School admissions overhaul 'would leave system open to abuse'

Under the new code, the Department for Education (DfE) has proposed to remove the statutory duty on local authorities to co-ordinate school admissions in their area. Instead parents will apply directly to schools. Free schools and academies will manage their own admissions.

The union claims the changes could lead to free schools and academies interviewing prospective pupils or asking parents about their marital or financial status before offering a child a place.

They argue the new, more relaxed code would also make it easier for schools to flout the law by not prioritising looked-after children in school admissions.

In a response to the DfE’s consultation on changing the admissions code the union warned the plans would lead to selection by the back door.

"The DfE’s decision to revise the code is not driven by an objectively identified need to address problems with the admissions process but is more to do with seeking to support its wider policy agenda to enable individual schools to be more selective in their intake," the union said.

"Revising the code so soon after the last revision, which was designed to address inequalities and poor practice in the system is both destabilising and unnecessarily costly."

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said the DfE’s assertion that the new code will be simpler and fairer is "disingenuous drivel".

"The reality is that the changes to the current code will allow more and more schools to sit outside any statutory or regulatory process and set their own admissions policy," she said.

"The ‘removal of burdens’ and ‘simplification’ of the code are in truth the removal of necessary and valuable guidance on good practice and the undermining of all the safeguards in the current code, allowing allow poor and discriminatory practice to return and flourish."

She added that the government has reneged on its promise to retain the current admissions code – a pledge which was made when the Academies Bill was passing through parliament.

"Assurances were given repeatedly to MPs from all parties that the current admissions code, recently revised when unacceptable practices, including charging for admission and interviewing parents were discovered, would remain in place," Keates said.

"The ink was hardly dry on the Academies Act when the DfE announced it was to be revised."

But a DfE spokesman said the new admissions process would be more open and transparent than ever before.

"The draft code will allow anyone to object to admissions arrangements they believe are unfair. Currently only a very restricted list of people can do so," he said.

"The adjudicator will be able to look at wider breaches of the code. Local people must be able to hold local councillors, schools and officials to account for their decisions – the changes will do that, increase transparency around school admissions and strengthen the procedure.

He added that the government’s education reforms will drive up school standards and give parents a "genuine choice of excellent local schools".

"Let’s be clear, the real issue on admissions is that complaints too often stem from there being too few high-quality school places – admissions issues are often symptoms of local demand," he said.