A proposed change in admission arrangements by Hertfordshire Council Council could see 26 schools added to the "nearest school" definition for the primary sector.

The county council proposed the new definition in its school admission policy following a consultation exercise that ran between October 26 and December 6 last year.

A report to the Education, Libraries and Localism Cabinet Panel stated the proposed amendment followed discussions with the Diocese of St Albans which represents all own admission authority Church of England schools in Hertfordshire.

The county council must determine on an annual basis the admission arrangements and published admission number for all community and voluntary schools. It currently prioritises children who live nearest to the school under Rule Five.

The current definition for 'nearest school' excludes schools that allocated places on the basis of faith. But the new definition will include schools that allocate places on the basis of faith if they give priority to local children above members of a particular faith.

At a meeting on Wednesday (February 10), the panel agreed to recommend to cabinet that the admission arrangements for 2022/23 are amended as follows:

The definition of "nearest" school for schools in the primary sector is changed.

The new wording is now: "Children for whom it is the nearest school or academy. This includes all schools except those which allocate places on the basis of faith (membership or practice) before allocating on the basis of distance/location."

If agreed by cabinet at its meeting on Monday (Feb 22), a total of 26 Church of England primary, first and junior schools in mostly rural locations would be added to the "nearest school" definition.