Department for Education
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Parents to get clearer school admissions system under new proposals

Parents to get clearer school admissions system under new proposals

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2008/0111) issued by The Government News Network on 12 June 2008

New measures making the admissions system easier for parents to navigate have been published today for consultation by Schools Minister Jim Knight.

Mr Knight said he wanted to make the admissions process clearer, particularly to primary schools; give parents better quality information to get the most out of the system; and give them more say over setting local admissions arrangements.

The key proposal is that all parents' applications for primary or secondary schools will be coordinated by the local authority where they live - whenever they are made and whatever the age of the child. This will give them a single point of enquiry for all school applications.

The measures would bring the systems for secondary and primary applications into line, building on the reforms coming into effect in 2005 to coordinate the handling of admissions for each September.

The consultation follows the commitment in the Children's Plan, published last December, to make the application and allocation process easier for parents.

Other proposals include:

* clarifying the existing School Admissions Code to underline that schools can ask parents to support their ethos - as long as it doesn't imply that they have to give time or money in support of that ethos;

* giving parents the legal right to apply to at least three primary schools - currently some parents can only apply for one;

* creating a standardised application form, to be used by every local authority, for parents to express their preferences on;

* to introduce a new requirement for parents and other groups to be consulted on changes to proposed admission arrangements;

* improving the information that local authorities provide to parents so they can make clear and reasoned choices about which schools to apply for;

* encouraging own-admissions schools to contract outside organisations, including local authorities and religious authorities, to handle their appeals administration - as already happens in some areas. This will increase transparency and lift the burden of appeals from their staff; and

* fleshing out the tough new measures in the current Education and Skills Bill, first announced in March, to ensure that local authorities and schools comply with admissions law, so every child has a fair and equal chance of getting into a school of their choice.

Jim Knight said:

"Parents always tell me they want a place for their child at a good, local school. Over nine out of 10 children already get a place at one of their preferred schools - the vast majority at their first choice - thanks to there being undeniably better schools than a decade ago.

"I am concerned that many parents find admissions far too complicated. Applying to a school shouldn't be an overly stressful, bureaucratic and opaque process. It is clearly not right that while many parents know the ropes and can get the best out of the system, others do not know where to start.

"These measures will make the application process far more straightforward and give every parent the clear information they need so their child gets into the right school.

"Today's consultation builds on the School Admissions Code and is another important step towards ensuring that admissions are fair for all parents and families. The bottom line is that parents should choose schools, not schools choose parents."

On Schools asking parents to support their ethos, Mr Knight said:

"A strong ethos is at the heart of a good school, including many of our faith schools. Parents want schools to have a distinct identity and set of values so they can understand how their children will be educated and to give them real option.

"The revised School Admissions Code will underline that schools can include a clear statement of their ethos in their published admission arrangements and ask parents to support that ethos when applying.

"We have worked very closely with the major faith groups. We are proposing clear guidelines for schools in preparing their statement of ethos and to reinforce that they cannot prioritise parents according to their willingness to lend practical support to the school - like making financial contributions or giving up their time. "

A new revised School Admissions Code, School Admission Appeals Code and regulations are published today for a four-month consultation until October 2 this year, with three major regional conferences over the summer to discuss them with key stakeholders, including local authorities, headteachers and faith groups.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The School Admissions Consultation Summary; draft School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code and regulations are available at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/sacode

2. The key proposals in the consultation include:

* Clearer Application and Allocation Process

- All applications for primary or secondary schools, at whatever time of year, whatever the age of the child will be coordinated by their home local authority;

- One point of enquiry and application for all school applications;

- Legal right to apply to at least three primary schools - currently some parents can only apply for one at a time;

- Standardised application form, to be used by every local authority, for parents to express their preferences on - this would ask for basic information so admission authorities to assess an application. Supplementary admission forms would continue to be allowed for oversubscribed schools, but must be available from the local authority as well as the school..

The current system means that parents apply to their own home local authorities for September entry to secondary schools whereas, they apply to the local authority where the school is based for September entry to primary schools - meaning many parents living near their local authority boundary, often have to deal with two or three different councils.

Parents who have moved house and are seeking a primary or secondary school place during the school year often have to deal with individual schools directly.

* Fairer Admissions

- The Education and Skills Bill sets out new requirement for local authorities to report annually to the independent watchdog, the Schools Adjudicator, on admissions in their areas. It also gives the School Adjudicator new powers to proactively police the admissions system.

- Draft Regulations and revised School Admission Code sets out the form and content of these reports and require admission authorities to provide information to the Adjudicator and amend their arrangements if required.

- The revised Code now underlines that admission authorities must not ask for voluntary financial contributions or make any reference to them as part of the admission process - as set out in the Education Act 1996.

* Better Local Consultation and Information for Parents:

- Local parents and community groups with an interest will be consulted about any change in local admission arrangements;

- Every local authority will have to publish admissions prospectuses for each local school on-line, on a set date - not just on hard-copy. It must give a full and clear explanation of the admission process and how many applications each school got last year - this will build on the national network of Choice Advisers, which will be up and running in every local authority by September.

* Lifting burdens of Admission Appeals administration:

- Ensuring transparency and separation of roles in the appeals process, and reducing administrative burdens on schools. Most local authorities ensure that the appeals process for their schools is managed by staff who do not work in their Children's Services Department. For some schools which are their own admission authorities, appeals are managed by other bodies, such as their local Diocese. The consultation seek views on encouraging such arrangements.

* Supporting The Ethos of a School

- Clarifying the existing School Admissions Code and setting out guidelines to underline that schools can ask parents to support their ethos on the admission application form, but not ask or infer that they must give up their time or money to support it.

* Expanding Popular Schools

- Relaxing rules to make it easier for successful and popular schools to meet parental demand, by allowing them to admit pupils over and above their 'published admission number'.

* Supporting Armed Forces Families

- The consultation asks families of armed forces personnel for their experience of the admissions system - particularly when many have to move home at short notice. This will help support the Government's Service Personnel Command Paper to improve access to public services for service personnel.

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