Decision details

The Cabinet Member with the Children and Young People Portfolio introduced the report of the Director of Children and Adults Services (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the Local Authority’s (LA’s) admission arrangements for the 2021/2022 academic year for maintained schools in the Borough.

The submitted report stated that in line with the School Admissions Code, an Admission Authority was required to annually determine the admission arrangements used to allocate places for schools for which it was the Admission Authority; once approved, there was a statutory duty on the Local Authority to forward a Co-ordinated Admission Scheme for both primary and secondary schools for the 2021/22 academic year; and stated that the Secretary of State must be informed of its adoption by 28 February 2020.

Particular reference was made to the reduction in the intake at Whinfield Primary School from 90 to 60 children, which had been requested by the school.

RESOLVED - (a)  That Darlington LA’s admissions arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools, as appended at Appendix A to the submitted report, be agreed.

(b)  That the Co-ordinated Admission Schemes for applications for the 2021/22 academic year, as detailed at Appendix B to the submitted report, be adopted.

REASONS - (a)  The Local Authority is under a statutory duty to determine admission arrangements for the primary schools for which it is the admission authority for the academic year 2021/2022.

(b)  If the co-ordinated scheme is not adopted and returned to the DfE by the 28 February 2020 the Secretary of State may impose a scheme on the LA.