(a) That this Council notes
(i) the discussion at the Council meeting on
(ii) the reduction in admissions number for Long Field and John Ferneley to 160 from September 2009;
(iii) that applications for places in secondary schools for September 2008 currently run at 195 for John Ferneley, 154 for Long Field and 41 for King Edward VII;
(iv) the current proposals for a single open catchment area for the three secondary schools in the town;
(v) the concerns regarding these proposals expressed by parents and/or governors of schools in Melton including King Edward VII, Sherard, Asfordby Hill, John Ferneley, St Francis, Asfordby Captains Close and others;
(b) That this Council requests
(i) the Cabinet when considering the proposals on catchment areas at their meeting on 8 April to look at all issues regarding catchment areas, admissions criteria and admissions number so that as many parents as possible get the school of first choice for their child;
(ii) The Cabinet to ensure that sufficient funding is available for the schools during the transition period.
Minutes:
It was moved by Dr
O’Callaghan and seconded by Mr Bown:-
“(a) That this Council notes
(i) the discussion
at the Council meeting on
(ii) the
reduction in admissions number for Long Field and John Ferneley
to 160 from September 2009;
(iii) that
applications for places in secondary schools for September 2008 currently run
at 195 for John Ferneley, 154 for Long Field and 41
for King Edward VII;
(iv) the
current proposals for a single open catchment area
for the three secondary schools in the town;
(v) the
concerns regarding these proposals expressed by parents and/or governors of
schools in Melton including King Edward VII, Sherard,
Asfordby Hill, John Ferneley,
St Francis, Asfordby Captains Close and others;
(b) That
this Council requests
(i) the Cabinet when considering the
proposals on catchment areas at its meeting on 8
April to look at all issues regarding catchment
areas, admissions criteria and admissions number so that as many parents as
possible get the school of first choice for their child;
(ii) The
Cabinet to ensure that sufficient funding is available for the schools during
the transition period.”
An amendment was be
moved by Mr Osborne and seconded by Mr Ould:-
“1. That paragraphs (a) (iv) and (v) of the motion be amended to
read as follows:-
‘(iv) the
current proposal for a single open catchment area for
secondary schools in the town, which was proposed by the Implementation Board
comprising representatives of all secondary schools in the area and
subsequently supported by the Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny
Committee as the best option for managing the transition, achieving balanced
pupil intakes and supporting the longer term development of the schools'
partnership;
(v) the views on this proposal expressed by parents and
governors of all schools in Melton, which will be taken properly into account by
the Cabinet in its consideration of the matter;’
2. That
the following be added at the end of paragraph (a) of the motion:-
‘(vi) the commitment already given by the Cabinet to ensure that
sufficient funding is made available to schools during the transitional period;
(vii) that
the County Council has been recognised as one of the top performing authorities
nationally for the allocation of school places, having met 97.9% of first
choice parental preferences for autumn 2008 admissions.’
3. That
paragraph (b) of the motion be amended to read as follows:-
‘(b) That
the Council requests the Cabinet to ensure that in taking this matter forward
it continues to work closely in partnership with parents, schools and other
stakeholders so that any misinformed comment does not put at risk this once in
a lifetime opportunity of improving education provision and choice in the area,
the £45 million proposed investment in Melton itself, or the ability of the
County Council to work with Government to improve the quality of secondary
education elsewhere in the County.’ ”
The amendment was put and carried, 30 members voting for the amendment and 11 against.
The substantive motion was put and carried as follows:-
“(a) That this Council notes
(i) the discussion
at the Council meeting on
(ii) the reduction in admissions number for Long Field and John Ferneley to 160 from September 2009;
(iii) that applications for places in secondary schools for
September 2008 currently run at 195 for John Ferneley,
154 for Long Field and 41 for King Edward VII;
(iv) the
current proposal for a single open catchment area for
secondary schools in the town, which was proposed by the Implementation Board
comprising representatives of all secondary schools in the area and
subsequently supported by the Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny
Committee as the best option for managing the transition, achieving balanced
pupil intakes and supporting the longer term development of the schools'
partnership;
(v) the views on this proposal expressed by parents and
governors of all schools in Melton, which will be taken properly into account by
the Cabinet in its consideration of the matter;
(vi) the commitment already given by the Cabinet to ensure that
sufficient funding is made available to schools during the transitional period;
(vii) that
the County Council has been recognised as one of the top performing authorities
nationally for the allocation of school places, having met 97.9% of first
choice parental preferences for autumn 2008 admissions.
(b) That
the Council requests the Cabinet to ensure that in taking this matter forward
it continues to work closely in partnership with parents, schools and other
stakeholders so that any misinformed comment does not put at risk this once in
a lifetime opportunity of improving education provision and choice in the area,
the £45 million proposed investment in Melton itself, or the ability of the
County Council to work with Government to improve the quality of secondary
education elsewhere in the County."