School Admission Arrangements for the 2015/16 term have been approved by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet.
School Admission Arrangements provide a clear, fair and objective legislative framework that allows parents’ preference of school for their child to be considered when allocating pupils to schools across the county borough.
Over the last few months the Council has been consulting with key consultees including Headteachers, all Chairs of Governors and neighbouring local authorities with a view to determining School Admission Arrangements ahead of the 2015/16 term.
The only significant change to this year’s admission arrangements is an alteration to the way admissions are handled in Islwyn West with a review of catchment areas.
The proposal is the result of Caerphilly County Borough Council commencing consultation on the Secondary Rationalisation Phase 1, which is part of the 21st Century Schools Programme.
Phase 1 of the project focuses on the Islwyn West region of Caerphilly, and is proposing to close the existing Pontllanfraith and Oakdale comprehensive schools and build a new school on the Oakdale Plateau 3. This proposal would see Islwyn West served by the existing Blackwood Comprehensive and a new school site. The Council has secured funding of £20 million to deliver this exciting project.
It is planned that the new school will have a capacity of 900 plus provision for 50 additional learning needs pupils. In order to ensure that pupil numbers are balanced between the new school and Blackwood there will be a review of catchment areas and admission numbers.
Members of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet approved the School Admission Arrangements for 2015/16 during their meeting on Wednesday 2nd April.
For more information about School Admission Arrangements, please visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk.
