Agenda item

John Holden, Head of School Organisation and Transport and Julie Bunn, Head of Education Access and Engagement attended to take question on the annual update.

 

Councillors had a number of questions on the contents of the report.

 

1. In respect of point 8.4 of the report regarding compliance with school admissions and registration regulations, Councillors questioned why the council used its discretion for a “nearest gate in the federation” policy for home to school transport only for the Reeth and Gunnerside Schools Federation.

 

Officers stated that this reflected individual negotiations with each governing board following detailed public consultations. The nearest gate issue specifically arose and was requested by the federated governing board of the Reeth and Gunnerside Federation and was contingent on the governing board continuing to provide inter‑school transport.

 

A Member proposed asking the Executive (Executive Member) to consider offering the same discretion to Middleton and Spennithorne and Bainbridge and Aiskew (and any future federations). It was later clarified that the decision sat with the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, who confirmed no objections to the proposal had been received within the statutory period but agreed to seek clarity and feedback on whether that option had already been offered and declined.

 

2. Did officers and the Executive Member accept that schools locally were under increasing strain (falling primary rolls, weaker secondary outcomes, disproportionately high permanent exclusions), and what specific actions were being taken to stabilise provision?

 

Officers noted the challenges that were faced by schools arising from falling roll numbers and the consequent impact upon school funding.

 

It was noted that the schools within the constituency are both local authority maintained schools and academies and that, as a result, schools received support in different ways and that there is not a single solution to the issue.

 

The council provides support to small schools, including pupil number forecasts, financial support processes and close work with governing boards on local solutions (e.g. federations).

 

It was noted that 2 small schools were closed within the Committee’s area during 2024-25, one Local Authority maintained school and one academy arising from low pupil numbers.

 

The national context was one of falling birth rates and population movements (with rural and some urban areas affected) being significant drivers. It was not possible to attribute trends to any single factor.

 

3. Why there was no reference to the recent home‑to‑school transport policy, and what assurance was there that it wasn’t contributing to falling published admission numbers, funding pressure or secondary strain? Had an assessment been undertaken, and would it be included in the post‑implementation review?

 

Officers noted that the report related to schools and provided information about performance during a single year.  It was noted that parents make applications for school places based upon a number of factors and that it would not be appropriate to attribute any changes within the context of a single year to one specific issue.  The Council has committed to working with schools during the course of the phased implementation of the policy to monitor its impact, and also to undertaking a post implementation review of the policy.

 

Officers reiterated broader national trends (declining pupil numbers) and ongoing monitoring with schools.

 

4. Reports reference catchment, while families have been told nearest school matters for transport, causing confusion. Can future reports clarify the difference and usage?

 

Officers clarified that the term ‘nearest suitable school’ has been utilised within the context of reports about the Home to School Transfer Policy.

 

Catchment areas continue to be utilised for the purpose of admissions.

 

Officers advised that the Council has provided a ‘nearest school’ school tool on its website to enable parents to identify the nearest schools to their home address, and that parents are then able to access information about those schools via a range a data sources, including schools’ websites and via Ofsted.

 

Decision

 

That the report be noted.