The annual report of the Chief Adjudicator, Ms Shan Scott, to the
Secretary of State for Education, covering the period 1 September
2018 to 31 August 2019, is published today, 24 February 2020. 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, as in past years, the
overall impression from adjudicator casework, and reports from
local authorities, is of an admissions system that as a whole
works effectively in the normal admissions rounds, and in those
rounds the needs of vulnerable children, and those with
particular educational or social needs, are generally well met.
There remains concern about how well some vulnerable children
fare when they need a place at other times.
The Chief Adjudicator said that, for many of the challenges or
problems identified by a school, academy trust or local
authority, there will be accounts elsewhere of schools, trusts or
local authorities that have successfully addressed those same
challenges or problems. In the course of their case work,
adjudicators see much good practice, as well as some failures to
comply with requirements. She has sought to reflect good practice
from local authority reports and adjudicator casework in this
report.
As in previous years, there are concerns that parents looking for
determined admission arrangements on school and, in particular,
council websites, may have difficulty finding the most up to date
documents, effectively reducing their opportunity to make an
informed choice of school place, or challenge those arrangements.
More positively, many local authorities provide advice and
guidance to other admission authorities in their areas, before
those other admission authorities determine their own
arrangements. Such an approach is likely to mean that any
concerns the local authority has, or any questions the admission
authority wishes to raise, can be dealt with before arrangements
are determined. This in turns avoids the situation of a local
authority’s having to challenge arrangements that it believes do
not comply with the Code.
Notes to editors:
- read the annual report 2018 to
2019
- 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 its
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.
