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Document Title: LA report Lambeth June 09 Document Status: draft

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LOCAL AUTHORITY REPORT

TO

THE SCHOOLS ADJUDICATOR

FROM

Lambeth Council

30 JUNE 2009 Report Cleared by: Barry Gilhooly (Assistant Director, Inclusion) Date submitted: 6 July 2009 By Peter Scott (Service Manager, School Admissions) Contact email address: [email protected] Telephone number: 020 7926 1469


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SECTION 1 FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR IN WHICH THE REPORT IS MADE - 2008 -2009 Please complete using data/information for the period 1 September 2008 to date of report

Code 4.9 a) (i) how well the Fair Access Protocol has worked and how many children have been admitted to each school in the area under the protocol; The Code at 3.44 requires (1) each local authority to have a Fair Access Protocol and (2) all schools and Academies to participate in their LA area’s protocol

a) Please confirm that the LA has a Fair Access Protocol that has been agreed with all the relevant schools in its area.

YES

Protocol not yet agreed by all schools and academies?

YES

b) Give your assessment of how well the Fair Access Protocol has worked since 1 September 2008:

a. in placing children in schools;

Secondary schools have been very responsive and cooperative with regards to Lambeth’s IYFAP. This success has been largely due to relationships that have been built up between the Park Campus and Headteachers. This has been further supported by excellent relationship between Lambeth’s Behaviour Partnership Support Service (BPSS) and secondary schools. The Park Campus is a co-educational secondary pupil referral unit (PRU), for students aged 11 to 16 that offers full-time and temporary provision for students who have been excluded or are out of mainstream education for other reasons. It also has an outreach service which provides behaviour support for the secondary school community in the borough, including early intervention programmes. The Kennington Park Primary PRU offers provision for the primary phase and this is reflected in our IYFAP.

b. the co-operation of schools and Academies in implementing the protocol; and


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Schools have been very cooperative with regards to implementing our IYFAP. Only one school has said no to a student referred through the. At the time the school in question stated it took over and above its allocated number in each year group. The school is now receiving support from an advisory teacher from the Park Campus to support another request to take a student.

c. any issues you have had in implementing the protocol.

No

c) In Appendix A, please record for each school the number of children directed to (column O) and admitted (column P) to the school under the protocol between 1 September 2008 and date of report.

Completed


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Code 4.9 a) (ii) whether primary schools are complying with infant class size legislation

In general, Lambeth LA has no concerns of school complying with infant class size legislation. We do currently have 4 schools that have classes with more than 30 children. The reasons for this (which includes the answer for the following question) are as follows: Name of Primary school

Class size

Year group

Reason Qualifying measures

Hill Mead 33 Reception (Red class)

These children could not find a school place anywhere else and the Governors agreed (in accordance with 2.63(b) of the School Admissions Code). The school’s School Improvement Partner (SIP) also agreed that the school should admit these additional children

Extra teachers have been made available to support these additional children as well as the other children in the classroom.

Hill Mead 32 Reception (Blue class)

These children could not find a school place anywhere else and the Governors agreed (in accordance with 2.63(b) of the School Admissions Code). The school’s School Improvement Partner (SIP) also agreed that the school should admit these additional children

Extra teachers have been made available to support these additional children as well as the other children in the classroom.

St Jude’s CE 31 Reception The school took an extra child as they had a sibling in the school

The school employed an extra tutor

Immanuel St Andrew’s CE

31 Reception School lost an appeal case resulting in them going one over their numbers for this year group.

The class has been split

The DCSF have been informed of the above, as they also queried the breaches. Please include in your comments the number of schools where qualifying measures are being taken. As above


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Code 4.9 a) (iii) the number of admissions appeals held for each and every school in the area, and the number of appeals that were upheld. Please insert the data covering the period 1 September 2008 to the date of the report in Appendix A to show for each school:

- column Q - the number of appeals held; - column R - the number of appeals upheld; and - column S - the number of appeals pending from the date of the report onwards.

Completed Code 4.9 a) iv the extent to which the local authority and appeal panels in the area complied with the requirements of the Appeals Code, with reference to ensuring the timeliness and transparency of appeals, effective communications with parents and any other relevant matter. Please include in your comments, where there is evidence of non-compliance, what action have you taken. Democratic Services (DS) at Lambeth has a variety of functions, but its overall aim is to ensure the smooth and efficient management of the decision-making processes of the Council. One of it’s chief functions is to administer the appeals process for all of Lambeth’s community and voluntary-controlled schools. The DS Team boasts a 100% record in the following:

1. Successfully recruiting and training all panellists. 2. Ensuring that appeals are heard by a panel of three people, all of whom

are fully trained and experienced in hearing and making decisions on school appeals.

3. Meeting all statutory deadlines regarding appeals (dates regarding the

notification of appeal hearings, providing appellants with relevant documents before hearings, sending out papers to presenting officers and panel members, sending out decision letters to appellants, holding hearings within the agreed statutory timelines, etc)

Lambeth School Admissions finds the appeals panel members are well informed and supported by Democratic Services and are consistent in making the process fair, transparent and supportive to appellants.


