Lead Member – Councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight – Portfolio Holder for Children and Education

Report of Tanya Miles – Executive Director of People

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet determined the proposed admission arrangements 2025- 2026 for Shropshire’s community and voluntary controlled schools and further approved the publication of the arrangements in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2021 and to the notification of this to parties specified in the Code.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Education presented the report which sought Cabinet approval to determine admission arrangements 2025/26 for Shropshire Council’s community and voluntary controlled schools.

Members noted that there were two proposed changes which had been discussed at length in the Local Admissions Forum. The first was to the in-year admission arrangements from 1st September 2024 for all community and voluntary controlled schools as well as own admission authority schools. Shropshire Council was proposing that the Local Authority be responsible for coordinating in-year applications, as well as retaining responsibility for coordinating main admissions rounds. The proposed coordination represented a significant change from the existing position, where the responsibility for in-year applications is delegated to all Shropshire schools. The proposal brings benefits to secure a more consistent approach to pupil movement across Shropshire.

The second was a proposed amendment for St Lawrence CE Primary School in Church Stretton to reduce its Published Admission Number from 34 to 30.

Thanks were given to the School Admissions Manager and her team.

A query was received regarding the exceptionally large year group and whether there were any further large cohorts on the horizon. It was confirmed that the School Admissions Team had worked alongside schools to accommodate all children and that this had been unprecedented. Although there may be some larger year groups working through the system, there were none on a similar scale.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet determined the proposed admission arrangements 2025- 2026 for Shropshire’s community and voluntary controlled schools and further approved the publication of the arrangements in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2021 and to the notification of this to parties specified in the Code.