Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area School Admission Arrangements 2027 - 2029
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Democratic Services Location: Phase II Ext: 0185 DDI: 01895 250185 CMD No: 1564 To: COUNCILLOR SUSAN O’BRIEN CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES & EDUCATION c.c. All Members of th e Children, Families and Education Select Committee c.c. Julie Kelly – Corporate Director for Children’ s Services c.c. Laura Baldry – Children’s Services Directorate c.c. Richard Webb – Children’s Services Directorate Date: 21 November 2025 Non-Key Decision request Form D Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area School Admission Arrangements 2027 – 2029 Dear Cabinet Members, Attached is a report requesting that a decision be made by you as an individual Cabinet Member. Democratic Services confirm that this is not a key decision, as such, the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 notice period does not apply. You should take a decision on or after Monday 1 December 2025 in order to meet Constitutional requirements about publication of decisions that are to be made. You may wish to discuss the report with the Corporate Director before it is made. Please indicate your decision on the duplicate memo supplied and return it to me when you have made your decision. I will then arrange for the formal notice of decision to be published. Liz Penny Democratic Services Officer Title of Report: Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area School Admission Arrangements 2027 – 2029 Decision made: Reasons for your decision: (e.g. as stated in report) Alternatives considered and rejected: (e.g. as stated in report) Signed ……………………………………………………… Date…………………….. Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education Cabinet Member Report – 21 November 2025 Page 1 (Part 1 Public) Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area School Admission Arrangements 2027 – 2029 Cabinet Member & Portfolio Cllr Susan O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education Responsible Officer Julie Kelly, Corporate Director Children's Services Report Author & Directorate Laura Baldry, School Placement & Admissions Manager, Education & SEND, Children’s Services Papers with report Appendix A – Hillingdon’s Relevant Area HEADLINES Summary To seek approval for the retention of Hillingdon Council’s current Relevant Area for school admission arrangements for the academic years 2027/28 and 2028/29. Putting our Residents First Delivering on the Council Strategy 2022-2026 This report supports our ambition for residents / the Council of: An efficient, well-run, digital-enabled council working with partners to deliver services to improve the lives of all our residents This report supports our commitments to residents of: A Digital-Enabled, Modern, Well-Run Council Financial Cost None Select Committee Children, Families and Education Select Committee Ward(s) All RECOMMENDATIONS That the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education approve Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area for School Admission Arrangements for 2027–2029 Reasons for recommendation(s) To seek Cabinet Member approval for the retention of Hillingdon Council’s current Relevant Area for school admission arrangements for the academic years 2027/28 and 2028/29, in accordance with statutory requirements. Alternative options considered / risk management 1. Alternative option: Redefining the Relevant Area to impose a radius approach to determine the relevant area for each school was considered. However, this option was not pursued due to the potential for increased complexity, reduced transparency, and the risk of inconsistent consultation practices across schools. Cabinet Member Report – 21 November 2025 Page 2 (Part 1 Public) 2. Proposed option: Retaining the borough-wide Relevant Area mitigates risks associated with fragmented consultation processes and ensures that all stakeholders are engaged fairly . It also aligns with best practice and supports the Council’s commitment to inclusive and fair access to education. Democratic compliance / previous authority This recommendation complies with the statutory requirements set out in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and associated regulations. The current proposal continues the established approach and reflects the outcomes of the recent consultation. The Cabinet Member can approve school organisational proposals. Approval by the Cabinet Member will ensure the Council remains compliant with its legal obligations and maintains a consistent framework for school admission consultations. Select Committee comments None at this stage. SUPPORTING INFORMATION 1. Under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Education (Relevant Areas for Consultation on Admission Arrangements) Regulations 1999, local authorities are required to determine and review the Relevant Area for school admission consultations every two years. The Relevant Area defines the geographical scope within which admission authorities must consult on proposed admission arrangements. 2. Hillingdon Council currently defines the Relevant Area as the entire geographical area of the borough of Hillingdon. This approach ensures consistency and inclusivity in consultation processes across all schools, regardless of their admission authority status. 3. It is proposed that the Council retains the existing Relevant Area for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 academic years. This means that all schools within the borough, whether maintained, academies, or faith schools , will continue to consult within the borough- wide framework. Financial Implications There are no direct financial implications arising from the determination of the Relevant Area itself. The process is managed within existing staffing and operational resources in the School Placement and Admissions Team. Any future costs associated with consultation activities or communication with stakeholders will be absorbed within existing budgets. The retention of the current Relevant Area avoids the need for additional administrative or system changes, thereby ensuring cost-efficiency and continuity. Cabinet Member Report – 21 November 2025 Page 3 (Part 1 Public) RESIDENT BENEFIT & CONSULTATION The benefit or impact upon Hillingdon residents, service users and communities The retention of a borough-wide Relevant Area ensures that all Hillingdon residents