Ombudsman challenges Wigan school to address the flaws in its admissions appeals process

A Wigan secondary school whose admissions appeals process was found to contain a number of errors has been asked to offer fresh hearings to families failed by its system.

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) stepped in to investigate St Edmund Arrowsmith RC High School in the town after receiving three separate complaints about its admissions appeal panel.

Errors found by an LGO investigation into the way the panel conducted the appeals included not coming to a firm decision on whether the school was full, allowing the presenting officer to make positive personal comments in support of individual children’s circumstances, and not giving clear reasons to families why their children were not being admitted.

At stage one of the appeal process, the panel needed to decide whether the school was full.

But the LGO found that the panel did not properly make the decision that the school was full.
Instead the panel decided to admit some children at stage one, and decided to consider each child’s case on its own merit. However the panel was not consistent in the reasons for admitting children.

Additionally, some of the letters sent to the families did not make reference to any arguments made by the parents, while other letters made only passing reference.

The LGO has asked the school to offer fresh appeals for all the unsuccessful children, using a new clerk and panel. The school does not accept there was fault but has agreed to offer fresh appeals for the three children who complained to the LGO, but not for other unsuccessful applicants.

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said:

“Throughout my investigation the school and the local council, which provided the panel, have not acknowledged the faults I have identified with the appeals process.

“A number of families were left uncertain about whether their children should have received a place, because of the panel’s poor handling of the appeal. The school now has the chance to restore the families’ faith in the fairness of the system by properly considering fresh appeals for those who complained to us. I would now urge them to extend this to all the families who were unsuccessful at appeal so that they can demonstrate that they have applied the wider lessons from the complaint.”

Parents who have concerns about the way that their appeal for a school place was considered can complain to the LGO, as set out in the School Admissions Appeal Code and the Local Government Act 1974. This does not include complaints about admission appeals to academies or free schools as they are not in the LGO’s jurisdiction.

Article date: 18 February 2015

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