Summary

A woman complains about the way a school admission appeals panel conducted her appeal against the refusal of an infant class place at her preferred school for her son.

The complaint

Specifically she says the council's presenting officer gave the panel an incorrect explanation of the method used to allocate a place at the school where there was a triple tie for the last available place. The woman says the council's refused to explain the system of random allocation that was used. She also complains that the council has not operated the waiting list for the school correctly.

The Ombudsman upheld the complaint and found fault not causing injustice.

Recommendations

• The council should check whether any parent lost a school place within its area in September 2015 as a result of the use of the policy amended in breach of the School Admissions Code and, if so, offer the place.
• We are satisfied that the current admissions arrangements for 2016-17 have been properly determined. However to prevent a recurrence, the council should in future make any amendments to its policy in accordance with the timescales set out in the School Admissions Code.

The council has agreed to carry out these recommendations.

Ombudsman satisified with council's response: 8 July 2016

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