Agenda item

7.1

Request to prioritise on Waiting List – Secondary Schools

7.1.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, submitted reports and commented upon three cases where parents had expressed a wish for their children to be admitted to secondary schools of their choice.  The Executive Director stated that places in secondary schools had been identified by the City Council, in accordance with the published admission criteria, and it had been agreed that the Executive Director would provisionally allocate places at those schools where there were available places, up to the standard number/admission limit.  The Committee was requested to consider prioritising the pupils on waiting lists, within their respective categories, for admission if and when places become available.

7.1.2

The Committee gave consideration to all the supporting information and evidence provided by the pupils’ parents including, in some cases, evidence and advice provided by voluntary or professional bodies and organisations and, arising therefrom, it was:-

7.1.3

RESOLVED: That (a) one pupil be not prioritised on the waiting list within their respective category, on the grounds that there are no exceptional educational, financial, medical or family circumstances demonstrated (Case No.3); and

(b) two pupils be prioritised at the top of the waiting list in the ‘non-catchment’ category on the grounds that there are exceptional family and medical circumstances, respectively (Case Nos.1 and 2).

(NOTE:  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 26 of the Council’s Constitution and the provisions of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the Chair decided that Case Nos.1, 2 and 3) be considered as matters of urgency in order for the requests to be considered at the earliest possible opportunity although it had not been possible to give five clear days’ notice that the requests were to be considered).

7.2

Request to prioritise on Waiting List – Primary Schools

7.2.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, submitted reports and commented upon 34 cases where parents had expressed a wish for their children to be admitted to primary schools of their choice.  The Executive Director stated that places in primary schools had been identified by the City Council, in accordance with the published admission criteria, and it had been agreed that the Executive Director would provisionally allocate places at those schools where there were available places, up to the standard number/admission limit.  The Committee was requested to consider prioritising the pupils on waiting lists, within their respective categories, for admission if and when places become available.

7.2.2

The Committee gave consideration to all the supporting information and evidence provided by the pupils’ parents including, in some cases, evidence and advice provided by voluntary or professional bodies and organisations and, arising therefrom, it was:-

7.2.3

RESOLVED: That (a) 21 pupils be not prioritised on the waiting lists within their respective categories, on the grounds that there are no exceptional educational, financial, medical or family circumstances demonstrated (Case Nos.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34);

(b) four pupils be prioritised at the top of the waiting list in the ‘sibling’ category on the grounds that there are exceptional medical circumstances (Case Nos.1, 9, 15 and 21); and

(c) nine pupils be prioritised at the top of the waiting list in the ‘non-catchment’ category on the grounds that there are exceptional medical circumstances (Case Nos. 2, 3, 12, 14, 19, 20, 22, 28 and 29).