accepting the invitation to participate in the Councillor Workshop. The Workshop has been arranged to provide Councillors with an in depth understanding of school admissions in Bristol. A variety of documents have been collated to assist you in preparation for the session. You are recommended to familiarise yourself with this before the workshop as time will be limited on the day. What information has been provided and why? In order to understand the challenges facing Bristol, Councillors need to understand how and why decisions are made in relation to School Place Planning and School Admissions. A substantial amount of background information has been provided (either as an attachment or a web link has been provided) and there will also be an opportunity to ask questions at the Workshop. Title What information does this provide? 1. The Integrated Education and The document outlines a number of strategic aims and Capital Strategy (2015 – 2019) objectives to improve the number of places, the distribution of facilities and the condition and suitability of the estate. 2. A guide for parents and carers The booklet provides information to assist parents and carers applying for primary schools make decisions and to guide them to sources of further for the school year 2017-2018 information. 3. Education outside schools – Web link – click here to view What is alternative learning provision 4. Guide for parents and carers The booklet provides information to assist parents and carers on applying for a secondary make decisions and to guide them to sources of further school place for the school information. year 2017–2018 Scrutiny Councillor workshop – Information Pack 5 School Admissions Code Statutory guidance for admission authorities, governing bodies, local authorities, schools adjudicators and admission appeals panels 6 Admission Arrangements A summary of objections and the outcomes Objections to Schools Adjudicator 7 School Admissions Process A flow diagram showing an overview of the application process 8 Secondary School Applications A summary of 1st, 2nd & 3rd preferences by Initial Applications, Offers, Places and Refusals 9 Schools Data Data, maps and graphs showing School level data, Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) Map, Free School meals data, School type and Ofsted rating, Children in Care Data, Ethnicity Data, Education, Health & Care Plan data and Special Educational Need data, GCSE results, school mix etc 10 Late application Maps showing the number of late applications by Ward, Local Super Output Area (LSOA) 11 School admission team Staff structure chart 12 Trading with School Information about the Trading with Schools unit which brings Information services across the council into one trading unit, to better support the changing needs and requirements of schools and educational settings. 13 School Appeals Information on the appeal process, recruitment of panel members, number of appeals lodged and a copy of the appeals code which provides statutory guidance for school leaders, governing bodies and local authorities 14 Information for Parents and An overview of outreach events and presentations provided Carers to Parents and Carers which provide information and reminders about application deadline dates Web links Home to School Transport Click here to view Information BCC press release re: pupils are Click here to view eligible for extra school-funding Admission Arrangements Objections to Schools Adjudicator School Referrer Decision Summary Date Bristol Cathedral Choir School Member of 05/03/2014 Partially upheld the public Objection was that chorister places were actually music specialism and so the school were allocating more than 10 on specialism, that there was indirect discrimination on socio-economic grounds and the persons overseeing the random allocation were not independent. The Adjudicator did not agree with any of these. On looking at the arrangements as a whole they did find areas that they felt were not compliant. These included that the school had not updated wording to remove any suggestion that they could refuse SEN placements, that they were asking for a full birth certificate to prove sibling link, testing dates were after the application date and the sixth form PAN was unclear. The school agreed to change all of the aspects and did so at the earliest opportunity. Cathedral Primary School Member of 05/03/2014 Partially upheld the public Objection submitted in conjunction with above BCCS objection and claimed there was indirect discrimination on socio-economic grounds and the persons overseeing the random allocation were not independent. The Adjudicator did not agree with these points. On looking at the arrangements as a whole they did find areas that they felt were not compliant. These included that the school did not have appropriate wording to remove any suggestion that they could refuse SEN placements, that they were asking for a full birth certificate to prove sibling link and that more clarity was need for “children of staff”. The school agreed to change all of the aspects and did so at the earliest opportunity. Bristol Cathedral Choir School Fair 13/02/2015 Partially upheld Admissions Objection was around children who are admitted as members of the choir. The Campaign objector felt that this meant parents were given preference on the basis of practical support for the school, some children will not be able to pass the audition (and is therefore measuring ability not aptitude). Adjudicator did not agree with any of the above. There were however some areas where the arrangements were not sufficiently clear. They are complex as they give priority to choristers, have music specialism places, a catchment area and do testing to carry out banding and random allocation within the bands. The school accepted they could do more to clarify things and have made the changes suggested. Colston’s Girls’ School Member of 01/09/2015 Partially upheld the public Objection related to not consulting fully and to the Public Sector Equality Duty. The claim was that the school were indirectly discriminating by not prioritising children with pupil premium, that the requirement for school uniform, eating in the canteen and attendance on school trips was a barrier to low income families. Also that banding arrangements were unfair and that the persons overseeing random allocation was not independent. The adjudicator did feel that the school may have not complied fully with requirements to publish arrangements once determined. They did not agree that the school was discriminating against low income families on pupil premium. The matters on uniform fell outside their remit. There were other areas, not referred to in the objection, where the adjudicator did require changes. These all related to the sixth form. The school have amended their arrangements. Merchants’ Academy Member of 25/11/2015 Arrangements did not conform the public Objection related to arrangements not being published correctly. In fact they had not determined their arrangements properly and this meant the OSA couldn’t investigate. The school did then determine. When looking at the arrangements as a whole the adjudicator felt there were aspects which were not sufficiently clear to meet the requirements of the School Admissions Code. Some of this was around banding arrangements which the school has never had to use and has since removed. Other matters (incorrect wording for SEN, inclusion of a tie-break, how to request a place out of year group, Y12 PAN unclear) have been amended to comply. North Bristol Post-16 Centre Parent of 12/05/2015 Upheld (Cotham and Redland Green potential The objection was from a parent and was really an admission appeal but once Schools) student brought to the attention of the OSA they had to investigate and found that the arrangements had not been properly determined. Once they were determined there were some aspects that the adjudicator felt were still unclear. Issues were – no tie-break and prohibited items on the application form. The arrangements have been amended to comply with the judgement. St Bernadette Secondary Fair 25/11/2014 Partially upheld Admissions Objection related to related to arrangements not being published correctly and Campaign lack of clarity about faith commitment, feeder primary schools and no tie-break. The adjudicator also considered the arrangements as a whole and found some aspects that did not comply with the SA Code. The lack of publication was the result of a mis-understanding by the diocese. The arrangements have been amended to comply with the judgement. St Mary Redcliffe & Temple Fair 13/02/2015 Partially upheld Secondary Admissions Objection related to the clarity of the arrangements, that religious selection Campaign causes socio-economic selection. The adjudicator did think there were issues of clarity but did not uphold the claim of indirect discrimination. In order to comply with the SA Code the school was required to change wording around completion of a supplementary form, admission of SEN and LAC and the need to have a tie-break. Changes were also required to the sixth form arrangements. The arrangements have been amended to comply with the judgement. St Patricks Primary Clifton 25/11/2015 Upheld