Agenda item

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People addressed the Panel, a summary is set out below.

Working with other Local Authorities on Sector Led Improvement:

I have been representing the South West regional Lead Members network in meetings to discuss regional Sector Led Improvement work for Children’s Services, working with DfE, LGA and Chief Executives and alongside Mike Bowden who is the lead Director for this work in the South West. We will be able to report further on this in the near future once a regional improvement plan has been finalised.

He said that he had also met with the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) and discussed mixed economy and provision.

Longvernal Primary School:

He said he had given approval and authorisation to proceed with a capital project to remodel existing accommodation at Longvernal Primary School in Midsomer Norton.

Schools Forum:

He informed the Panel that vacancies existed on the Forum for LEA school representatives.

Way Forward Action Plan:

Following the proposals I previously shared with the Panel about the way Children and education should develop this has been converted into a positive officer plan by working with the Director. Copies are available for members if they would like to see them. It provides a structure for future development in a rapidly changing education environment and is achievable despite the known financial pressures. This is about doing things better and I will provide updates to the Panel on progress through these briefings.

School Places:

The service has faced a significant challenge this year to ensure that every Bath pupil could be offered a place in a Bath secondary school on National Offer Day. Whilst there are sufficient places in Bath schools to meet the local need, the high standard of local schools (all of which are rated by Ofsted as either Good or Outstanding) means that they are also popular with families from neighbouring areas. We brought in a new 5 preference system this year to help to ensure that Bath parents received priority in Bath schools and explained that they should use all 5 preferences. This means that parents from outside the area who did name Bath schools have been offered places in Bath and take priority over parents who didn’t name those schools. The team has been working with the schools to take additional pupils and has succeeded in ensuring that all Bath children will be accommodated in Bath schools. Our first choice success percentage is still above the national average.

Councillor Peter Turner asked if he was aware of the Children’s University project.

Councillor May replied that he was not.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities said that he was aware of the project and that it had been initiated by Weston All Saints Primary School.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked how parents can be made more aware of the need to make the most of their five school preferences.

Councillor May replied that advice regarding the number of preferences had been well publicised, but that a high number of parents had not used them wisely. He said that 114 children had initially not been allocated a school in Bath and that a substantial amount of work had taken place to source further places.

He added that if a child has been allocated a school more than three miles from their home then Home to School Transport rules will apply.

He wished to state that a number of children have been allocated St Mark’s School and that it must be recognised that it has been rated as Good by Ofsted.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked how many children exactly had been allocated St Mark’s School.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities said that he would need to reply in writing with that information. He added that over the course of the next few months shifts in numbers will occur as parents may choose to take up places at Independent Schools.

Councillor Michelle O’Doherty commented that in terms of future secondary schools for her son she has two in mind that will be best for him, so what is the rationale for using all five preferences.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that six secondary schools within B&NES are rated as either Good or Outstanding. He added that if only two preferences are made and the application is unsuccessful on both counts there is a risk that the child will then be allocated a school further away from home in, still in Bath or outside the city in either Radstock or Keynsham. He said that further promotion to parents regarding the use of preferences will take place.

The Chair asked if there was wording on the application form.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that it was, that press releases had been issued and there was supporting information on the Council’s website. He added that liaison work could be scheduled with Primary Schools to raise awareness.

Councillor Lisa O’Brien asked how the applications are processed.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that it is a national process that is followed and this commences once the deadline for applications is reached on October 31^st each year.

He explained that each school has its own admissions criteria that they will follow, but that most will allocate in this order;

·  Children in Care (Priority)

·  Siblings of current pupils

·  Straight line distance from home to school

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if children from B&NES received priority over those from neighbouring authorities.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied they do not receive a priority as allocation is based on distance from the preferred school.

Councillor Paul May commented that the timing of the message to parents regarding the admissions process was key.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities commented that in terms of home to school transport provision for pupils in receipt of free school meals or those with SEND this would be paid for by the Council and therefore there would be budget implications.

Councillor Paul May stated that he wished to acknowledge that St. Mark’s School has been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted and that the performance of the Headteacher and staff should be commended.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for his update.