London Borough of Redbridge (19 005 222)

Statement Upheld School admissions 07-Oct-2019

Summary: Mrs D complains there were flaws in the procedure followed by a school admission appeal panel. We uphold the complaint finding the panel did not follow the correct decision making process for selective school appeals. We consider this may have affected the outcome of the appeal. The Council has agreed these findings and arranged a fresh appeal.

London Borough of Redbridge (19 005 299)

Statement Upheld School admissions 07-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr K complained the Council wrongly measured the distance from his home to his nearest primary school when it refused his child a place at the school. We found fault agreeing this to be the case and finding an independent education appeal panel failed to correct the decision on appeal. The Council agreed to make a place available at the school for Mr K’s child which remedied the injustice caused by its error.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (19 005 800)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 07-Oct-2019

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council’s school admissions appeal panel considered this appeal for a Reception class place. The Ombudsman has therefore completed his investigation.

Bitterne Park School (19 009 638)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 04-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman does not have grounds to investigate this complaint from a parent about the school admission appeal panel’s decision to turn down his appeal. This is because there is no sign of fault in the way the panel made its decision.

Archbishop Beck Catholic College (19 003 789)

Statement Upheld School admissions 30-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman does not uphold Miss X’s complaint about how the appeal panel considered the impact of a gang related incident on her daughter. However, there were other faults in the way the panel considered Miss X’s appeal for a school place. This means Miss X cannot be sure the panel considered her appeal properly. The admission authority will offer a fresh appeal for Miss X and remind all clerks of the requirements set out in the Appeals Code for recording decision making and issuing decision letters.

Archbishop Beck Catholic College (19 003 815)

Statement Upheld School admissions 30-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman does not uphold Miss X’s complaint about the admission authority not providing information about the need to complete a supplementary form. However, there was fault in the way the panel considered Miss X’s appeal for a school place. This means Miss X cannot be sure the panel considered her appeal properly. The admission authority will offer a fresh appeal for Miss X and remind all clerks of the requirements set out in the Appeals Code for recording decision making and issuing decision letters.

East Sussex County Council (19 004 352)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 30-Sep-2019

Summary: Miss X complains about the way an admissions appeal panel considered her appeal for a secondary school place for her son. The Ombudsman does not find fault with how the admissions appeal panel considered the appeal.

London Borough of Enfield (19 005 747)

Statement Upheld School admissions 30-Sep-2019

Summary: the Clerk’s failure to make a record of the Panel’s voting at both stages of Mr X’s school admission appeal hearing was fault. But this fault did not cause injustice to Mr X. Other records from the appeal hearing confirm the Panel members had decided to refuse his appeal.

Wokingham Borough Council (19 002 486)

Statement Upheld School admissions 30-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s refusal to allow his summer born twins to start school at age 5 in Reception year, causing them injustice. The Ombudsman finds fault in the Council’s decision making process. The Ombudsman recommends the Council apologises, makes its decision again in line with the School Admissions Code and Government Guidance and acts to prevent recurrence.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (19 010 428)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 30-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a school waiting list and application. It is reasonable to expect Mr X to appeal the Council’s decision not to grant a place for his child at their preferred school. They have not been caused an injustice by the Council temporarily removing D’s name from a school waiting list.