School admissions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

London Borough of Hounslow (18 019 956)

Statement Upheld School admissions 20-Aug-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not properly considered her application to delay school entry for her summer born child. She says its decision they must start school in Year 1 and not reception is not in their best interests. The Council was not at fault in how it made its decision. There was evidence of inaccurate information in its correspondence and the Council has agreed to review its procedures to remedy this.

Norfolk County Council (19 005 915)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 13-Aug-2019

Summary: The Council was not at fault for the school admissions appeal panel's consideration of Miss B's appeal. As there was no fault in how the panel made its decision, the Ombudsman cannot question the decision itself.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 936)

Statement Upheld School admissions 23-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the way an Independent Appeal Panel considered Miss B's appeal for a school place. This means Miss B cannot be sure the Panel properly considered her appeal. This has caused Miss B an injustice. The Council has agreed to hold a fresh appeal and remind all Clerks of the requirements set out in the Appeals Code for recording decision making and issuing decision letters.

London Borough of Redbridge (19 002 138)

Statement Upheld School admissions 22-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complain about their appeal against the award of a school place for their child, C. The Council was at fault because the Independent Appeal Panel (IAP) were not provided with Mr and Mrs B's additional evidence in time, but there was no fault in how the panel considered the appeal. Mr and Mrs B have not suffered any injustice.

Derby City Council (18 017 521)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 17-Jul-2019

Summary: Miss X complains of fault by a school admissions appeal panel in refusing a school place for her son, causing her serious inconvenience and affecting her health in having to take her children to different schools. The panel conducted the appeal without fault.