Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is nothing more we could achieve.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains about an unsuccessful school admissions appeal for her child, Y. She says this has caused stress and could impact on Y’s education.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Miss X appealed the school’s decision not to offer Y a place. After considering the appeal, the appeal panel did not uphold her appeal.
6. Since the appeal was decided, a place has become available in Y’s year group. The school has offered Y a place from the waiting list, and Miss X has accepted it. As Miss X has now received the outcome she originally wanted, there is nothing further we could achieve by investigating the complaint.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is nothing more we could achieve by investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman