Decision details

Approved the recommendations as set out in the report as follows:

Recommendation 1.  Strengthen Bristol City Council’s oversight of Admissions through an Annual update:

a.       Scrutiny to review school admissions information annually and submit a report which tracks the inquiry day recommendations, to the Executive Board. 

b.       It is recommended that the update is presented to scrutiny in late May/early June so observations can be included in the comments section of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) annual report.

c.        An annual meeting with key school representatives and the Council should be set up to review the annual report.

d.       The report should include information on the percentage pupil premium intake in each Bristol school to present to schools for consideration.  The Local Authority should work with Heads & Principals to prioritise pupils eligible for Pupil Premium in their admissions policies.

Recommendation 2.  that the Mayor:

a.       meets with Principals and Chairs of Academy Boards, that have a catchment area that extends beyond Bristol, to discuss increasing the percentage of places reserved for Bristol pupils

b.       requires all new or expanding schools, which receive capital investment from Bristol City Council, to prioritise Bristol pupils as part of their admission criteria.

Recommendation 3.  Officers to work with Councillors and community groups to strengthen advice and support available for parents on admissions processes, building on the successful Health Champions model in Public Health (Appendix 1 provides an outline of Health Champions).  Councillors should actively encourage parents / carers to use all three of their preference choices and include a local school.