Announcement

Determined Admission Arrangements for 2022/23 : Consultation Report

1.    Background
Venturers Trust is the admission authority for all schools within the Trust.  Admission arrangements are reviewed and determined on an annual basis by the governing body and trustees.  There are no guarantees that admissions criteria set in previous years will remain the same in future years for parents wishing to apply for their child(ren).
Whenever an admission authority for a state school wishes to make any changes to its admission arrangements it is required to conduct a statutory consultation following the timetable set out in the Schools Admissions Code.
The consultation process took place for changes proposed to the 2022/2023 admission arrangements for Barton Hill Academy, Colston’s Girls’ School, and its 6th Form (V6), Fairlawn Primary School and The Dolphin School.  The consultation ran for a six-week period from 23rd November 2020 to 15th January 2021.

2.    The proposed changes

Barton Hill Academy
Queen Ann Road, Barton Hill, Bristol, BS5 9TX
Proposal 
To reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN) from 90 to 60 for entry into Reception for Barton Hill Academy with effect from 1st September 2022.  This means that the number of pupils admitted into the academy at Reception is limited to 60.
 
Reducing the PAN will assist Venturers Trust in providing stability to their long-term planning while continuing to provide an appropriate number of places for future pupil numbers living in the surrounding area and attending one of the local primary schools.
 
Other aspects of the Admission Criteria have been updated and include specific reference to out of age group applications and summer born children.

Colston’s Girls’ School
Cheltenham Road, Bristol, BS6 5RD

Proposal
To remove from the CGS admissions criteria ‘pupils currently at The Dolphin School’ so that pupils attending The Dolphin School will no longer be given priority in the event that the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admission number.

To amend the definition of ‘Sibling’ to include any child of either parent’s partner, if they live as one family unit at the same address, as well as children who are brought together permanently as a family by a same-sex civil partnership.

To clarify the relevance of post code in oversubscription criterion 5.1 (d)

To clarify what will constitute a home address for families of service personnel with a confirmed posting to the area.

To include information about out of normal age range applications.

To clarify what constitutes a late application.

To state obligation to accept an offer of a place and to note that a place offered on basis of fraud may be withdrawn even where the child has started school.

To include reference to right of appeal.

Sixth Form (V6)
Cheltenham Road, Bristol, BS6 5RD

To move the sixth form admissions arrangements to a standalone policy.  

To amend the oversubscription criteria so as to give students at Fairfield High School priority after Looked After Children.

To specify the published admissions number of 120.

To clarify the handling of internal applicants (i.e. those on roll at Colston’s Girls’ School).

To include a tie breaker.

Fairlawn Primary School
Fairlawn Road, Montpelier, Bristol, BS6 5JL

Proposal 
To reduce the Published Admission Numbers (PAN) from 60 to 30 for Fairlawn Primary School with effect from 1st September 2022.  This means that the number of pupils admitted into the academy at Reception is limited to 30.
 
Reducing the PAN will assist Venturers Trust in providing stability to their long-term planning while continuing to provide an appropriate number of places for future pupil numbers living in the surrounding area and attending one of the local primary schools.
 
Clarifying wording around the waiting list, summer born children and out of age group applications.

The Dolphin School
25a Bath Buildings, Bristol, BS6 5PT

Venturers Trust proposes to reduce the published admission number (PAN) of The Dolphin School from 60 to 30 for entry into Reception September 2022.  This means that the number of pupils admitted into the academy at Reception is limited to 30.

Reducing the PAN will assist Venturers Trust in providing stability to their long-term planning while continuing to provide an appropriate number of places for future pupil numbers living in the surrounding area and attending one of the local primary schools.
 
Clarifying wording around the waiting list, summer born children and out of age group applications 

3.    Consultation responses

The consultation was published on the Trust website and relevant school websites and consultations were sent to:

•    Parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen for each school where relevant;
•    Other persons in the relevant area who have an interest in the proposed admissions;
•    All other admission authorities within the relevant area
•    The local authority

3.1    Barton Hill Academy
No responses were received in the consultation period.

Venturers Trust has determined the admission arrangements for Barton Hill Academy as set out for the consultation.
 

3.2    Colston’s Girls’ School
2 responses were received in the consultation period.

1 response was to explore the criteria for additional local applications.

1 response did not object to the changes proposed but asked for the catchment area system to be given some consideration; to address the demand of secondary school places in Bristol and to address the environmental impact of travel.

Venturers Trust response:
Venturers Trust carefully monitors applications to CGS and works closely with Bristol City Council (BCC) to consider any required changes to admissions in order to meet the needs of students.  The region-wide admissions policy was agreed with BCC when CGS became an Academy to minimise disruption to other schools.  In addition, accepting students from across the city and wider region allows a broad group of girls to access an outstanding school and to have the chance to fulfil their potential, achieving to the best of their individual ability, inside and outside the classroom.  However, we do continue to discuss the arrangements with BCC and other stakeholders and will feed your views into that debate.
We are very aware of the impact of the school generally on the environment and in particular of the transport of our students to and from school.  There is a duty to promote sustainable school travel and therefore the use of public transport is usually encouraged rather than the use of private cars (the current pandemic notwithstanding).
Venturers Trust has determined the admission arrangements for Colston’s Girls’ School as set out for the consultation.
 

3.3    V6 Sixth Form
No responses were received in the consultation period.

Venturers Trust has determined the admission arrangements for V6 Sixth Form as set out for the consultation.
 

3.4    Fairlawn Primary School
3 responses were received in the consultation period.

1 response supported the reduction in PAN to 30.

2 responses against the PAN reduction for the following reasons:
-    there are several large residential estates currently being constructed, or for which planning permission has been granted within a mile of the school.  
-    fewer places will reduce the catchment area and could potentially reduce the diversity of children attending the school, which currently has pupils from a wider range of backgrounds and has a positive influence on the school.

Venturers Trust response:

Venturers Trust gives assurance that the admissions policy at each school is constantly under review.  If it becomes apparent that local or city-wide factors drive additional demand, we can revisit the admission numbers at Fairlawn or any other of our schools. Please be aware that whilst this consultation seeks to reduce the published admission number for Fairlawn, it is also possible to seek to increase the admission number if required. We will continue to monitor the number of applications for school places in the local area and would be keen to welcome more pupils into the school, should the need arise.
Currently there is a surplus of primary school places across the city with reducing numbers of resident children and a reduction in birth rates recorded in the last 4 years. Therefore, families do have more choice when selecting a primary school and applications can be received from a wider geographical area with a diverse representation that enriches the school culture.
Venturers Trust believe that all children from all backgrounds should have the same opportunity to succeed no matter what race, ethnicity, culture or faith they identify with.  David Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Venturers Trust is leading the BAME Network for the South West’s Regional School Commissioner and understands the importance of representing our wonderfully diverse community.  The comments raised will input to the wider debate in the region.  He and the Venturers Trust Board strongly believe that education is the key to ensuring we create the world we want to live in.
Venturers Trust has determined the admission arrangements for Fairlawn Primary School as set out for the consultation.
 

3.5    The Dolphin School
2 responses were received in the consultation period.

The 2 responses were in support of the reduction in PAN to 30.

Venturers Trust has determined the admission arrangements for The Dolphin School as set out for the consultation.