Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an unsuccessful school admission appeal. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The School has now offered the complainant’s child a place and so there is nothing further we could achieve.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall refer to as Mr X, complained about an unsuccessful school admission appeal.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the School.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because the School has now offered his child a place. This is the outcome Mr X wanted and we could not achieve anything more.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman