Appeals over admission to primary school rise by 17%

The government has claimed that a sharp rise in the number of appeals by parents against non-admission of their children to their preferred primary school justifies its radical reform programme.

In 2008/09, some 38,080 appeals were lodged for admission to maintained primary schools, compared to 32,600 in 2007/08, a rise of 17%.

Of these, 25,890 appeals were heard by a panel in 2008/09 compared to 22,220 the previous 12 months. The proportion of successful appeals fell from 27.8% to 25%.

However, the statistics also revealed a slight dip in the number of appeals in relation to admission to secondary schools, with 50,200 in 2008/09 compared to 53,430 in 2007/08.

The number of appeals heard by a panel for secondary schools also fell from 39,730 to 37,830. Appeals were successful in 33.3% of cases, compared to 32.6% the year before.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb claimed the figures showed that an increasing number of parents are unhappy with the school choices open to them.

He said: “The level of dissatisfaction underlines why it is so important we change the schools system so providers like teacher groups and charities can open new state schools wherever parents want them; and give outstanding schools the freedoms they need to help improve those in more challenging circumstances.

“By putting education in the hands of parents and professionals, rather than bureaucrats, we can raise standards in all our schools, particularly in the poorest areas where problems are most acute.”