Issue - decisions

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Commissioner Education Place Planning and Admissions submitted a joint report seeking Cabinet’s agreement to approve for all admissions in Swindon from September 2021:

a) The co-ordinated scheme of admission arrangements for the normal point of entry for all primary schools and secondary schools.

b) The co-ordinated In Year admission arrangements for all primary schools and secondary schools.

c) The admission numbers and arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools for all admissions from September 2021.

This report also seeks Cabinet’s agreement to approve the Mainstream Home to School Transport Policy for 2021-22.

As the Councillor Mary Martin was unable to present, Councillor Russell Holland, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Education, and Skills introduced the joint report, noting that these policies were statutory requirements. Councillor Holland drew Members’ attention to the council’s high success rate in placing children at one of their most preferred schools.

Resolved - (1) That the co-ordinated scheme of admission arrangements (Appendix 1a and 1b) for the normal point of entry (Reception Year, Year 3 and Year 7) for all primary schools and secondary schools in Swindon for all admissions be approved and be implemented from September 2021 for all applicants;

(2) That the co-ordinated In Year admission arrangements (set out at Appendix 4), for all primary schools and secondary schools in Swindon for all admissions be approved and be implemented from September 2021 for all applicants;

(3) That the admission numbers and arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools (Appendix 2) for all admissions be approved and be implemented from September 2021 for all applicants and that it be noted that no opposition from Schools was received;

(4) That the Mainstream Home to School Transport Policy (Appendix 5) for all admissions be approved and be implemented for all applicants for 2021-22.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.