Somerset County Council (19 008 041)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 03-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs A’s complaint that the school admission appeal panel was at fault in refusing her appeal for a school place for her daughter. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part.

London Borough of Enfield (19 003 803)

Statement Upheld School admissions 02-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council managed the process which considered his twin daughters’ school admissions appeal. He says the independent panel which heard the case did not properly consider the information he submitted in support of it. The Ombudsman has found the Council was at fault for not considering Mr X’s appeal in full or documenting the reasons behind the panel’s decision. It is possible the panel could have reached a different decision if the case was properly considered. Therefore, we have recommended that Mr X’s appeal be heard again by a new panel not previously connected with the case. We have also made a service improvement recommendation to prevent the faults we have identified from reoccurring. The Council has accepted our recommendations.

London Borough of Enfield (19 004 089)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 02-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council managed the process which considered his son’s school admissions appeal and says he was not allowed to present his case in full. He wants a new panel not previously connected with the appeal to reconsider it so he has the opportunity to present his case in full. The Ombudsman has found the Council was not at fault because the panel considered all the information that Mr X submitted in support of his case that was relevant to the appeal before deciding to reject it.

Kent County Council (18 004 296)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 29-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council failed to make reasonable adjustments for his son, C, when taking the Kent Test which determines eligibility for grammar school places in Kent. He also says that the independent appeals panel did not properly consider his claim of disability discrimination. The Ombudsman has found no fault in the way the Council considered reasonable adjustments for C or the way the panel considered his appeal for a place at his preferred school.

St James's Church of England High School (19 002 990)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 29-Aug-2019

Summary: Miss V complains a school admission appeal acted with fault by not giving her child, W, a place at the school of her choice. She did not feel it considered W’s needs, or the evidence she submitted, appropriately. This complaint is outside of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction as it relates to an academy.

Kent County Council (19 004 300)

Statement Upheld School admissions 28-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman considers that there was fault by the independent appeal panel which considered Ms X’s school admissions appeal. However, he considers this did not cause injustice because it did not affect the outcome.

East Sussex County Council (19 006 420)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 27-Aug-2019

Summary: A parent complained that the Council had unreasonably refused to review the information it asks for in school application forms regarding the child in question’s parents. But the Ombudsman does not have reason to investigate this matter because there is no sign of fault by the Council.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 007 943)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 27-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss A’s complaint that the school admission appeal panel was at fault in refusing her appeal for a school place for her son. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 754)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 23-Aug-2019

Summary: Ms F complains about an unsuccessful school admission appeal. Ms F says the appeal panel was not given the supporting evidence she provided. There was no fault in the administration of the appeal, and so the Ombudsman cannot question the merits of the panel’s decision.

Essex County Council (19 007 309)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 23-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss A’s complaint that the school admission appeal panel was at fault in refusing her appeal for a school place for her son. This is because it is unlikely that we would find fault on the Council’s part.