Ruth Kelly made the commitment in the House of Commons last week as MPsdebated the controversial Education and Inspections Bill. The Governmentis hoping that the pledge will win over critics who are concerned aboutthe plans to create hundreds of new trust schools with greaterfreedoms.
Kelly said: "In the future all looked-after children will have priorityin admissions, whether they are at the beginning of the admissions roundor even later, when the school is full. I will make it a requirementthat looked-after children are put at the top of the admissionslist."
The British Association for Adoption & Fostering welcomed hercomments.
"The association has repeatedly expressed concern about the potentiallynegative impact on looked-after children of the Education Bill, with itsemphasis on parental choice," said interim chief executive BarbaraHutchinson.
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