Herefordshire Council (25 002 804)

Statement Upheld School admissions 28-Oct-2025

Summary: We found fault on Mrs Y’s complaint about the Council’s refusal of her request to allow her summer born daughter to start Reception at school after her fifth birthday in September 2026. The Council failed to properly consider her request and decided it was in her best interests to start school in 2025. The complaint procedure also failed to identify this failure. The Council agreed to send Mrs Y an apology, reconsider her request, and review its published arrangements police and online guidance to ensure its legally correct. It will also provide guidance to Delay Panel members about the correct approach for deciding this type of application. It will also ensure her daughter does not lose a place at the preferred school for September 2026.

Worcestershire County Council (25 007 999)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 22-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of a school admissions application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault, and any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

Pudsey Grammar School (25 008 567)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 19-Oct-2025

Summary: We have ended our investigation into Mrs X’s complaint about how Pudsey Grammar School dealt with her appeal for her child, W, to have a place at the school. That is because W now has a place, so any fault did not cause a significant personal injustice.

London Borough of Harrow (25 006 847)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 13-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about school admissions. This is because we have no power to investigate complaints about admission to free schools or academy schools.

Wiltshire Council (25 012 133)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 09-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the handling of her application for a school sixth-form place. This is because the school involved is no longer within our jurisdiction so an investigation could not achieve a worthwhile outcome.

Central Bedfordshire Council (24 018 080)

Statement Upheld School admissions 06-Oct-2025

Summary: We find the Council at fault for failing to make its own decision on Miss X’s request to delay her summer-born child’s start at school. This caused Miss X frustration, distress and uncertainty. The Council will apologise and improve its service.

Central Bedfordshire Council (24 021 779)

Statement Upheld School admissions 06-Oct-2025

Summary: We find the Council at fault because it is not clear if its decision about Mrs X’s child’s delayed school admission was made by the Council or a school headteacher. This caused Mrs X uncertainty and distress. The Council will apologise.

Whitley Bay High School (25 007 964)

Statement Upheld School admissions 06-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs H complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse her child a place. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code as they do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision or provide details of the votes cast. The School will arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and remind panels and clerks of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.

Whitley Bay High School (25 005 949)

Statement Upheld School admissions 05-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr D complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse his child a place. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code. The notes do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision or provide details of the votes cast. The School will arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and organise refresher training to ensure that panels and clerks are aware of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.

Whitley Bay High School (25 005 877)

Statement Upheld School admissions 02-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs Y complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse her child a place. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code. The notes refer to another’s child’s name and do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision and voted. The School will arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and arrange refresher training to ensure that panels and clerks are aware of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.