Decision details

Procedure for Admission of Pupils to Primary and Secondary Schools in September 2025

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decision:

Consideration was given to a report that outlined the admission arrangements the Local Authority (LA) was proposing, for entry into both primary (Reception) and secondary (Year 7) schools in September 2025.  To comply with legislation for admission in September 2025, the report included the co-ordinated timetable, the Published Admission Number (PAN) for all Primary and Secondary Schools for that year and the LA’s proposed Admission Policy (Oversubscription Policy) for Community maintained and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools for entry in September 2025. 

 

An attached to the report provided further detail of the proposed Co-ordinated Admission arrangements timetable – 2025/26.

 

An attachment to the report provided the proposed PANs for September 2025 in Community, VA, Academies and Free Schools and highlighted those schools to be considered for expansion and remodelling.

 

An attachment to the report provided further detail on the proposed LA’s Admission Policy for September 2025 for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools only, that would give priority to applications for admission to a school if that school is oversubscribed.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1. The proposed Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for Primary, Secondary, Voluntary Aided (VA) schools, Academies and Free School (points 5-6 and Appendix 1 of the report) be approved.

 

2. The proposed PANs for Primary and Secondary schools for September 2025 (points 7-10 and Appendix 2 of the report) be approved.

 

3. The proposed Admission Policy for September 2025 (point 11-14 and Appendix 3 of the report) be approved.

 

Reasons for the decision:

The main legislation (Chapter 1 of Part 3 of SSFA 1998) requires the LA to publish information annually and to be available for parents when they apply for a place at primary and secondary schools.  The information must comply with the new School Admissions Code 2021. The LA must, as the admission authority determine, i.e., formally agree its admission arrangements, even if it hasn’t changed from the previous year and a consultation has not been required. These arrangements therefore must be determined by 28 February 2024 for admission to Primary and Secondary schools in September 2025.

Alternative options considered:

None.

Report author: Lynda Hardy

Publication date: 15/02/2024

Date of decision: 15/02/2024

Decided at meeting: 15/02/2024 - Cabinet

Effective from: 24/02/2024

Accompanying Documents: