Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help.

That the following policies that make up Dorset Council’s School Admissions Arrangements and Coordinated Scheme for school place allocations for September 2025: be approved and adopted.

1.    Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme Timetable 2025-2026

2.    Primary Co-ordinated Scheme 2025-2026

3.    Secondary Co-ordinated Scheme 2025-2026

4.    In Year Co-ordinated Scheme 2025-2026

5.    Admissions Arrangements for Community & Voluntary Controlled Schools 2025-2026.

6.    Admissions to Maintained Nursery Units Policy 2025-2026

7.    Sixth Form Admissions Policy 2025-2026

8.    Armed Forces Policy 2025-2026

In addition, the following reductions in Pupil Admissions Number where also approved:

1.    Cranborne Middle School reduction of their Pupil Admissions Number from 105 to 64 with effect from September 2025

2.    Conifers Primary School reduction of their Pupil Admissions Number (PAN) from 60 to 30 with effect from September 2025.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help set out a report and its recommendation on Dorset Council’s Admissions Arrangements for 2025 – 26.

It was proposed by Cllr B Quayle seconded by Cllr A Parry

In response to a question around pupil growth in the area of Sherborne, the Executive Director for People Children advised that the Council had a responsibility to ensure that Dorset had enough school places for all its children.

Speaking as the Member Champion for the Armed Forces in Dorset and Chairman of the Armed Forces Covenant Programme Board, Cllr Walsh welcomed the policy recognising the Armed Forces Covenant which reflected the spirit of Department for Education Guidance that was issued in April 2013. The guidance and Dorset Council’s policy was designed to ensure that admissions arrangements do not disadvantage service families, and the policy provided the admissions authority flexibility in how they may process applications from service families.

Decision

That the following policies that make up Dorset Council’s School Admissions Arrangements and Coordinated Scheme for school place allocations for September 2025: be approved and adopted.

1.    Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme Timetable 2025-2026

2.    Primary Co-ordinated Scheme 2025-2026

3.    Secondary Co-ordinated Scheme 2025-2026

4.    In Year Co-ordinated Scheme 2025-2026

5.    Admissions Arrangements for Community & Voluntary Controlled Schools 2025-2026.

6.    Admissions to Maintained Nursery Units Policy 2025-2026

7.    Sixth Form Admissions Policy 2025-2026

8.    Armed Forces Policy 2025-2026

In addition, the following reductions in Pupil Admissions Number where also approved:

1.    Cranborne Middle School reduction of their Pupil Admissions Number from 105 to 64 with effect from September 2025

2.    Conifers Primary School reduction of their Pupil Admissions Number (PAN) from 60 to 30 with effect from September 2025.

Reason for the decision

To determine admissions arrangements in accordance with statutory requirements including the Schools Admissions Code September 2021.

To ensure compliance with the latest legislation and any subsequent regulation/statutory guidance.