London Borough of Bexley (20 010 068)

Statement Upheld School admissions 10-May-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council's decision not to allow her summer born daughter, who has special educational needs and developmental delay, to start school at age 5 in Reception year rather than Year One. Mrs X complains the Council has not followed the correct process and its decision will mean her daughter will miss out on the Reception year. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council's decision-making process. The Council has agreed to review the decision, apologise to Mrs X, and pay her £100 for her time and trouble pursuing the complaint.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (21 000 313)

Statement Upheld School admissions 28-Apr-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X's complaint about an unsuccessful school admission appeal. This is because the Council has now offered Mr X's child a place at his preferred school and so we could not achieve anything more.

Benton Dene Primary School, Newcastle (20 010 553)

Statement Upheld School admissions 21-Apr-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the admission authority did not properly consider her request for her summer born son to delay starting school into reception until after he reaches compulsory school age. We have found fault with the admission authority's decision-making process. It has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and reconsider her application.

Leicester City Council (20 008 759)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 09-Apr-2021

Summary: there was no fault in the way an Independent Appeal Panel made its decision not to admit Mr F's son to a secondary school. The Ombudsman cannot question decisions made without fault.

London Borough of Redbridge (20 000 043)

Statement Upheld School admissions 09-Apr-2021

Summary: the Council delayed telling Miss B it had withdrawn a place for her son at his allocated school until the start of term and delayed telling her about her right of appeal. This caused a delay in the appeal. An apology, reminder to officers and introduction of a process to follow up with school applicants where residency cannot be confirmed is satisfactory remedy.

Lancashire County Council (20 007 356)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 29-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms X complained the school admissions appeal panel failed to properly consider her appeal for her child to attend year 1 at the school. There was no fault in the way the panel considered the appeal.

Lancashire County Council (20 007 359)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 29-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms X complained the school admissions appeal panel failed to properly consider her appeal for her child to attend year 1 at the school. There was no fault in the way the panel considered the appeal.

Dorset Council (20 003 648)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 26-Mar-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman has decided to discontinue the investigation of Miss X's complaint that an Independent Appeal Panel refused to admit her son to her preferred school. This is because Miss X's son has settled in well to his new school and no longer wishes to be considered for a place at their original preferred choice. This means there is no worthwhile, achievable outcome for Miss X that justifies investigating her complaint.

Sheffield City Council (20 007 278)

Statement Upheld School admissions 05-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr D complains about an unsuccessful admissions appeal. We uphold the complaint, there is fault with the way the appeal was conducted by the panel members. This causes uncertainty as the outcome of the appeal might otherwise have been different. The Council has agreed to arrange and hold a fresh appeal.

Derby City Council (20 007 253)

Statement Upheld School admissions 01-Mar-2021

Summary: The Council is at fault for withdrawing an offer of a place for Ms X's child at her preferred school when she moved to a new house. The Council failed to establish the relevant facts and apply its Admissions Policy to Ms X's case. The appeal panel failed to consider if the policy was properly applied. The Council should re-offer the place.