The annual report of the Chief Adjudicator, Ms Shan Scott, to the
Secretary of State for Education, covering the period 1 September
2017 to 31 August 2018 is published today, (17 January 2019). The
report records the progress made by admission authorities in
England in complying fully with the school admissions
code and achieving fair access to schools for all
children.
In her report, Ms Scott states that adjudicator casework and
reports from local authorities suggest that the admissions system
as a whole works effectively in the normal admissions round and
that the needs of vulnerable children and those with particular
educational or social needs are generally well met at normal
points of admission to school.
The Chief Adjudicator drew attention to the use of the pupil,
early years and service premiums in school admissions. The
premiums are additional sums of money given to schools to help
support the achievement of children from disadvantaged
backgrounds or whose families serve in the armed forces. Around
550 schools now give priority for places to children entitled to
one or more of the premiums. Although this number represents a
small proportion of the 20,200 state funded mainstream schools in
England, reports made to the Chief Adjudicator suggest that the
number is growing year by year. The schools using one or more of
the premiums include primary and secondary schools, urban and
rural schools and academies and local authority maintained
schools.
While most schools and local authorities work hard and
collaboratively to find places promptly for children – especially
vulnerable children – who need them outside of the normal
admissions round, there continue to be some difficulties. Reports
from local authorities suggest that some schools are less willing
to play their part and adjudicator casework also revealed that
local authorities themselves did not always follow proper
procedures when seeking to find a place for a child. As a result,
the Chief Adjudicator believes that some of the children who can
least afford to miss any part of their education are out of
school for too long.
Notes to editors
- Read the OSA 2017 to 2018 annual
report.
- Ms Shan Scott was appointed as an adjudicator in 2013 and to
the post of Chief Adjudicator on 4 April 2016.
- There are currently 10 adjudicators,
including the Chief Adjudicator. All are part time and paid
only for the work they are asked to undertake.
- Adjudicators resolve differences over the interpretation and
application of legislation and guidance on school admissions and
statutory proposals concerning school organisation.
In relation to all state-funded schools adjudicators:
- rule on objections to and referrals about determined school
admission arrangements
In relation to maintained schools adjudicators:
- decide on requests to vary admission arrangements
- resolve disputes relating to school organisation proposals
- resolve disputes on the transfer and disposal of non-playing
field land and assets
- determine appeals from admission authorities against the
intention of the local authority to direct the admission of a
particular pupil
- The Chief Adjudicator can also be asked by the Secretary of
State to provide advice and undertake other relevant tasks.
- The Office of the Schools Adjudicator is a tribunal and until
its abolishment in August 2013 was supervised by the
Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council. Once published
decisions can only be challenged through the courts.
- Adjudicators do not deal with complaints from parents whose
child has not been offered a place at a particular school.