and service users benefit from a transparent, inclusive, and consistent school admissions consultation process. It promotes clarity across all schools, helping parents and carers to understand and engage with admission arrangements more easily. This approach supports community cohesion by ensuring that all schools, regardless of governance are accountable to the wider borough community during consultation periods. It also reinforces the Council’s commitment to fairness and accessibility in education, contributing positively to outcomes for children and families across Hillingdon. Consultation & Engagement carried out (or required) A public consultation was held from 18 September 2025, closing on 27 October 2025. Stakeholders invited to respond included: • Governing bodies and admission authorities of all schools within Hillingdon • Neighbouring local authorities (Buckinghamshire, Ealing, Harrow, Hertfordshire, Hounslow, Slough, Surrey, Windsor and Maidenhead) • Faith representatives for schools with a religious character • Other interested parties within the borough The consultation was also added to our website and Hillingdon’s social media platforms to allow anybody else interested to respond. No feedback was received during the consultation period. CORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS Corporate Finance Corporate Finance have reviewed this report and concur with the Financial Implications set out above, noting approval is sought for the Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area for School Admission Arrangements for 2027-2029. Furthermore, it is noted that there are no direct financial implications associated with the recommendation contained within this report. The process associated will be delivered using the existing resources within the School Placement and Admissions Team. Any future expenditure related to consultation or stakeholder engagement will be met from within the existing approved budgets. Legal Admission authorities are responsible for determining admission arrangements for a school year in advance pursuant to the s ection 88C of the S chool Standards and F ramework Act 1998. Section 88F of the School Standards and Framework Act 19 98 and regulation 12 of the School Admissions (Admission Arrangements and Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Cabinet Member Report – 21 November 2025 Page 4 (Part 1 Public) Regulations 2012 (“the 2012 Regulations”) impose consultation and notification requirements for admission arrangements and, in this context, refer to a ‘relevant area’. Legal Services confirm that pursuant to the Education (Relevant Areas for Consultation on Admission Arrangements) Regulations 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”), the Council , as local education authority, is responsible for determining the relevant area for schools in Hillingdon, and regulation 11 requires the Council to review the defined relevant area at least every 2 years. The 1999 Regulations also set out procedural requirements for determining and reviewing the relevant area, including consultation (regulation 6), listing parties who must be consulted with and imposing a minimum 30-day consultation period. Consultation must also meet the standard set by established common law principles in public law, namely fairness and adequacy. The relevant area can be defined in various ways, informed by consultation and review. This report recommends retaining the current relevant area: the entire geographical area of the borough of Hillingdon. This report states that the recommendation comes after consideration of the best approach in terms of transparency, inclusivity, and consistency and a formal consultation process in which no objections were received. Provided all consultation requirements were met, there are no legal implications to the Council following the recommendation of this report. If the recommendation is followed, the Council will need to proceed to comply with the notification requirements stated in r egulation 8 of the 1999 Regulations. The Council must then also ensure that when it is time to consult on its own admission arrangements for maintained schools pursuant to the 2012 Regulations it does so in accordance with the defined relevant area. The Council must also ensure to carry out a formal review of the relevant area in no later than 2 years’ time. Property None at this stage. Comments from other relevant service areas None at this stage. BACKGROUND PAPERS Nil. TITLE OF ANY APPENDICES Appendix A – Hillingdon’s Relevant Area Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area for Consultation on School Admission Arrangements from September 2027 Page 1 of 2 Relevant Area for consultation on school admission arrangements The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and regulations made under it require local education authorities to establish the Relevant Area(s) for consultation on admission arrangements. The Relevant Area denotes the geographical area in which admission authorities must consult regarding their proposed admission arrangements before finalising them. The Education (Relevant Areas for Consultation on Admission Arrangements) Regulations 1999 requires local education authorities to consult on and review their determination of the Relevant Area every 2 years. Proposal for Relevant Area Currently, the Relevant Area for all schools within Hillingdon for consultation on their admission arrangements is the whole geographical area of the borough of Hillingdon. Hillingdon Council proposes retaining this as the Relevant Area so that it continues from the 2027/28 academic year. Effect of proposal on scope of consultation on school admission arrangements Pursuant to regulations (and as set out in paragraph 1.47 of the School Admissions Code 2021) , this proposal for the Relevant Area would entail consultation on admission arrangements as follows: 1) For a school where Hillingdon Council is the admission authority, Hillingdon Council will consult on admission arrangements for the school with: • the governing body of the school • the admission authorities for all other schools within the borough of Hillingdon (except that in the case of a primary school, the Council need only consult with the admission authorities for other primary schools; there is no need to consult with the admission authorities for secondary schools) • all 8 neighbouring local authorities (Buckinghamshire County Council , London Borough of Ealing, London Borough of Harrow, Hertfordshire County Council, London Borough of Hounslow, Slough Borough Council , Surrey County Council, and Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead) • parents of children aged between the ages of 2 and 18 in the borough of Hillingdon • such other persons in the borough of Hillingdon who in the opinion of the Council have an interest in the proposed admission arrangements • in the case of a school which is designated as having a religious character , the relevant faith representative 2) For a school where the governing body is the admission authority, the governing body will consult on admission arrangements for the school with: • Hillingdon Council • the admission authorities for all other schools within the borough of Hillingdon (except that in the case of a primary school, the governing body need only Page 2 of 2 consult with the admission authorit ies for other primary schools ; there is no need to consult with the admission authorities for secondary schools) • parents of children aged between the ages of 2 and 18 in the borough of Hillingdon • such other persons in the borough of Hillingdon who in the opinion of the governing body have an interest in the proposed admission arrangements • in the case of a school which is designated as having a religious character, the relevant faith representative 3) For an Academy school, the proprietor / Academy trust, as admission authority for the school, will consult on admission arrangements for the school with: • Hillingdon Council • the admission authorities for all other schools within the borough of Hillingdon (except that in the case of a primary school, the proprietor / Academy trust need only consult with the admission authorities for other primary schools; there is no need to consult with the admission authorities for secondary schools) • parents of children aged between the ages of 2 and 18 in the borough of Hillingdon • such other persons in the borough of Hillingdon who in the opinion of the proprietor / Academy trust have an interest in the proposed admission arrangements • in the case of a school which is designated as having a religious character, the relevant faith representative
View Decision / Minutes Text
Executive Decision Notice – 01 December 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DECISION NOTICE
PUBLISHED BY DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Notice is hereby given that the following decision(s) have been made today by
Cabinet Members at the London Borough of Hillingdon:
Title of decision Hillingdon Council’s Relevant Area School Admission
Arrangements 2027 – 2029
Reference No. 1564
Date of decision Monday 01 December 2025
Call-in expiry date Monday 08 December 2025
Relevant Select
Committee
Children, Families and Education Select Committee
Relevant Wards All
Decision made
Cabinet Members making
the decision
Councillor Susan O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Children,
Families & Education
Decision Approved
The Cabinet Member for Children, Families &
Education approved Hillingdon Council’s
Relevant Area for School Admission
Arrangements for 2027–2029
Reason for decision The recommendations ensure that all Hillingdon residents
and service users benefit from a transparent, inclusive, and
consistent school admissions consultation process.
Retaining the Council’s current Relevant Area for the
academic years 2027/28 and 2028/29, in line with statutory
requirements, promotes clarity across all schools and helps
parents and carers understand and engage with admission
arrangements more easily.
Alternative options
considered and rejected
1. Redefining the Relevant Area to impose a radius
approach to determine the relevant area for each
school was considered. However, this option was not
pursued due to the potential for increased complexity,
reduced transparency, and the risk of inconsistent
consultation practices across schools.
2. Retaining the borough -wide Relevant Area mitigates
risks associated with fragmented consultation
processes and ensures that all stakeholders are
engaged fairly. It also aligns with best practice and
supports the Council’s commitment to inclusive and
fair access to education.
Executive Decision Notice – 01 December 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Classification Part I - Public
Link to associated report The Link to the report can be found here
Relevant Officer contact
& Directorate
Laura Baldry, School Placement & Admissions Manager,
Education & SEND, Children’s Services
Any interest declared by
the Cabinet Member(s) /
dispensation granted
N/A
Implementation of decision & scrutiny call-in
[Internal Use only]
When can this
decision be
implemented by
officers?
Officers can implement Cabinet Member decision in this notice only
from the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is:
5pm on Monday 08 December 2025
However, this is subject to the decision not being called in by
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee. Upon receipt of a
valid call-in request, Democratic Services will immediately advise
the relevant officer(s) and the decision must then be put on hold.
Councillor scrutiny
call-in of this
decision
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee shown in this notice
may request to call-in this decision. The request must be before the
expiry of the scrutiny call-in period above.
Councillors should use the Scrutiny Call-in App (link below) on their
devices to initiate any call-in request. Further advice can be sought
from Democratic Services if required:
Scrutiny Call-In - Power Apps (secure)
Further information These decisions, where applicable, have been taken under The
Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access
to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.
This is the formal notice by the Council of the above executive
decision, including links to the reports where applicable.
If you would like more information on this decision, please contact
Democratic Services on 01895 250636 or email:
democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Circulation of this decision notice is to a variety of people including
Members of the Council, Corporate Directors, Officers, Group
Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on the
Council’s website.
Democratic Services
London Borough of Hillingdon
Civic Centre
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Executive Decision Notice – 01 December 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk