Commenting on national offer day for secondary school
places on Monday 2 March, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the
Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“While the majority of families will be receiving the good
news that they have been offered their first choice for a
secondary school place, there will be some who will be
disappointed. Last year, the number of families denied their
first preference increased, and it may do so again this year, as
rising births since 2002 continue to move into secondary
level.
“There are generally enough school places, although there
may be particular pressures in some areas. The main issue,
however, is caused by the fact that many families apply for
oversubscribed popular schools and, as pupil numbers continue to
increase in the secondary phase over the next few years, this
will intensify. The situation is particularly iniquitous for
disadvantaged families who do not have the spending power to buy
or rent houses in the catchment area of these
schools.
“The Sutton Trust social mobility charity plans to develop
guidance for schools on how we can make the admissions system
fairer and we welcome that initiative. But we must also do more
to support schools which face the greatest degree of challenge,
so that every child has access to a good school place wherever
they live.”
