School admission complaints double

The number of complaints has risen from 173 in 2006/7 to 369 in 2007/8, according to the annual report from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. A third of parents were complaining about compliance with the admissions code; all of these complaints were upheld.

Sir Philip Hunter, chief adjudicator at the Office of the Schools Adjudicator, also found that "a very high proportion" of foundation and aided schools were not complying with the admissions code.

In most cases this was due to a confusion over the definition of terms such as "sibling", but more than 800 schools had more serious contraventions such as not giving priority to looked-after young people.

"I am satisfied that all of these points derived from misunderstanding of the code, not from wilful disregard of it," said Hunter. "I have been assured that all of the necessary action has been taken to ensure compliance with the code in the schools identified."

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said: "Sir Philip has worked with local and religious authorities and schools over the summer to ensure that all are corrected in time for the 2009 admissions round. These findings support the action we are taking to strengthen the system to ensure compliance with the law."