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4.9 d) iii any other matters which affect the fairness of admission arrangements for schools for schools in the area. Please complete with reference to Choice Advice provided to parents applying for a secondary school place for the 2009/2010 school year. Appendix 5 of the Code requires local authorities to provide an independent Choice Advice service that is focused on supporting the families who most need support in navigating the secondary school admissions process (paragraph 5). Choice Advice must be independent and free from any potential conflict of interest between the need of the local authority to allocate places and the advice that parents receive (paragraph 8). As a minimum, local authorities must ensure that Choice Advisers are not in the same management chain or reporting lines as the local authority’s admissions staff (paragraph 9).

a) Please confirm that your local authority has an independent Choice Advice service in place.

YES

b) Please explain how you ensure the independence of the Choice

Advice provided (for example, the Choice Advice service may be situated in the Parent Partnership service or Family Information Service).

Lambeth has employed an individual, who fulfils the role as our Secondary Transfer & Support Officer (SISO), who provides practical targeted support to those parents most likely to need extra help with the school admissions process. The SISO works with Lambeth’s School Admissions Team, Ethnic Monitoring Achievement Team (EMAT), schools and a variety of voluntary and statutory groups and aims to help families, in particular those from black and minority ethnic groups and vulnerable groups, optimise their school choices using all the information to hand along with local knowledge of what individual schools have to offer. Some examples of information which may be discussed are:

§ How the admissions system works § Admissions policies for different types of schools § Performance and value-added data § School OfSTED Reports § Oversubscription criteria § School's offer i.e. school profile, ethos, special facilities etc. § Special needs policy and provision - if applicable § School curriculum - including details of the school's specialism if they

are a Specialist School § Time of the school day and term dates § Travel details § Uniform policy § School charging policy


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The SISO provides an independent and impartial advice on the preferred options for parents/carers and has: • A proven track record of providing clear, balanced and impartial advice

and guidance to a variety of ethnic groups, vulnerable people and families in need.

• Knowledge of the various coordinated school admission processes and initiatives

• Built and sustained relationships with voluntary and statutory groups and organisations, and.

• Has a clear understanding of the legislative framework that supports school admissions.

c) Please confirm that your Choice Adviser(s) are in not in the same line management chain or reporting lines as staff on the admissions team.

YES

The SISO is line managed by a senior manager within the Ethnic Monitoring Achievement Team (EMAT) Choice Advice must be targeted at those parents who most need support with the secondary school admissions process (paragraph 10). Local authorities and Choice Advisers should market their service to ensure that they reach the families most in need of their support and that other relevant agencies and professionals are aware of the service they provide (paragraph 11). Choice Advisers should be proactive in reaching ‘hard to reach’ parents and should develop good links with organisations that may be able to refer parents to them (paragraph 12).

d) Please explain how you ensure Choice Advice reaches those parents who are most in need of it.

Lambeth’s Secondary Transfer & Support Officer (SISO) ensures Choice Advice reaches vulnerable families by: 1. Providing hands on assistance to targeted parents and families in

completing common application forms (CAFs), whether on paper or on-line, supplementary forms and ensures that these forms are returned to the relevant establishment before published deadlines. This suppor is normally administered through road shows and workshops arranged by the SISO in schools or a Council building.

2. Arranging and attending secondary transfer road shows at primary

schools and Council buildings and present, at these meetings, the coordinated admissions process, answering questions from parents.


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3. Liaises with Lambeth’s Looked After Children’s Educational Achievement (LACEA) Team and provides training to LAC foster carers and Social Workers who represent corporate parents for 'looked after' children (LAC) and who maybe acting on behalf of a 'looked after' child,

4. Ensures that relevant documentation regarding Choice Advice is

circulated to schools, parents and other stakeholders.

5. Provides an excellent 'What to do if ......' service for parents of children who may have special educational needs, travellers, 'looked after' children, those who have difficulties with literacy, their child has previously been excluded, English is not their first language, etc.

6. Delivers innovative and tailored solutions, on a case by case basis, to

aid parents who have difficulties which prevent them from fully participating in the coordinated admissions scheme within the prescribed deadlines. Being based in Lambeth’s Ethnic Minority Achievement Team (EMAT) the SISO can identify families who are receiving support through the team and provide a ‘hand held’ service and systematically walks the family through the admissions process through the aid of interpreters, if necessary.

7. Liaise with the Schools Admissions Team regarding secondary transfer

matters and regularly meet with the Senior Admissions Officer to resolve any issues concerning secondary transfer.

e) Describe how has Choice Advice contributed to the fairness of the admissions process.

1. The SISO helped to provide support for families who may not have the

skills to navigate their way through the coordinated admissions process and, with their knowledge, provide these parents with the same opportunities to make informed decisions as many other families would already have.

2. Provided the availability of IT equipment to those vulnerable families who could not access a computer to make a on-time application online

3. Empowered vulnerable families to submit on-time applications and make informed choices and submit realistic preferences. This increased their chances of being made a preferred offer on National Offer Day.

Local authorities may provide Choice Advice at the primary school admission stage and for in-year applications (paragraph 5).

f) Choice Advice is offered at the primary admissions stage?

NO

g) Choice Advice is offered for in-year applications?

YES


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It is good practice for Choice Advisers to provide support during the appeals process, particularly to those parents who accessed Choice Advice at the application stage.

h) The Choice Adviser provides support during the appeals process?

YES, but this is mainly through advice. The SISO does not attend hearings. However, much of the advice of the SISO is so helpful; the families supported do normally obtain an offer from one of their preferences and so do not normally submit appeals.

i) We plan to provide support during the appeals process in

future?

YES


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SECTION 2 FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR WHICH STARTS AFTER THE REPORT IS MADE – 2009-2010: Code 4.9 b) (i) the extent to which admission arrangements for schools in the authority’s area serve the interests of children in care, children with disabilities, children with special educational needs and service children. Note: You may wish to point out if specialist staff from within the Council has contributed to this report. LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN – All children in care (as defined by section 22 of the Children Act 1989) are given highest priority in all our maintained schools oversubscription criteria for entry to the school and their sixth form (with regards to secondary schools). CHILDREN WITH STATEMENTS -

In accordance with the School Admissions Code, none of our maintained schools imply in their published admission arrangements that they have discretion over the admission of children with statements of special educational needs. None of Lambeth’s statemented pupils go though our determined coordinated admissions procedure. Lambeth’s SEN Section assumes full responsibility in placing these children by the following protocol (currently in draft format as it is being consulted on) for Transition (Year 5) children with statements:

• PROCEDURES FOR THE YEAR 5 TRANSITION REVIEW

• The year 5 transition review is a way of monitoring and evaluating the continued effectiveness and appropriateness of the statement and to integrate a variety of perspective on a child’s progress. It is also a platform for parents to consider what schools they would like the Authority to consult for secondary transfer. All statements of Special Educational Needs must be reviewed at least every 12 months. If there is a concern about a child’s progress the review may be brought forward to allow any changes in circumstances to be discussed.

The Purpose of the review is: Consider arrangements for secondary 11+ transfer.

• To take account of the views of everyone working with the child. • To assess the child’s progress towards meeting the objectives

identified in the statement and ensure aims are being achieved. • To review the special educational provision set out in the statement

including any specialist equipment, transport and to consider where


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appropriate, a change in provision. • To decide if the statement is appropriate to the child’s needs and if it is

still required. • To set new targets for the next 12 months.

• A Change of School

• Everyone concerned with the child should give careful thought to school transfer at the secondary phase. Advance planning is essential with the move being considered at the review in the child’s last year. This can be brought forward to allow enough time for consideration of an appropriate school. This is an important phase for all young people. Schools are therefore requested to hold a review during the Summer/Spring Term before the year of Secondary transfer. (Year 5). It is important that parents attend this review and provide their views regarding arrangements for the secondary education of their child.

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES and/or SEN – yet without a statement) All children with outstanding and extenuating medical/special needs without statements follow the normal admissions procedure. Even though the School Admissions Code does not legislate the prioritising of these children in admission arrangements, Lambeth LA sees value in the admissions arrangements of its school supporting applications from families who have children with disabilities, SEN, yet without a statement. Lambeth LA has the following make-up of maintained schools:

Sector Community VA Foundation Voluntary -Controlled

Academies Total

Primary 33 25 4 0 0 62 Secondary 2 5 3 1 2 13 Totals 35 30 7 1 2 75 Of 35 community and 1 voluntary controlled school which Lambeth LA is the admissions authority for, Lambeth LA priorities in criterion 3, the application of children with outstanding medical or social needs. Our determined arrangements are as follows:

Criterion 1 – Looked After Children A child in public care (looked after child) means a person under the age of 18 years who is provided by social services with accommodation by agreement with their parents/carers (Section 20 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under Part IV of the Act. Children who are looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements (such as respite) are excluded. All applications under this criteria must be supported by a letter from the relevant Local Authority


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Criterion 2 – Siblings Children with a brother or sister who already attends the school, and who will not have left the school at the time of admission. As a result siblings in the nursery or year 6 of a primary school, or year 11 at a secondary school will not be regarded as a sibling under this criterion. A sibling is defined as a full/half/step brother or sister (who are living at the same address in all instances) or a child who is living as part of the family by reason of a court order, or a child who has been placed with foster carers at that address as a result of being looked after by the Local Authority. However, children who are looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements (such as respite) will not be regarded as siblings under this criterion.

Criterion 3 – Children with Exceptional Medical or Social Needs Children with a professionally supported medical or social need, whose application identifies a particular school that is especially able to meet that need. The decision to prioritise children on these grounds will be determined via Lambeth CYPS’ MEDSOC Panel, which is comprised of CYPS senior management as well as senior school staff. Documents from an appropriate professional (not including general information from a website) must support these applications. However, any supporting evidence does not automatically mean that applicants will gain priority in this criterion as the decision to prioritise under this criterion will solely rest with the MEDSOC Panel.

