Applying simplicity to admissions

New proposals aimed at simplifying the schools admission system for parents have been published by the Government.

The key suggestion is that all applications for primary or secondary schools should be coordinated by the local authority where parents live, irrespective of when they are made or the age of the child. This will give them a single point of enquiry for all school applications.

Other proposals include giving parents the legal right to apply to at least three primary schools; the creation of a standardised application form to be used by every local authority enabling parents to express their preferences; and encouraging schools which control their own admissions to contract outside organisations, including local authorities and religious authorities, to handle their appeals administration.

Schools Minister, Jim Knight, said: “I am concerned that many parents find admissions far too complicated. Applying to a school shouldn’t be an overly stressful, bureaucratic and opaque process. It is clearly not right that while many parents know the ropes and can get the best out of the system, others do not know where to start.

“These measures will make the application process far more straightforward and give every parent the clear information they need so their child gets into the right school.” Parents wanted schools to have a distinct identity and set of values so they can understand how their children will be educated and to give them real options, he added.

“The bottom line is that parents should choose schools, not schools choose parents,” said Knight.

Other measures proposed include revision of the School Admissions Code to underline that schools can include a clear statement of their ethos in their published admission arrangements and ask parents to support that ethos when applying.

The consultation continues until October 2.

Applying simplicity to admissions

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