Section 41: Role of admission forums
197.This section relates to the functions of admission forums in England. It amends Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the 1998 Act to extend the role of admission forums.
198.Subsection (3) amends section 85A to give admission forums the power to prepare and publish reports on matters connected with admissions to maintained schools in their area. It also enables them to request from the local education authority, neighbouring authorities, and governing bodies, any information they require to fulfil this function and places a duty on those bodies to comply with such a request.
199.Subsection (4) enables regulations to be made in relation to the preparation and publication of reports.
200.Subsection (5) enables regulations to be made modifying any provision of Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the 1998 Act in its application to a joint admission forum.
201.Subsection (6) enables regulations to be made with respect to the expenses of an admission forum. These expenses will usually be defrayed by the local education authority. The regulations may set out any exceptions to this.
202.Subsection (7) substitutes a new subsection (10) in section 89 of the 1998 Act. The effect of the amendment is to broaden the existing definition of ‘appropriate body’ to include admission forums in England. In consequence of this amendment, admission forums must be:
notified by admission authorities of their admission arrangements following determination;
notified by an admission authority of any referral it has made to the adjudicator for a variation of its admission arrangements; and
notified by the relevant admission authority of the effect of any adjudicator’s determination following such a referral.
203.Subsection (8) amends section 90(1) and inserts a new subsection (11) in section 90. The effect of the amendment is to allow an admission forum in England to refer an objection about the admission arrangements of any maintained school in its area to the adjudicator.
