County council cabinet agrees to amend its pupil admissions policy (From Redditch Advertiser)

County council cabinet agrees to amend its pupil admissions policy

6:10pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News

WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's Cabinet has agreed to amend the pupil admissions policy for community and voluntary controlled schools for the academic year 2014/15, including moving to a straight line measurement and dealing with multiple births.

When a community or voluntary controlled school is oversubscribed, home to school distance is used as the final criterion to determine priority.

The council currently uses a walking route measurement using a Geographical Information System (GIS). It has now been agreed that the council will move to a straight-line measurement, similar to the system used by neighbouring authorities. The straight line measurement is more accurate, easier to explain to parents and removes concern that routes to schools have been calculated incorrectly.

It has also been agreed that the policy on multiple births will be amended so that in the event of one or more children from a multiple birth being allocated a school place, all of the children from that multiple birth will be admitted.

Councillor Jane Potter, cabinet member for education and skills, said: "There will always be cases when schools are oversubscribed and distance is the final admission criteria. This new straight line measurement will be the last tool to determine the allocation of the last few places and will be easier for parents to understand. The change with the policy to multiple births is welcomed as it establishes a reasonable position with regards to families.”

It was also agreed that public notices are issued to increase the capacity for reception intake for 2014 at Abbeywood, Batchley, and Matchborough First Schools in Redditch.