Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria Adam Wells – Head of Pupil Services

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria 2 Why considering changes?  Acute pressure on primary school places  Many existing schools expanded and four new academies or free schools opened or opening.  Must ensure the ongoing availability of places  Equity of opportunity to access those places for local families  Looking at changes to sibling priority criterion

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria 3 Proposed Change  Currently siblings granted priority regardless of current address.  Number of options considered.  Council proposing that sibling priority restricted to those children living within 800 metres of the school.  Balance between maintaining a family link for families with children at school and ensuring as far as possible that there are places available for families at their local school.

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria Proposed Change (Cont’d) 4  800 metres is the average threshold distance for oversubscribed community and foundation schools and academies over last two years.  Retains a link for families who have remained within the proximity of the school whilst still freeing up some places for local families.  Those living over 800 metres would still be considered for a place under other oversubscription criteria.

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria 2014 Admissions Round 5  3224 resident applicants plus 342 out of borough applicants for Wandsworth schools.  10,701 preferences.  1,136 offered place on sibling priority  712 at community schools, foundation schools, free schools or academies.  174 lived over 800 metres.  Represent 6% of places offered as a preference.  88 would have been offered a place in any case.

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria Who would be disadvantaged? 6  Reduced likelihood of being offered a place for: - families who have moved away; - could include those repossessed, evicted or needing to move to a larger property; - some families who have not moved but the catchment area has reduced or the first child was admitted as an in year admission.

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria Schools Affected? 7  Consulting on a possible change for community schools only at the moment.  If the Council decides to proceed with changes then may recommend to academies, foundation schools, free schools and VA schools to make similar changes.  Decision for these schools rests with governing body or academy trust.  Not proposed to make changes for community schools with priority areas.

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria Consultation details 8  Consulting with headteachers, governors, parents of children at Wandsworth schools and early years providers, local residents, the diocesan authorities and other local stakeholders.  Initial non-statutory consultation seeking views on whether felt change is needed, the proposed change and any other comments/suggestions consultees may have.  Consultation will launch in next few days.  Online Response.  Closes Friday 24 th October.

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria What next? 9  The Council will consider all the responses to the consultation.  If it decided to make changes to the current admissions policy, there will be a further statutory consultation on the specific proposed changes from early December.  The Council would then decide formally in February.  The earliest the changes could be introduced would be for September 2016 entry.

Consultation on possible changes to Community School Admission Criteria Further information 10 Online consultation – URL to be confirmed Adam Wells Tel: Pupil Services Tel: QUESTIONS?