The Head of School Admissions introduced the report of the Director of Children, Families and Education which set out the proposed Council’s admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled primary and secondary schools and the co-ordinated schemes for 2024-2025. The report also provided for approval the Wirral Fair Access Protocol which had been amended to reflect feedback from Wirral schools and the 2021 Fair Access Guidance.

The Committee was advised that there had been no significant changes to the admission arrangements in the body of the schemes, and that the only changes were that Christ Church CE Primary School in Birkenhead had consulted on a reduction in its Published Admission Number (PAN) from 37 to 30 from 2024/2025, and St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School in Wallasey had consulted on a reduction in PAN from 45 to 30 from 2024/2025. Further detail was given on the changes to the Fair Access Protocol including elective home education, reasonable travelling distance to school and termly sharing of the Fair Access Grid.

In response to a number of queries from members, it was outlined that the Fair Access Panel was made up of three headteachers with a minimum of two in attendance for quoracy with further representation from admissions, the inclusion team, 14-19 services, special educational needs and disability services and the attendance team, and that the outcomes were reported to the schools adjudicator with parents retaining the right to appeal for a school place.

Resolved – That

(1)  The admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools and the Wirral co-ordinated scheme for 2024/2025 be approved.

(2)  The revised Wirral Fair Access Protocol be approved.