Spalding Primary School
Learning Together, Succeeding Together
LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL – SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Consultation on the proposed changes to the 2021-2022 School Admissions policies for maintained schools in Lincolnshire.
This consultation covers Controlled (C) and Voluntary controlled schools in Lincolnshire (VC) except Gainsborough Queen Elizabeth's High School who have the formally delegated function to deal with admissions matters. This consultation covers the policies for Primary/Infant and Junior Schools and for Spalding High School Years 7-11. The consultation is open to anyone to view and comment, but it may be of particular interest to parents and carers of children between 2 and 18, schools (including academies), voluntary-controlled schools, aided schools, community special schools, pre-school providers, dioceses, neighbouring LAs and a range of professional agencies.
Period of consultation 22nd November 2019 – 20th January 2020
All schools must have admission arrangements that clearly set out how children will be admitted, including information about what happens if there are more applications than places available (oversubscription criteria). The criteria must be reasonable, clear, objective, procedurally fair and comply with all relevant legislation, including equalities legislation. The Local Authority as the admissions authority for Controlled and Voluntary Controlled schools makes decisions on the admissions policies for these schools.
The Proposed Changes requiring consultation and the rationale for these changes
We are proposing a reduction to the admission numbers of the following schools.
Rationale: This is to allow the schools to organise themselves more effectively and comply with the Infant Class Size Regulations (2012) which limits infant classes to 30 students per teacher responsible for the class.
We are also proposing a change to the way that applications are processed for children of UK armed forces personnel and returning crown servants. Under the current policy, a unit postal address or armed forces quartering address is accepted in advance of a move if the family have a posting to the area. The proposed policy clarifies what is meant by posting 'to the area' and allows greater flexibility for the living arrangements of these families in when assessing their address against a schools oversubscription criteria to consider for private addresses.
Rationale: These changes are proposed in recognition that those families not residing in forces accommodation could be impacted by frequent school moves which is unlikely to be resolved by allocating a place close to the unit address. These proposals are also in line with LCC's preference to educate children in their local schools and communities and our commitment to the armed forces covenant.
How can you respond to the consultation?
We welcome and invite you to send your comments regarding the proposed arrangements by:-
What Happens next?
After the consultation period has closed Lincolnshire County Council will give consideration to the responses received and then determine the final admission arrangements by 28th February 2020. Following determination, the arrangements will be published Local Authority's website.
Consultation Information:
The full admissions policies for 2021 – 2022 and 2020 – 2021 can be found at: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/local-democracy/your-comments-and-feedback/school-admissions-consultations/
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at: admissionspolicy@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Emily Nicholls
School Admissions Manager