1. To seek agreement to adhere to a change in the Department for Education statutory guidance around admissions appeals and introduce charges to all schools (Voluntary Aided, Foundation, Voluntary Controlled and Community Schools) to hear their school admission appeals (Option 5).
2. To note that a consistent level of charging would be applied to academy schools who are already charged for this service.
3. Subject to the above, to implement the charges from 1 April 2021
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Notice of proposed decision first published: 15/03/2021
Decision due: 23 Mar 2021 by Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills
Lead member: Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education, and Skills laura.mayes@wiltshire.gov.uk
Contact: Clara Davies, School Place Commissioning Leadr 01225 713872/ Email: Clara.Davies@wiltshire.gov.uk Email: clara.davies@wiltshire.gov.uk Tel: 012257 13872.
Consultation process
4. Schools Forum have been consulted and voted against options 2 and 3 explained in the main report. The Schools Traded Task Group have also been consulted an expressed a view on option 4, and preference for option 5. Schools Forum have received regular updates, on the proposal, most recently at the meeting on 11th March 2021.
5. All Voluntary Aided, Foundation, Voluntary Controlled and Community schools were made aware of the Council’s intention to implement charges during 1 July- 30 September 2020 as a result of changes to government guidance, and were invited to respond to a survey indicating whether they would require an appeals services from Wiltshire Council.
6. If the proposal in this paper is agreed, further awareness raising will be undertaken.