Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a school admissions application. This is because any injustice caused is not significant enough to warrant further investigation.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains that the School didn’t consider her application for a place for her child.
2. Miss X says this has caused her distress as her two children are now allocated different schools. She worries about getting the children to two schools at the same time. Miss X wants the Council to reconsider its decision.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Miss X and the School.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. When considering Miss X’s complaint, we contacted the School for further information. In its response, it confirmed Child Y started at the School in September 2026. As this resolves the claimed injustice, any remaining injustice caused by the admissions process is not significant enough to warrant further investigation.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because Child Y now has a place at the School. Any alleged injustice caused by the admissions process is not significant enough to warrant further investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman