Central Bedfordshire Council (24 018 080)

Statement Upheld School admissions 06-Oct-2025

Summary: We find the Council at fault for failing to make its own decision on Miss X’s request to delay her summer-born child’s start at school. This caused Miss X frustration, distress and uncertainty. The Council will apologise and improve its service.

Central Bedfordshire Council (24 021 779)

Statement Upheld School admissions 06-Oct-2025

Summary: We find the Council at fault because it is not clear if its decision about Mrs X’s child’s delayed school admission was made by the Council or a school headteacher. This caused Mrs X uncertainty and distress. The Council will apologise.

Whitley Bay High School (25 007 964)

Statement Upheld School admissions 06-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs H complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse her child a place. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code as they do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision or provide details of the votes cast. The School will arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and remind panels and clerks of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.

Whitley Bay High School (25 005 949)

Statement Upheld School admissions 05-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr D complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse his child a place. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code. The notes do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision or provide details of the votes cast. The School will arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and organise refresher training to ensure that panels and clerks are aware of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.

Whitley Bay High School (25 005 877)

Statement Upheld School admissions 02-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs Y complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse her child a place. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code. The notes refer to another’s child’s name and do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision and voted. The School will arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and arrange refresher training to ensure that panels and clerks are aware of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.

Whitley Bay High School (25 006 072)

Statement Upheld School admissions 02-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs F complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse admission to her child. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code. The notes do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision or provide details of the votes cast. The School will arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and arrange training to ensure that panels and clerks are aware of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.

Whitley Bay High School (25 005 317)

Statement Upheld School admissions 02-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs W complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse her child a place. In our provisional view, we find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code. The notes do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision or provide details of the votes cast. The School should arrange a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and organise training to ensure that panels and clerks are aware of their duty to record decision making in line with the Code.

Whitley Bay High School (25 002 689)

Statement Upheld School admissions 01-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs Y complains about the way the school admissions appeal hearing was conducted following Whitley Bay High School’s decision to refuse her child a place. We find procedural fault because the notes of the hearing are not compliant with the School Admissions Appeal Code as they do not demonstrate how the panel made its decision and voted. The School will offer Mrs Y a fresh appeal with a different panel and clerk and arrange refresher training to ensure that panels and clerks are aware of their duty to document their decision making in line with the Code.

Jewish Community Secondary School (24 021 470)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 29-Sep-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Independent Admissions Appeals Panel conducted the appeal for a school place for his child. We ended our investigation as Mr X’s child was offered a place at the school therefore there was no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

St Bernard's RC Grammar School, Slough (25 007 391)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 29-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the School’s admissions appeal panel refusing her appeal. It is unlikely we would find fault which caused Miss X to lose out on a school place.