Criterion 4 – Distance Priority will be given on the basis of distance between the child’s home and the school, measured by a straight-line. This measurement will be done using a computerised mapping system. This measurement will be from a point from the child’s home as identified by the software to a point at the school as profiled in the software. The child’s home address will be the child’s permanent place of residency and will not be the address of a relative or carer, unless they have legal custody of the child. Applications must only be made from a single address. When offered a place at a school, the offer will be conditional until proof of address has been given.

As a tiebreaker for all criteria, priority will be given to children living closest to the preferred school ~ (measured by a straight- line) in accordance with the measuring information in criterion 4. However, ONLY in the case where children have exactly the same distance between their home and the school, Lambeth LA will randomly allocate places as a tiebreaker. The above clearly demonstrates that Lambeth sees it as a very positive measure to give priority to children with special medical/social needs yet without a statement and our community and voluntary-controlled schools support this.


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To further ensure that our assessment of children with extenuating needs is appropriately administered, Lambeth LA has formed a Panel (The MEDSOC Panel) who are a body of professionals who closely look at all the applications made on these grounds, offering rationale for the agreement or disagreement of priority. Agreed MEDSOC applications will not be prioritised over looked after children (i) or siblings (ii) in the above criteria. Panel members will only be looking at and considering applications made by parents of non-statemented children. Panel members will need to reach a decision with regards to the following:

• Which application will be considered as a MEDSOC application • If the parent has applied to more than one Lambeth community

or voluntary-controlled school, which of the school(s), if not all the schools, application will be regarded as a MEDSOC application

All Panel decisions are final and are binding for both school and children. In Section 1.53 of The School Admissions Code, it states that:- “ Under section 88(1A) of the SSFA 1998, it is the duty of a governing body of a community or voluntary controlled school, for which a local authority is the admission authority, to implement any decision relating to the admission of children taken by the admission authority. Similarly, under section 88N(4) of the SSFA 1998 and the Co- ordination Regulations, the governing body of a voluntary aided or foundation school must implement a decision of the local authority, made in accordance with the relevant area’s co-ordinated admission scheme, to admit a child to the school.” Lambeth LA retains its responsibilities to formally decide which applications will be regarded as MEDSOC and those that will not via this panel. Though this panel will have a Chair, all final decisions should be regarded as panel decisions. Composition The MEDSOC Panel will comprise of the following:-

• A School Admissions Manager. • A representative from the EPS service • A representative from SEN • A representative from a Lambeth voluntary-aided, Foundation, Academy

& Community School • A representative from Early Years • A representative from Social Care • The Safeguarding Children’s Manager • A MEDSOC Panel Clerk, who will be a member of the School

Admissions Team


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Any member of this panel is eligible to stand for Chair. Panel Procedures The Panel will consider cases and makes a decision about:-

• Whether or not to regard an application as a MEDSOC application • Which school the MEDSOC application status applies to.

The Panel’s decisions are made in the context of legislation and guidance noted in The School Admissions Code. Early Years Representative This representative will both have specific knowledge and expertise in the field of child development and/or early years education. Some preschool children put forward for MEDSOC consideration may be known to Early Years teams. Educational Psychologist Educational psychologists are trained and experienced teachers who have undertaken additional training and qualifications in educational psychology and child development. They are able to provide a view from the educational psychology perspective. The educational psychologist can offer a professional view as to how the special educational needs identified in the paperwork could have implications for access to the learning environment and offer comparisons with the typical rate of development for children of that age. In addition they can offer technical advice on issues relating to the educational psychology reports possibly included in any paper work. They will also be able to make valuable input with regards to those application that demonstrate a language, behaviour and learning issue. School Representative A Voluntary-Aided, Academy or Foundation headteacher/SENCo will be represented on this Panel and will provide impartiality and information from a school perspective. Colleagues from schools are able to contribute a wealth of knowledge and practical experience and provide a perspective of how the needs of the children discussed could impact on the education of the other children. They can offer comparisons with children within their own school and share ideas and knowledge of how the child’s needs could be met with the resources available for a child at School Action or School Action Plus. Each case is discussed in its own right and the needs of the individual child considered. School colleagues can contribute to the equity and fairness of the decisions made. A Community School Headteachers/SENCo will be invited to sit on this panel to also give a view with regards to the decision-making process. However, their view will not be considered if the Panel has to decide a case for their school. This will keep the decision-making process in line with impartiality. Social Care representative


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The Social Care representative will contribute to the considerations of applications where they are more of a socially related element to the application to school. Some of the children applying for MEDSOC consideration may already be known to Social Care and so this representative could shed more light and provide extra guidance to the Panel with regards to any other support that could be accessed by the parents. Special Educational Needs (SEN) Representative Though this panel will not be considering applications from children with statements, views from SEN are still crucial when participating in MEDSOC considerations by giving the panel comprehensive support around children with special educational needs. They give advice on a range of subjects such as:

• Resourcing such as LSA, LSU, equipment, therapies or outside professional support

• Funding levels; • Meeting children’s needs with the additional support of a statement as

well as supporting children without statements at School Action/School Action Plus.

