Summary: We cannot consider Mrs X’s complaint about an unsuccessful school admission appeal for her son. This is because the law prevents us from considering complaints about admission appeals for academy schools.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained about an unsuccessful school admission appeal for her son.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. But we cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as school academies, or school admission appeal panels which consider appeals for academies. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34A, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because the law prevents us from considering complaints about admission appeals for academy schools. Mrs X can complain to the Education and Skills Funding Agency as the body responsible for considering such complaints.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman