Newsletter April 2008

Chair David Chaytor MP Ed Balls takes action on Vice Chair Fiona Millar Secretary school admissions Margaret Tulloch or how a few things come to he who waits Treasurer Malcolm Horne On 11 March the DCSF announced that 81.6% of families had received an offer of their fi rst preference school on the “national offer day”, 3 March this year. This is the fi rst time that this data had been collected from local authorities. However, press coverage mostly concentrated on the accompanying announcement that the Department had found from a sample of three local authorities – Northampton, Manchester and Barnet – that although a “large majority” of schools were complying with the School Admissions Code a “signifi cant minority” of schools appeared not to be complying with the Code, of which a “disproportionate number” were voluntary or foundation schools. Many who have watched the admission scene for many years will welcome this be- lated acceptance that where schools are their own admission authority unfair practices can more easily be introduced. The practices identifi ed included interviewing, failure to give priority to children in care, asking about marital status and asking for fi nancial contributions. The Depart- ment wrote to the schools asking for specifi c information and on 2 April announced that, of the 110 schools contacted, 106 responded and, of those, 96 schools did not comply in one or more respects. As a result Ed Balls announced further measures to strengthen the admission sys- tem: • A reminder to local authorities of their duty to object to the Adjudicator when local schools do not comply with the Code. They must send a full set of admission arrange- ments and a report on their legality, fairness and effectiveness by the end of June. He will report to Ed Balls by 1 September. • The tabling of draft amendments to the Education and Skills Bill at Report stage in the Commons. These will require local authorities to report to the Adjudicator on admission arrangements in their areas and will extend the powers of the Adjudicator to act where he considers that any admission arrangements are not compliant with the statutory requirements. This should mean that action will not in practice rely on complaints being made, a weakness Comprehensive Future has pointed out for some time. Another amendment will improve the process of consultation on admission ar- rangements in order to ensure that parents and communities can be more involved. • The publication of a guide for parents on admissions and appeals which can be downloaded from the DCSF website. It includes advice on what parents can do if they have concerns about the legality of a school’s admission arrangements. These amendments may offer a chance to us for parliamentary lobbying. Please keep in touch on this. Ed Balls also plans to publish detailed proposals in the early summer on an improved process for consultation on admission arrangements and improvements to Admission Forums to ensure they “more effectively represent their local communities”. These plans go some way to meeting what we have been campaigning for, but cru- PO Box 44327 cially much remains. Nonetheless, if you were a supporter in 2006 you may remember London SW20 0WD that during the passage of the Education and Inspections Bill our Chair, David Chaytor MP, tabled several amendments to the sections on admissions which the Government [email protected] did not accept. One would have required local authorities to produce a report on school admissions, 020 8947 5758 including fairness and compliance with the Code; another would have required admis- sion authorities not just to act in accordance with but “comply in all respects with” the Code. Conference speakers explore the divisions The conference was chaired by David Chaytor, MP for Bury North and Chair of Comprehensive Future. A full AGM 2007 and Conference report of speakers’ contributions is on the website. Divided schools – divided communities? October 13 2007 Estelle Morris, Secretary of State for Education and Birmingham Skills 2001-02, said that she thought changing admis- sions is not the only lever to bring about comprehensive Birmingham, refl ected as a Birmingham head on admis- education. sions and the comprehensive dream. He said there is Talking about Labour policy she said the focus after much to be positive about in the past 10 years of policy 2002 seemed to have been to get poor children into “bet- and practice in education. Experience of three inner-ring ter schools”, seeming to go along with a policy of escap- Birmingham schools refl ects huge improvements in stan- ism and to accept we could not have a system where dards, the clear fruit of improved funding for challenging all schools were able to deliver for their children. And inner-city schools. for “better” schools we meant “middle class” schools, He described his school, located amidst some ex- never seeming to suggest that middle class children pensive housing and unusually mixed, socially and could be bussed to some of the really excellent inner city ethnically. In a good location to fulfi l the comprehensive schools! dream it is however a school hampered by the market She went on to explore ideas of extending schools to place within which it sits. 14 and then at 14 young people at a good stage in their Looking at schools little more than a mile away these maturity could choose their paths in 14-19 establish- include two grammar schools, two very popular girls’ ments. schools, Birmingham’s most over-subscribed Catholic secondary school and, a little further away, a foundation Chris Storr, Director of Education Roman Catholic specialist school that uses the chance to select 10% of Diocese of Southwark 1982-2001, explained the role of its intake with an entrance exam and then uses sibling the Catholic Church in the community and in the search criteria to develop a growing pyramid of middle class for social justice and the provision of education in this children from beyond its immediate neighbourhood. country. Currently there are concerns about the need for faith Chris Healy, headteacher of Balcarras School, Chel- schools to take children not of the faith, but a look at the tenham, spoke of the real importance of speaking up for history of school reorganisation does throw some useful comprehensive schools. Gloucestershire does not have light on this. a comprehensive system of education. There is one If the Church wishes to set up a new Catholic school grammar school in Cheltenham, two in Stroud and four in there has to be evidence that there are suffi cient Catho- Gloucester. The ripples of selection go way beyond this; lics in the area to fi ll it. Second, in the 1980s, when the children travel to Pates in Cheltenham, for example, from declining birth rate led to large scale falling rolls nation- Oxford, Bristol and Worcester. There seems, he said, to wide, the church authorities agreed to take out surplus be an attitude on the part of government that grammar places in Catholic schools as many LEAs and non-faith school education is best. schools were concerned about “poaching” from their The DCSF seems to have been persuaded of this by schools. Schools, he said, should serve the community. lobbying from grammar schools and the infl uential Sut- If there is an identifi able Catholic community then this is ton Trust. In his area there is now a possibility of children what the schools exist to serve. facing further entry tests as one “comprehensive” plans to select 10% by language and 90% by fair banding. So Tim Boyes, headteacher of Queensbridge School, the pecking order will become even more stratifi ed.

Select committee looks at diversity Anti Academies The Children, Schools and Families select committee has recently been holding some meetings to look at diversity of provision, including academies Alliance and faith schools, and social mobility. It has taken oral evidence from a wide variety of witnesses, including the publications Schools Commissioner, the School Adjudicator, NFER, London University Two recent publications from the Anti Institute of Education and LSE. Much of what was discussed is relevant to Academies Alliance have information school admissions. You can read the reports of the sessions on their website relevant to school admissions. at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmchilsch.htm They are We pay the piper Particular sessions of interest were on 16, 23, 30 January, 25 February – they call the tune, the story of the and 12 March. Specialist Schools and Academies Trust by Francis Beckett and A Report on the MPs committee of Education and Skills Bill enquiry into academies and trust schools. The Education and Skills Bill, which started in the Commons in November Both are available from the last year, has fi nished the Committee stage in the Commons. Alliance, priced £3 each or £5 for Report and Third Reading stages are expected soon and it will go to the both. Contact the Anti Academies Lords then. As the Government is introducing amendments about admis- Alliance, PO Box14412, Birmingham sions and local authorities there may be a chance to lobby for more changes. B11 9DZ Tel: 07528 201697; Email: We will keep you posted. offi [email protected] Northern Ireland continues Policy is agreed to make progress on admission to In December Catriona Ruane an- be based on a process of formal, faith schools nounced to the Northern Ireland structured election. It will take ac- assembly the progress on change count of the outcomes of three At our last AGM the following in the post primary (secondary) sys- years of post-primary education policy on admission to faith tem. She said: and teacher and parental guidance, schools was agreed. “As I proceed with the reform in addition to careers education, of our education system, equality information, advice and guidance, Comprehensive Future is of the will be at the centre of everything I resulting in the matching of children view that local accountability for do. I plan to lay down a foundation to suitable provision. all school admissions is essential that will ensure educational excel- There will be no 11+ Transfer in consultation with all relevant lence and greater participation in Test in the 2009-10 school year and stakeholders. We support the the future, where everyone will have subsequent years and, following a co-ordinating role for the local equality of access and opportunity.” period of consultation, regulations authority in “ensuring fair access She went on to say : “We will will be brought forward governing to educational opportunity” move away from the outdated 1947 the operation of post-primary trans- and the monitoring role of the education model, which has divided fer for 2010. Admissions Forum in “ensuring children into just two school types, Ms Ruane said she hoped that a fair admissions system that either grammar or non-grammar. all grammar schools would see a promotes social equity” as set We do have academic successes positive future for academic educa- out in the School Admissions to be proud of, but too many of our tion in her vision for education. If Code. young people are failed by the cur- any school, however, chooses to rent system. operate independent admissions ar- Regulations allow for the “Making fundamental educational rangements that lie outside the new administration of all admissions determinations for children at 11 is system of transfer, she made it clear (ie determining whether an wrong as such decisions can be- that there is no obligation on her de- applicant meets the admission come irreversible. partment to assist with funding. criteria) to be carried out by “By moving the transition point to This resolution is now about to the local authority even if the 14 and by introducing more fl exibility be tested as Lumen Christi Col- criteria are set by the school. and agility into structures, we make it lege, a Catholic grammar school, Comprehensive Future wishes possible for the transformed educa- in Londonderry, has just announced to see this as a requirement on tional system to facilitate the needs plans to introduce an entrance test. all publicly funded local schools, of all children. The Catholic Bishop of Derry has including those that are currently “The key point is not simply that criticised the plan saying that he their own admission authority. academic selection is unjust, but had been supporting the efforts of that it is unnecessary and unjust.” schools to end the tests as they did Comprehensive Future believes The key decision-making time will not offer an equal opportunity to all. that no school should set its own change to age 14 and these deci- Ms Ruane has said that schools admission criteria in isolation sions at 14 will not be by test, which considering a breakaway entrance and that all admission criteria the Minister said is not the best way exam should be aware of the consid- for all publicly funded local to inform key decisions at 14 about erable legal and fi nancial risks they schools should be agreed by the a young person’s future educational take if they proceed and confi rmed admission forum. and career pathway. that the Department would not pro- Such decisions, she said, should vide funds. Comprehensive Future recognises the contribution Charity Commission and public benefi t that faith groups have made The Charity Commission is now consulting on supplementary guidance on and continue to make to the Public Benefi t and the Advancement of Education, and Public Benefi t and education of Britain’s children. Fee-charging. It seeks the support of all faith These are relevant to the situation of private schools which select pupils groups in securing an equal and offer bursaries for them. The consultation documents are only available chance for all children and in the online at www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publicbenefi t/default.asp ending of selection by both ability The consultation ends on 30 June 2008. and aptitude. Comprehensive Future welcomes the adoption by some faith schools of an Local selection stories wanted open admissions policy which welcomes all children regardless Our website has a section on the effect of local admission policies including of faith. selection. See www.comprehensivefuture.org.uk/PDF/Selection.pdf We are keen to add to this section. If you have local information We will be sending this policy about your area, or know someone who has, please get in touch with for information to faith school Margaret Tulloch on 020 8947 5758 or email [email protected] or organisations. [email protected] Research calls for action on admissions At the end of January the DCSF published a report on select. Secondary School Admissions by Professor John Cold- • The most highly selective local authorities had more ron and colleagues from Sheffi eld Hallam University and socially segregated schools, fewer parents getting their the National Centre for Social Research. fi rst preference and more appeals. Researchers looked at admission arrangements for • Admission forums, local authorities and admission secondary schools, surveyed parental views and investi- authorities will need to take action to avoid social seg- gated how many parents gained their fi rst preference in regation. September 2006. • Policy options should aim to bring about balanced Admissions criteria were drawn up before the recent intakes. This could include measures such as a body School Admissions Code required some schools to setting criteria for all schools in the area, banding, and change their criteria, however the report is highly rel- ending selection. evant to our campaign. It concludes: • It would be fairer if local authorities managed appeals • Admissions were better co-ordinated and regulated for all schools. than in 2000. • About 85% of parents got their fi rst choice of school, in DCSF Secondary School Admissions Research Brief London it was 72%. (DCSF RB020) available free from DCSF publications, • 25% of parents said their child did not attend the near- PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham est school. NG15 0DJ Tel: 0845 60 222 60. • The study found no association between getting their Full report (DCSF – RR 020) priced £4.95 from same fi rst choice and socio-economic status of parents. address. Cheques payable to DfES priced publications, • Schools which were their own admission authorities or go to www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/ (Published 31 Janu- were less likely to comply with the Code and covertly ary 2008).

Support and Steering group Mark the date for donations are lobbies the 2008 conference politicians This year our Annual Confer- still needed The steering group continues to press ence will be held on Saturday 11 We are very grateful to the for a meeting with Ed Balls. We hope this October in London at NUT Head- supporters who sent donations after might happen in the next few months. quarters, Mabledon Place near our last appeal. Recently members of the steering Euston and Kings Cross. We rely entirely on donations group had a useful meeting with David We are really pleased that our to carry on our campaign for fair Laws, Children, Schools and Families admissions and an end to selection speakers will be Alan Parker, one spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats. of the team of School Adjudica- and do not have a membership fee. The party is shortly to consult on A membership fee involves a tors, and Francis Beckett, steer- education policy and we hope to meet ing group member, journalist lot of administration for a voluntary David again later in the year. organisation, sending out reminders The Conservative Party has produced and author of We pay the piper etc. its policy document on education – they call the tune, the story of So, if you can, please send a – Raising the bar, closing the gap. It the Specialist Schools and Acad- donation – or you might like to do proposes that many more schools be emies Trust. as some supporters have done and set up – however, they would be non- As previous years this will be take out a standing order to make selective. an opportunity to discuss the an annual or monthly donation. This The policy paper can be campaign and meet other sup- gives us a regular cash fl ow, which downloaded from the website is very helpful. porters. Further details in the at www.conservatives.com/pdf/ Summer newsletter. You can do this by contacting New%20opportunity_proof.pdf your bank to pay to Comprehensive Future, Barclays Bank PLC, Wimbledon Business Centre, Sort code 20 96 89, a/c number Fringe meetings at party conferences 40008869 giving them your bank account details, the amount you If you are going to a party conference please look out for Comprehen- wish to pay and how often. sive Future at fringe meetings. We cannot afford to hold fringe meetings To make a single donation please at every conference but aim to have a presence where we can. make your cheque payable to Last year we held a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat confer- Comprehensive Future and send to ence. This year we hope to arrange one at the Conservative Conference our address.We also welcome more (28 September-1 October.) Details in the next newsletter. supporters! We are also sharing a fringe with the Socialist Education Associa- Please encourage your friends to join by going to the website tion at the Labour conference in Manchester in the evening of Monday www.comprehensivefuture.org.uk/ 22 September in the Friends Meeting House. Professor Richard Pring, support.htm or sending their contact President of the SEA, and Fiona Millar, Vice Chair of Comprehensive details to our address. Future, will be speaking and our Chair, David Chaytor MP, will chair.

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