Issue - meetings

This report seeks agreement to the proposed admission arrangements for Brent community schools and schemes of co-ordination for 2027-28 in accordance with statutory requirements with Admission authorities required to determine their admission arrangements by 28 February in the determination year.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To agree (“determine”) the proposed admission arrangements for Brent community schools and schemes of co-ordination for all maintained schools and academies in Brent for the 2027/2028 academic year as detailed within Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

(2)       To note the scheme of co-ordination in place for the 2027-2028 offer year for co-ordinated applications to start school in years Reception, 3, 7 and 10.

(3)       To note that the determined admission arrangements for 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 will be updated in April 2026 to change the name of Malorees Infant School to Malorees Primary School following the amalgamation of the Malorees Infant and Junior schools.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 26 January 2026

Councillor Grahl (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Employment) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Children, Young People and Community Development outlining the proposed admission arrangements for Brent Community schools and Schemes of Coordination for 2027-28 (as set out within Appendices 1 & 2 of the report) which required determination and approval by the Admission Authority, in accordance with statutory requirements and timescales.

In presenting the report, Councillor Grahl advised members that the key aim within the proposed admission arrangements and schemes of co-ordination remained to ensure that every child in Brent had the opportunity to access high-quality education as a means of establishing the foundation for their future success and wellbeing.  In recognising the financial challenges being experienced by many schools in relation to falling pupil numbers and increased demand for SEND provision the establishment of effective admission arrangements was therefore recognised as more than an administrative requirement, with the need for a clear, stable and transparent process regarded as key in ensuring places continued to be allocated in a fair way enabling the needs of young people and their families to be prioritised and addressed.

Officers and schools were thanked for their support to ensure that the approach established enabled children from all backgrounds across the borough to have access to local schools with members advised the arrangements outlined remained consistent with previous years, subject to minor drafting changes and an adjustment in relation to an increase in the Published Admission Number at Anson Primary School from 52 to 56 places on order to support the school’s sustainability.  In addition, members were advised that as part of the continued approach towards fairness and transparency the scheme also included additional clarity around the resolution of parental disputes.

In welcoming the transparent nature of the arrangements, given the importance and impact of the school admission process on families and young people, members commended what they felt to be the thorough and fair nature of the proposals outlined along with delivery of the commitment made to avoid the need for school closure in seeking to forward plan and manage demand for school places, across Brent compared to the approach across other parts of London.

In support of the fair and transparent nature of the approach outlined, Cabinet therefore RESOLVED:

(1)       To agree (“determine”) the proposed admission arrangements for Brent community schools and schemes of co-ordination for all maintained schools and academies in Brent for the 2027/2028 academic year as detailed within Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

(2)       To note the scheme of co-ordination in place for the 2027-2028 offer year for co-ordinated applications to start school in years Reception, 3, 7 and 10.

(3)       To note that the determined admission arrangements for 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 will be updated in April 2026 to change the name of Malorees Infant School to Malorees Primary School following the amalgamation of the Malorees Infant and Junior schools.