Purpose

Proposed decision

As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I
agree:

a)       The Coordinated
Primary Admissions Scheme 2025/26 incorporating the In Year
admissions process as detailed in Appendix A

b)       The Co-ordinated
Secondary Admissions Scheme 2025/26 incorporating the In Year
admissions process and Kent Test process as detailed in Appendix
B

c)       The oversubscription
criteria relating to Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant,
Junior and Primary Schools in Kent 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix
C (1)

d)       The oversubscription
criteria relating to Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary
Schools in Kent 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix D (1)

e)       The Published
Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant,
Junior and Primary Schools 2025/26 as set out in Appendix C
(2)

f)        The Published
Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary
Schools 2025/26 as set out in Appendix D (2)

g)       The relevant
statutory consultation areas for Kent Infant, Junior and Primary
Schools 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix A (2) and the relevant
statutory consultation areas for Kent Secondary Schools 2025/26 as
set out in Appendix B (2)
 

Reason for the decision

 
Admission authorities
are legally required to determine admissions arrangements for their
schools by 28 February each year. It is intended that admissions
arrangements for schools where KCC is the admissions authority are
to remain broadly unchanged. It is proposed, however, to make
changes to two Secondary school sixth form admission arrangements.
This includes:
 
Dover
Grammar School for Girls proposes to alter its sixth form entry
requirements.
 
The
proposed changes are as follows:
 
•       The minimum
requirement is three 6 grades and three others at 5
grade.
•       At least a grade 4
or above in English and Mathematics.
•       Photography will
also no longer be offered as a 4th A level option
 
Simon
Langton Grammar School for Girls proposes to alter its sixth form
entry requirements.
 
The
proposed changes are as follows:
 
•       The Published
Admission Number (PAN) for year 12 is 200. This is the number of
places which will be offered on an annual basis to eligible
external applicants. If fewer than 180 of the school’s own
year 11 pupils transfer into year 12, additional external pupils
will be admitted until year 12 meets its capacity of
200.
•       A minimum of 8 GCSEs
grades 9-5, including 6 grades 6s*
•       A minimum grade 5 in
their best English and Mathematics
•       Addition of sixth
form oversubcription criteria and tiebreak
•       Clarity on the
process for applying to sixth form
 
Each consultation is
due to run until 11 January 2024.
 
Local Authorities are
also required to consult with all schools within their geographical
boundaries on an Admissions Scheme, which details how the
co-ordinated and in year admissions processes will operate for the
forthcoming year. This consultation is due to run until 11 January
2024.
 
Following the
completion of both consultations, Cabinet Member for Education and
Skills is requested to approve the proposed admission arrangements
and scheme.
 

Legal Implications  

 
Section 13A of the
Education Act 1996 states every admission authority must, before
the beginning of each school year determine the admission
arrangements which are to apply for that year 7. Local authorities
are required by Section 92 of the School Standards and Framework
Act and the Education (School Information) (England) Regulations
2008 to publish admission arrangements for all maintained schools
in their area. Under section 88(1A) of the School Standards and
Framework Act 1998 (as inserted by section 42 of the Education and
Inspections Act 2006) it is the duty of a governing body of a
community or voluntary controlled school, for which a local
authority is the admissions authority, to implement any decision
relating to the admission of pupils taken by the admission
authority. Similarly, under section 89(3A) of the 1998 Act and
regulations, the governing body of a voluntary aided or foundation
school must implement a decision of the local authority, made under
the relevant co-ordinated admission arrangements, whether a child
should be granted or refused admission to the school.  Failure to do so would amount to a breach of the
admission authority’s statutory duty.          
 
 
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I
agree to:
 
a)         The
Coordinated Primary Admissions Scheme 2025/26 incorporating the In
Year admissions process as detailed in Appendix A
 
b)         The
Co-ordinated Secondary Admissions Scheme 2025/26 incorporating the
In Year admissions process and Kent Test process as detailed in
Appendix B
 
c)         The
oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary
Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools in Kent 2025/26 as
detailed in Appendix C (1)
 
d)         The
oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary
Controlled Secondary Schools in Kent 2025/26 as detailed in
Appendix D (1)
 
e)         The
Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled
Infant, Junior and Primary Schools 2025/26 as set out in Appendix C
(2)
 
f)         
The Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary
Controlled Secondary Schools 2025/26 as set out in Appendix D
(2)
 
g)         The
relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Infant, Junior and
Primary Schools 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix A (2) and the
relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Secondary Schools
2025/26 as set out in Appendix B (2)