School Admissions Policy 2024-25

Overview

The council is required to publish the School Admissions Policy for its maintained schools and consult on any changes. This consultation is asking for any views on changes to the maintained schools admissions arrangements for September 2024. These are the changes to the school admissions policy we are asking for your views on

• Reduction to the Published Admission Number at Lowerplace Primary School
• Reduction to the Published Admission Number at and Meanwood Community Primary School,
• Amendments to the definition of criteria 2 (exceptional medical needs or exceptional welfare considerations), criteria 4 (Attendance at a linked church) and criteria 5 (Children eligible for the Service Pupil Premium); and
• Changes to the method of how priority is applied based on the distance from home from the current ‘relative proximity’ method to a straight-line measurement

Why your views matter

Cabinet approval for consulting on the admission reductions was sought and approved on the 22nd November 2022 (Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 22nd November, 2022, 6.00 pm (rochdale.gov.uk)). The public notice documents for the proposed reduction in Published Admission Numbers for Lowerplace and Meanwood Community Primary Schools are attached below. Also attached are documents detailing the reasons, outcomes and pupil forecasts up to 2026.

The full school admissions policy document is attached below; please read the document for full changes. The change in methodology on how priority is applied brings Rochdale School Admissions Policy into line with most other authorities, Academy trusts and own admission authority schools. The straight-line method for working out priority is clear and easy to understand and in line with the School’s Admissions Code (School admissions code - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk))