Admission Consultation Autumn 2018 for admissions for 2020 2021
Collective Consultation for Admission Arrangements
"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Mark 9:37
Introduction
Each Voluntary Aided School has to agree its Admissions Arrangement through its Governing Board and the Diocesan Board of Education on an annual basis. If a Governing Board decides to alter or amend any of its Admissions Arrangements it must then complete an 6-week consultation exercise with the Lancashire County Council, Central Pupil Access Team, the Diocese, parents, local schools and any other bodies that may be affected by the changes. Whilst each year some Governing Boards will alter their Admissions Arrangements to ensure they are still appropriate and effective, the vast majority will not make any alterations. This means that there is no need to consult on the Arrangements. This has been applicable to Bretherton Endowed Admissions Committee for the last few years.
However, if an Admissions Authority has not consulted on their Admission Arrangements for seven years, then the Admissions Code states it becomes mandatory for them to do so.
We have decided that we will consult on our Admissions Policy 2020/2021 in order to fulfil this requirement in line with the Diocese of Blackburn's recommendation.
The aim of the consultation period is to allow the Local Authority, parents, other schools, religious authorities and the local community to raise any concerns about proposed admission arrangements. The Code sets out the following:
- Consultation must last a minimum of 6 weeks
- Consultation must be completed by 31st January
- Admission authorities must consult with:
a) parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen;
b) other persons in the relevant area who in the opinion of the admission authority have an interest in the proposed admissions;
c) all other admission authorities within the relevant area (except that primary schools need not consult secondary schools);
d) whichever of the governing body and the local authority who are not the admission authority; for Lancashire, please email adm.consult@lancashire.gov.uk
and e) in the case of schools designated with a religious character, the body or person representing the religion or religious denomination. Please email admissions@blackburn.anglican.org.
- For the duration of the consultation period, the admission authority must publish a copy of their full proposed admission arrangements (including the proposed PAN) on their website together with details of the person within the admission authority to whom comments may be sent; this is normally the Clerk to the Governors/Chair of Governors.
- Admission authorities must also send upon request a copy of the proposed admission arrangements to any of the persons or bodies listed above inviting comment
The Admissions Committee at Bretherton Endowed will comply with the code by adding our proposed policy on the website and make reference on our newsletter for the 6 week period to invite comments to be forwarded to Mr Tommy Wilson, Chair of Governor C/O Bretherton Endowed CE Primary School, South Road, Bretherton.Lancs PR269AH.