Rise in School Admission Appeals - who is to blame?

11.19.37am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Apr 2008

Where will they go to school?

Government's new admission criteria to give 'parental choice' create an increase in admission appeals - or is it the county not selling our schools well?

New admissions criteria came into force on 1st March this year and the Tory-run County Council has seen a sharp increase in appeals to gain admission to the more popular schools. A rise of 18% in secondary school appeals and 38% in primary school appeals are to be heard and decided before late June this year. This is at an increased cost to the authority.

The Labour government has implemented the new admissions criteria to give the impression of giving parents more choice as to which schools their children can attend. But in practice this just creates administrative chaos.

Education spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats on the County Council Rob Prowse said: 'Parental choice is a myth. Schools which are popular will always, under this system, be over-subscribed. The real issue is ensuring that all schools give a good standard of education that appeals to all.

'This is the fault both of local and central government. Schools with good reputations will be oversubscribed but if investment were put into those schools which are seen to be failing so as to improve both their results and their image then all schools would become equally sough after.'.