East Sussex County Council (25 020 277)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 02-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of a school admissions appeal. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council for us to be able to question its actions.

The Cressex Community School (25 021 575)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 01-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel for us to be able to question its decision.

London Borough of Ealing (25 008 426)

Statement Upheld School admissions 27-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council’s school appeals panel failed to give proper consideration to the validity of its admissions arrangements when deciding Miss X’s school admissions appeal. This did not cause Miss X an injustice as it is unlikely her child, Y, would have been awarded a school place had the panel properly considered the arrangements. The Council has agreed to remind its appeal staff and panel members to properly consider its admissions arrangements in future.

St Francis of Assisi Catholic College (25 008 138)

Statement Upheld School admissions 24-Feb-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the independent appeal panel failed to properly consider her appeal against the School’s decision to refuse her child a place in Year 7. We found the failure to record the panel’s decision at stage 1 of proceedings on whether the admission of further children would be prejudicial, and an error in the decision letter are fault. These faults have not caused Miss X an injustice.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (25 018 519)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 16-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about an unsuccessful school admission appeal. Mr X’s child has now been offered a place at his preferred school. Investigation by the Ombudsman could not achieve anything more.

Hampshire County Council (25 019 039)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 16-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel for us to be able to question its decision.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (25 020 183)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 16-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about an unsuccessful school admission appeal. Mr X’s child has now been offered a place at his preferred school. Investigation by the Ombudsman could not achieve anything more.

Liverpool City Council (25 011 492)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 14-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her application for a school place. Any issues Miss X wants to raise about the way the Council dealt with her application are best considered under the appeals process. The Council offered an alternative place as it was required to do and there is not enough evidence of fault in its decision not to place Miss X’s child using its Fair Access Protocol.

Durham County Council (25 007 651)

Statement Upheld School admissions 13-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained how the independent appeal panel dealt with her appeal for a school place for her son. We find some fault in the clerk’s notes about the stage one process. This did not cause Mrs X a significant injustice. However, the Council has agreed to our recommendation to implement a service improvement to prevent a recurrence of the fault.

Kingsland C Of E Primary School (25 005 520)

Statement Upheld School admissions 09-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs B complained that the School considered the wrong test in deciding to refuse her application for delayed entry for her daughter, C to start school in reception in September 2026. Based on current evidence we have found fault and have asked the School to reconsider the application using the correct test.