The Safeguarding Children’s Manager It is always pragmatic to employ the services of a Child Protection (CP) Officer who can give an oversight of any possible child protection concerns that may arise as a part of the deliberating/consideration process. If any concerns are highlighted a referral can be made to him immediately for intervention. This Manager has particular experience with SEN practices as well as Parent Partnership and will be a valuable member to the Panel if there are absences, as his knowledge of SEN and Social practices are far-reaching. _______________________________________________________________ Lambeth LA is also aware that many LAs and admissions authorities do not prioritise applications made on social grounds as they stress that to define what is ‘social’ is far reaching and too subjective, making them vulnerable at appeals. However, Lambeth LA wants to support as many families with a wide range of needs and circumstances and have kept this element in our criterion for over 10 years. We are also glad to see that many of our admission authority schools have followed our example.

• Of our 25 VA primary’s, 23 (92 %) allow for priority to be given on medical/social grounds.

• Of our 5 VA secondary’s, 4 allow for priority to be given on medical/social grounds.

• Of our 4 Foundation primary’s, 3 allow for priority to be given on medical/social grounds.

• Of our 3 Foundation secondary’s, 2 allow for priority to be given on medical/social grounds.

• Of our 2 secondary Academies, 1 gives priority on medical/social grounds.


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Due to the relatively high number of our schools that prioritise on medical/social grounds (68 out of 75 schools (91%)) many of our most vulnerable families have been offered places at preferred schools via this criterion. Code 4.9 b) (ii) the effectiveness of co-ordination. Note: You may wish to report on the authority’s assessment of the effectiveness of any scheme for co-ordinating:

a) the admission of pupils to relevant schools in the authority’s area in the next academic year to begin after the date of the report, and

Lambeth LA has successfully coordinated the Pan-London Admissions Secondary Transfer Scheme for the fifth year running but it has not been without its complications. However, with the excellent support from our schools we were able to manage these. Again, Lambeth LA met all prescribed statutory deadlines regarding Pan-London coordination. The following National Offer Day statistics data pertains to on-time applicants: Table: Offer trends between 2005 – 2009.

Offer Trends 2005 % 2006 % 2007 % 2008 % 2009 % Number of On-time App's 2393 100% 2472 100% 2422 100% 2449 100% 2440 100% Number of Offers 1832 77% 2097 85% 2142 88% 2361 96% 2342 96% Number of "No" Offers 561 23% 375 15% 280 12% 88 4% 98 4% 1st Preference 1026 56% 1266 60% 1332 62% 1331 56% 1354 58% 2nd Preference 343 19% 329 16% 335 16% 382 16% 423 18% 3rd Preference 205 11% 230 11% 242 11% 259 11% 226 10% 4th Preference 138 7% 150 7% 139 7% 131 6% 112 5% 5th Preference 84 5% 85 4% 59 3% 59 3% 68 3% 6th Preference 36 2% 37 2% 35 2% 30 1% 32 1% Other (Allocated offer) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 169 7% 127 5%

The above table shows that 96% (2,342) of Lambeth resident applicants received an offer on NOD 2009. As a % this shows no change from last year’s figures. However, 86% of Lambeth residents received an offer from one of their first 3 preferences. 98 Lambeth residents (equating to 4%) of our residents received a no offer letter on the 3 March 2009, the day after NOD. All these ‘no offers’ are boys. The following chart further highlights our progression since Lambeth LA has been coordinating secondary transfer admissions. Graph 1: Offers/No Offers Bar chart 2005-2009


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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Amounts

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Years

Offers & No Offers Trends 2005-2009

Number of On-time App's

Number of Offers

Number of "No" Offers

The following table clearly highlights how offers have increased since 2005 and the sharp and consistent decline of no offers. Graph 2: Offers/ No Offers Grid 2005-2009.

Offers & No Offers Graph

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Years

Amounts

Number of On-timeApp's

Number of Offers

Number of "No"Offers

The above information also shows 98 Lambeth residents (4%) did not receive an offer on NOD. However, this still represents an 83% reduction of the 561 children who did not receive an offer when Lambeth first started coordinating admissions in 2005. Other reasons for this reduction are:


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1. The opening of both the Elmgreen School and the Evelyn Grace Academy, which add another 360 places per year.

2. Increased awareness off the coordinated process, enabling parents to make more ‘realistic’ applications.

3. The statutory need for all LAs to make allocated offers before NOD. 4. The removal of ‘first preference first’ from school criteria.

Lambeth LA has, in the past, been able to ensure that all our children receive an offer at the start of secondary school. With that in mind the School Admissions Team approaches the challenge of placing late applicants without an offer with some confidence. Lambeth CYPS and its School Admissions Team remain committed to supporting our children and families to ensure that all children have a school place before the start of their secondary education. Primary Coordinated Admissions Lambeth LA successfully completed it’s primary coordinated admissions procedure for 2009 for the 3rd consecutive year, fully meeting all statutory requirements. The results of the 2009 primary coordinated admissions scheme on our local offer day is as follows:

Primary Statistics: Local Offer Day, 24/04/09 Number % Total on-time paper CAFs 1649 54.3% Total online CAFs 1390 45.7% Total on-time applications 3039 100.0% Total Offered a school from CAF 2693 88.6% Total No offers from CAF 346 11.4% Total on-time applications 3039 100.0%

% of all applications

Total First Preference 2264 74.5% Total Second Preference 307 10.1% Total Third Preference 122 4.0% Total Lambeth children with no Lambeth offer, but an OOB one on LOD 15 0.5% Total Allocated offers 193 6.9% Total number of offers 2901 95.3% Number of OOB children with no offer 138 4.7% Total applications 3039 100.0% In Borough and Out of Borough CAFs Number % on-time Lambeth applicants 2622 86.3% on-time OOB applicants 417 13.7% Total applicants 3039 100.0%


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In Borough and Out of Borough offers Number % Lambeth Offers to Lambeth children from CAF 2414 89.6% Lambeth offers to Out Of Borough children from CAF 279 10.4% Total Offered 2693 100.0% Lambeth children with No Offers from CAF 208 60.1% Out Of Borough children with No Lambeth Offer 138 39.9% Total No offers 346 100.0%

As highlighted above, all Lambeth applicants received an offer of a place by local offer day. The following was realised with regards to Lambeth primary schools post local offer day:

SCHOOL NAME ORIGINAL PLACES

CURRENT PLACES

OFFERS HELD

FREE PLACES

Allen Edwards Primary School 60 45 15 Archbishop Sumner Church of

England Primary School 30 30 0 Ashmole Primary School 30 30 0

Bonneville Primary School 60 60 0 Christ Church Brixton Church of

England Primary School 30 23 7 Christ Church Streatham Church of

England Primary School 30 30 0 Clapham Manor Primary School 60 60 0 Corpus Christi Catholic Primary

School 45 45 0 Crown Lane Primary School 90 90 0

Durand Primary School 125 123 2 Elm Wood Primary School 30 30 0 Fenstanton Primary School 90 90 0 Glenbrook Primary School 60 48 12 Granton Primary School 57 57 0

Heathbrook Primary School 60 60 0 Henry Cavendish Primary School 60 60 0

Henry Fawcett Primary School 60 59 23 36 Herbert Morrison Primary School 28 28 0

Hill Mead Primary School 90 53 37 Hitherfield Primary School 85 85 0

Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School 60 60 0

Immanuel and St Andrew Church of England Primary School 60 60 0

Iqra Primary School 30 30 0 Jessop Primary School 60 43 17

Johanna Primary School 30 29 1 Jubilee Primary School 90 86 4 Julian's Primary School 30 30 0

Kings Avenue Primary School 90 82 8 Kingswood Primary School 90 90 0 Lark Hall Primary School 60 31 29


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Loughborough Primary School 60 60 0 Macaulay Church of England Primary

School 30 30 0 Orchard Primary School 25 25 0 Paxton Primary School 30 30 0 Reay Primary School 30 30 0

Richard Atkins Primary School 60 60 0 Rosendale Primary School 120 120 0

St Andrew's Church of England Primary School 30 19 11

St Andrew's Roman Catholic Primary School 60 60 0

St Anne's Catholic Primary School 54 54 0 St Bede's Catholic Infant School 60 60 0

St Helen's Roman Catholic Primary School 38 38 0

St John The Divine Church of England Primary School 30 30 0

St John's Angell Town Church of England Primary School 30 30 0

St Jude's Church of England Primary School 30 30 0

St Leonard's Church of England Primary School 30 30 0

St Luke's Church of England Primary School 30 30 0

St Mark's Church of England Primary School 30 25 5

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School 45 45 0

St Saviour's Church of England Primary School 30 30 0

St Stephen's Church of England Primary School 30 27 3

Stockwell Primary School 60 59 59 0 Streatham Wells Primary School 30 30 0

Sudbourne Primary School 45 45 0 Sunnyhill Primary School 58 58 0 Telferscot Primary School 30 30 0 Vauxhall Primary School 30 29 1 Walnut Tree Walk School 45 41 4

Woodmansterne Primary School 60 60 0 Wyvil Primary School 60 60 0

3080 2886 192

b) the admission of pupils in the authority’s area to other relevant schools in that academic year.

As above


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SECTION 3 FOR ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED IN THE APRIL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE DATE OF THE REPORT IS MADE (determined by 15 April 2009 for admission in September 2010): Code 4.9 c) (i) a statement of whether or not admission arrangements for maintained schools in the area complied with the mandatory requirements of this Code and admissions law. Are you satisfied that the admission arrangements for all maintained schools in your area are fully compliant with the Code? YES If NO, please specify what action you are taking – please see paragraph “Referring objections to the Schools Adjudicator” on page 10. Following the compliance exercise in 2008, the Chief Adjudicator wrote to all local authorities with details of where the admission arrangements for schools in their area may not be compliant with the Code. Subsequently, local authorities were asked to report on the action that had been taken to amend the arrangements. Are you satisfied that all the necessary action that was said to be needed has been taken for the arrangements determined by 15 April 2009? YES If you are not completely satisfied, what further action are you taking? The Schools Adjudicator and local authority reports Code 4.10 local authority reports play an important part in monitoring schools’ compliance with this Code and ensuring an open and fair admissions system. The Schools Adjudicator must ensure that admission arrangements which come to his attention via local authority reports, and any Admission Forum reports that he receives comply with this Code and admissions legislation. This will form the basis of an annual report to the Secretary of State which will also include how fair access is being achieved locally. The Schools Adjudicator’s annual report to the Secretary of State on fair access replaces the biennial report of the Schools Commissioner.


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Code 4.11 where a local authority report, under section 88P of the SSFA 1998, states that admission arrangements for maintained schools do not or may not conform with statutory requirements or the mandatory requirements of this Code, the Schools Adjudicator must decide whether the arrangements are compliant. In the case of Academies he may advise the Secretary of State on whether he considers the arrangements are compliant and the Secretary of State will reach a decision on any changes that are necessary. Referring objections to the Schools Adjudicator Code 4.12 local authorities must refer an objection to the Schools Adjudicator if they consider, or are made aware of any admission arrangements proposed by any other admission authority that are unlawful, that do not comply with the mandatory requirements or guidelines in this Code, or that appear to be unfair, unclear and subjective or encouraged social segregation. Local authorities must refer the objection as soon as such admission arrangements come to their attention. Local authorities may refer such an objection with their report or separately. Code 4.13 local authorities must also consider carefully any representations they receive from parents about the admission arrangements for schools for which they are not the admission authority and whether they will use their power to make an objection to the Authority. Using Appendix A, please identify any schools (column U) that you have referred to the OSA, or may be referring to the OSA by the 31 July 2009. No referrals have been made, or are in the process of being made, to the OSA by Lambeth LA.


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SECTION 4 OTHER MATTERS: Code 4.9 d) (i) details about the current membership of the Admission Forum for the area Please list the bodies represented and the number of representatives in each category. Do NOT give the names of members. The following represents the current make-up of Lambeth’s School Admissions Forum (SAF) recommended membership for Lambeth Forum: Please add any comments on the transition from the previous to the new constitution of the Forum; the effectiveness of the Forum in challenging non-compliant admission arrangements; the contribution of the Forum in promoting fair access.

Body Number of representatives

Local Authority

2

Schools - Community Head Teachers or Governors)

5

Schools - Voluntary controlled (Head Teacher or Governor)

1

Schools - Foundation (Head Teacher or Governor)

1

Schools - Voluntary Aided (Head Teachers or Governors)

3

Schools – Academies (Head Teacher or Governor)

1

Diocesan Board Church of England representative

1 determined by Diocesan Board

Roman Catholic Diocese representative

1 determined by Diocesan

Board Islamic Faith

1 determined by the Faith

Parent representatives

3

Representatives of the local community

1


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Members of Lambeth’s SAF had expressed some initial concerns at the suggested distribution of places. It was pointed out that although there were a large number of community schools whose admission arrangements were agreed centrally, admission authority schools that were responsible for their own arrangements should have a larger representation. However, it was noted that as long as there was one representative from each of the categories existing in the Borough the arrangements would be in accordance with the regulations. Lambeth LA now has a maximum number of 20 members. There are on-going discussions with regards to membership arrangements to ensure that the functioning of the SAF is in line with the current Code. This forum is active in receiving information from parents and schools and consulting with schools to ensure that the spirit of the Code is reflected in schools admission arrangements and that parents view help to shape admissions in the borough. Recent matters that the SAF has influenced include:

• Scrutinising the possibility of having a borough single point of entry to all maintained primary schools, in light of the recommendations of the Rose Review. This will most likely be implemented for children starting school in 2011.

• Robustly discussing the new nursery funding strategy to ensure that both parents and nursery providers benefit

• Ensure that Cabinet are kept informed with SAF views and ratify decisions that will affect the borough as a whole.

• Formulating a multi-admissions authority group who will look at creating a Code compliant coordinated casual admissions scheme for January 2010, for September 2010 implementation.

The Admission Forum may make a report to the Schools Adjudicator. If the Forum wishes to make such a report it would be helpful to include the report with the report from the local authority. Please indicate:

The Admission Forum wishes to make a report to the Schools Adjudicator and has included/attached it with this report OR The Admission Forum wishes to make a report to the Schools Adjudicator and will send a separate report by OR The Admissions Forum does not wish to make a report to the Schools Adjudicator in 2009.

Whether or not the Admission Forum is making/submitting a report, please confirm that the Forum has seen, or will see, this LA report.


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Code 4.9 d) (ii) the proportion of children currently on free school meals at each school in the area. The data provided by the Local Authority to the DCSF in January 2008 has been “cleaned” and is included in Appendix A at the end of this template. If the data for 2009 is significantly different please state how it differs. Looking at FSM as a % between 2008 and 2009 there has been no change whatsoever. Both 2008 and 2009 rates are at 35.1% for all pupils within Lambeth. The FSM rate has been falling for the past few years, so with the recession, the 2009 figure may be an indication that rates of FSM beginning to rise next year. The recent rise in unemployment rates for London would seem to indicate a rise in FSM for next year Using and interpreting the data, please comment on any features associated with Fair Access to allocation of school places and meeting parental preferences. Lambeth LA has, for a number of years, a higher than average number of children on FSM. Some schools have extremely high numbers, where over 60% of the children on roll are in receipt of FSM (i.e: 3 special schools, one mainstream primary and one mainstream secondary. However, none of Lambeth’s schools are in special measures, and these schools serve their community well. The mainstream secondary school, with 67.6% of its pupils in receipt of FSM remains very popular and is a highly oversubscribed school. Lambeth LA received approximately 70 appeals for its community and voluntary controlled schools in the 2008 coordinated admissions round. Only 3 of those appeals were upheld. Of the appeals being heard this year, members of the Independent Appeal Panel have commented on the robust and transparent approach Lambeth LA has on admissions and are confident that our processes ensure that applications are managed properly and in line with The Code.


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Code 4.9 d) (iii) any other matters which affect the fairness of admission arrangements for schools in the area. Please provide evidence about or any information, that in your view affect the fairness of admission arrangements by improving or reducing the fairness for schools in your area.

1. There is an issue with the high number of siblings obtaining places in our schools, which leaves very limited numbers of places available for children who meet other criteria. Lambeth LA has the experience of an oversubscribed primary school, which has one-and-a-half forms of entry (45 places). This school saw 21 siblings (47%) offered a place resulting in one child living on the same road of the school not being made an offer. One VA primary had 78% of its places going to siblings. This obviously, has had a major impact on families who just do not understand why, after living so near to schools, they were not made an offer. Lambeth LA has agreed for 6 schools strategically based around different parts of the borough, to increase reception provision for the 2009 entrants so that more families without siblings could receive an offer. This has enabled Lambeth LA to make offers to all our children by our agreed local offer day.

2. The abolition of ‘first of preference first’ has had made a positive impact on the fairness of admission arrangements. However, the publication of preference data by LAs is a cause for concern. It is hoped that parents will not feel LAs are ‘good or bad’ based on the number of children who receive an offer from their first preference school, especially when all LAs are instructed to operate an equal preference system.


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SECTION 5 RANDOM ALLOCATION OF SCHOOL PLACES 1. Was random allocation being used in any way by the local authority in allocating places at community and/or voluntary controlled schools for September 2009:

(a) infant/primary/middle deemed primary schools?

NO If yes, please specify how?

(b) in secondary/middle deemed secondary schools?

NO If yes, please specify how? 2. Do the determined admission arrangements for admission in 2010 use random allocation in the same way as 2009 arrangements?

YES If no, please specify the changes that have been made. 3. What are your views on whether the outcomes of random allocation as used by the local authority result in fair outcomes for parents? Lambeth LA has an objective and clear measuring system and having random allocation as a tie-breaker ensures that the objectivity and clarity is maintained. 4. What evidence do you have of parental reaction to the use of random allocation and parental understanding of how the system works? Lambeth LA, in line with statutory requirements, widely consulted on its admission arrangements. No parental feedback was submitted on this issue. 5. For all foundation and voluntary aided schools in your area, please indicate in Appendix A (column T), those schools that use random allocation in any part of its admission arrangements. SECTION 6


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ADMISSION OF TWINS TO THE SAME SCHOOL 1a). What is your policy on the admission of twins (and multiple births) to primary schools? Where a parent applies for entry into the same year group for more than one child, their application would be regarded as an ‘equidistance’ application. Where distance is the determining factor, and these children have the same home to school distance, Lambeth LA will implement its tie-breaker criterion by randomly allocating available places. Those children who were not offered a place will be put on the waiting list, which will be managed in line with the school’s admissions criteria. Where there is one school place available and there is more than one sibling who is eligible for a place under the published admissions criteria, lots will be drawn to determine the rank order. It would then be the parent’s responsibility to determine whether they will accept or reject those places. If the school is a community or voluntary-controlled secondary, Lambeth LA would consider over allocating, accommodating the extra sibling considering that it is highly likely that the school will experience a rejection of an offer, leaving a vacancy for the sibling. However, we would not do this for our primary cohort due to the risks of breaching infant class size legislation. If the school are their own admissions authority, we would seek the opinion of the Governing Body with regards to how they wish to support family’s with twins, triplets, etc where an offer cannot be made to all the siblings. b). What is your policy when the last place of the admission number is allocated to one twin (or fewer than all born in a multiple birth)? As above 2a). What is your policy on the admission of twins (and multiple births) to secondary school? As above b) What is your policy when the last place of the admission number is allocated to one twin (or fewer than all born in a multiple birth)? 3) Please indicate below, those Foundation and Voluntary Aided schools within your area, that do not have a policy on admission of twins (and multiple births). All schools operate a distance based criterion or random allocation to determine multiple birth offers.