Hi everyone
Well the weather has certainly taken a turn for the worse here in the North West. It’s very wet and much cooler. I’m resisting putting the heating on as it’s a sign of Autumn arriving (which I do not want to think about just yet) but I don’t think it will be long before I give in. We have gone from shorts and tee shirts to jumpers, coats and umbrellas in the space of 48 hours.
Annual Conference & Awards 2021
Time is whizzing by and arrangements are in full flow for our virtual conference on 25 & 26 November. It promises to be a cracking event, spread over two half days, with of course the increasingly coveted ADSO awards included on Thursday 25 November at 6pm. You can book your place at a cost of £70 plus VAT for ADSO members and £95 plus VAT for non-members.
We will also be holding the AGM during the conference including the election of Directors for 2021/22. If you are interested in putting your name forward please access the information and nomination form. If you want to find out more, please drop me an e mail.
Manifesto for Councillors
Our Non-Executive Director, Emeritus Professor Colin Copus, has published with the Local Government Information Unit a ‘Manifesto for Councillors’. Copies can be downloaded here: https://lgiu.org/publication/a-manifesto-for-councillors/
Colin has asked if you would kindly circulate it to your members. I’m sure they will find it helpful.
School Appeals Webinars
Many of you attended the ‘School Appeals: The Basics’ webinar last week and we hope you found it useful. If you weren’t able to attend or you wanted to access the sample templates, you can find these, a recording of the session and the PowerPoint presentation on our Webinar Programme page.
Ann Coldicott and Rachel Williamson will be back on 10 November for a Best Practice session. For more information, and to book your free place, visit ‘ADSO Webinar – School Appeals: Best Practice’. As part of the session, there is an opportunity to put your questions to Ann and Rachel. My thanks to both for running such valuable webinars.
School Admissions Regulations
As you may know The School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (“the temporary regulations”) and accompanying guidance were introduced in April 2020. These temporary regulations give admission authorities, local authorities and admission appeal panels more flexibility when dealing with appeals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The temporary regulations were extended in January 2021 and were due to expire on 30 September. However, Government has further extended the temporary regulations through the School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, so the temporary arrangements will now apply until 30 September 2022.
The related guidance has also been updated. The updates reflect the change in date and add clarity on when the temporary arrangements should be used. There are no changes to policy or process.
The temporary regulations and guidance only apply where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with the School Admission Appeals Code for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, the extension does not mean the flexibility will be available for all admission authorities to use all the time. It means the temporary arrangements are available to use only when they are needed – when they are not, the duty to comply with The School Admission (Appeal Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Admissions Appeals Code remains.
Our reading of this is that you should therefore hold physical meetings unless there is a clear risk regarding COVID. That risk may not be so clear cut, so some judgement calls will need to be made.
Housing Communities and Local Government committee report
The House of Commons Housing Communities and Local Government committee report on the progress of devolution in England has been published and can be accessed on the link below:
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7467/documents/78200/default/
Have a great week and please don’t forget your conference booking.
John Austin, Chair