Kent County Council (19 019 118)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 13-Mar-2020

Summary: A parent complained that the Council’s Head Teacher Assessment Panel did not properly consider his son’s suitability for admission to grammar school. But the Ombudsman will not investigate this matter because the parent has a right of appeal to an independent appeal panel about a refusal of a place at a grammar school.

Somerset County Council (19 009 299)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 10-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about the school admissions appeal panel’s decision not to admit her daughter to a school. The Ombudsman has found no evidence of fault in the way the appeal panel considered these matters.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (19 016 679)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 10-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council incorrectly applied its policy on shared or joint residence and wrongly decided his son’s normal place of residence for the purposes of applying for a school place is his mother’s address, rather than his own. The Ombudsman finds no fault on the Council’s part.

Sir John Thursby Community College (19 018 322)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 10-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman does not have reason to investigate a parent’s complaint about the school admission appeal panel’s decision to reject his appeal for a place for his daughter at his preferred secondary school. This is because there is no sign of fault by the panel.

Central Foundation Boys' School, Islington (19 012 141)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 02-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms M complains following her unsuccessful appeal for a place for her son, B, at Central Foundation Boys’ School. There was no fault in the appeal which calls the decision into question.

East Sussex County Council (19 006 357)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 02-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s handling of changes to its school admissions policy and its decision on her school admission appeal, denying her the right to a fair hearing. The Ombudsman finds no fault causing injustice.

Birmingham City Council (19 018 730)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 29-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council was at fault in refusing his application and appeal for a school place for his son. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part.

Leeds City Council (19 018 610)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel and so we cannot question the merits of its decision.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 011 491)

Statement Upheld School admissions 28-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms B complains about the conduct of a school admission appeals panel. The Ombudsman finds there was fault in the record keeping at the hearing which calls into question its decision-making. The Council agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendation for a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk, but Ms B rejected this offer as her child is now settled in their new school. The Council agreed to remind appeal panel clerks of the importance of keeping a full and accurate record of the points made at the hearing and full reasons for the panel’s decision, and of the requirement for the retention of such records.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (19 016 683)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 26-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about problems with the Council’s IT systems used for appeals against the refusal of admission to a school. This is because there is insufficient evidence of significant injustice caused by the Council.