St Hilda's C of E High School, Liverpool (21 003 642)

Statement Upheld School admissions 13-Jan-2022

Summary: Mrs B complains an independent school admissions appeal panel did not properly consider the details of her appeal. She says the School did not properly consult on changes to its admissions arrangements, which disadvantaged her son. She says the appeal panel did not make any findings about this. The Ombudsman finds fault in how the panel considered Mrs B’s appeal.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (21 014 427)

Statement Upheld School admissions 11-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to award the complainant’s child social or medical priority for their preferred school. This is because the Council has now agreed to the complainant’s request and so we could not achieve anything more.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (21 003 341)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 10-Jan-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained about the decision of an Independent Appeal Panel to refuse her son a place at her chosen school. There was no fault in the way this decision was made.

Holy Souls RC Primary School (21 013 955)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 06-Jan-2022

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

London Borough of Enfield (21 013 626)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 04-Jan-2022

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because while there was some fault by the Council and appeal panel, it was not significant enough for us to become involved. There is also not enough evidence of significant personal injustice to warrant an investigation.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (21 010 754)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 04-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the refusal of admission to the complainant’s preferred school for her daughter. This is because there is no evidence of fault in the way the Independent Appeal Panel (IAP) made its decision, and the alleged injustice would not warrant investigation.

Manchester City Council (21 006 856)

Statement Upheld School admissions 23-Dec-2021

Summary: Mr B says the Council failed to properly consider his daughter’s school admissions appeal. There is no evidence the appeal panel properly considered the two stages of the appeal process. The Council’s arrangements for a further appeal is satisfactory remedy.

Leicestershire County Council (21 006 347)

Statement Upheld School admissions 17-Dec-2021

Summary: the Council did not help Ms M to find a new school for her son, B, quickly enough, but the payment the Council has offered for the education B missed is a suitable remedy.

Archibald First School (21 004 912)

Statement Upheld School admissions 15-Dec-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault on Mr M’s complaint about the school governors failing to properly consider his request for his summer born son to start reception in September 2022 instead of year 1. The school failed to keep records showing what it considered, what it discussed, and the reasons for its decision. The decision letter failed to give full detailed reasons showing the decision met government guidance. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

Holy Family RC & C Of E School (21 005 538)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 15-Dec-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman had discontinued its investigation into Miss X’s complaint about the decision to refuse her appeal for a school place. The school has offered her daughter a place and there is no injustice to remedy even if we had gone on to find fault.