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New Appeals Code for parents comes into force: Admissions law, councils and schools told to comply
Some councils and schools may be flouting the new tougher, mandatory School Admissions Code, according to the Government. The majority of schools' admissions policies comply with the Code – which rules out subjective arrangements, which penalise low–income families, or vulnerable children, with disabilities, special educational needs or in care. But the Government has warned that not all parents and children have got a fair chance to get into a school of their choice this September, despite the Code coming into force almost 12 months ago. The new mandatory Admission Appeals Code for parents will bring greater legal force, clarity, consistency and independence to the appeals system. The independent Office of the School Adjudicator, which regulates the admission system, has investigated objections against 79 schools in the last year, where their admission criteria and practices have breached legislation or the Code. Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "The vast majority of schools have adhered to the mandatory School Admissions Code meaning that hundreds of thousands of children have a fair and equal chance of getting into a school of their choice, regardless of their background. "But I am very concerned that formal complaints and other anecdotal evidence suggest that some local authorities and schools are not complying with the law.
The Government will continue to measure and monitor the Code's impact on children and families over time but will give additional support to local authorities, schools and parents to ensure it is enforced on the ground. It will also publish new guides for parents in the spring to help them understand the system and how they can complain if they find admissions that they think may be unlawful. The new Admission Appeals Code balances the right of parents to have a fair hearing and the right of schools to be protected against admitting more pupils than originally planned, if that will have a detrimental effect on children's education. By law all admission authorities, governing bodies, admission forums, schools adjudicators and appeals panels now have to adhere to the Code – previously they only had to have 'regard' to it. To read the School Admission Appeals Code visit the Department for Children, Schools and Families website at: www.dcsf.gov.uk. From your browser | Email the page | Email the page link | Print the page | Add page to favourites ········································································································································
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