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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Schools 'breaking admissions law' | Schools 'breaking admissions law' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A "significant minority" of schools in England are breaking new laws that were designed to make the admissions system fairer, the government has said. | A "significant minority" of schools in England are breaking new laws that were designed to make the admissions system fairer, the government has said. |
| In a sample three areas - Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet - it found parents illegally being asked for money or information about their backgrounds. | In a sample three areas - Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet - it found parents illegally being asked for money or information about their backgrounds. |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight said it was "shocking" this was still going on. | Schools Minister Jim Knight said it was "shocking" this was still going on. |
| Official figures showed 18.4% of children failed to get a place at their first choice school this year. | Official figures showed 18.4% of children failed to get a place at their first choice school this year. |
| Some 94% were however offered a place at one of their three preferred schools. | Some 94% were however offered a place at one of their three preferred schools. |
| 'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
| The new, tougher admissions code came into practice in February last year. | The new, tougher admissions code came into practice in February last year. |
| Ministers asked officials to make the compliance checks. | Ministers asked officials to make the compliance checks. |
| Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet were chosen simply as being representative of a metropolitan authority, a shire county and a London borough - and were areas where there had not been objections to admissions policies. | Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet were chosen simply as being representative of a metropolitan authority, a shire county and a London borough - and were areas where there had not been objections to admissions policies. |
| "We have no reason to think that these areas are any different from any other authorities around the country," said the Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls. | "We have no reason to think that these areas are any different from any other authorities around the country," said the Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls. |
| "The large majority of schools appear to be complying with the code," he said. | "The large majority of schools appear to be complying with the code," he said. |
| "However, a significant minority of schools in our sample appear not to be compliant with the code, of which a disproportionate number are voluntary aided or foundation schools." | "However, a significant minority of schools in our sample appear not to be compliant with the code, of which a disproportionate number are voluntary aided or foundation schools." |
| 'Shocking' | 'Shocking' |
| The areas comprise 84 secondary schools and 486 primaries. Of those 570,119 are voluntary aided or foundation schools controlling their own admissions. | The areas comprise 84 secondary schools and 486 primaries. Of those 570,119 are voluntary aided or foundation schools controlling their own admissions. |
| Speaking to journalists, neither Mr Balls nor Mr Knight would put a figure on the number that were apparently acting illegally, pending verification. | Speaking to journalists, neither Mr Balls nor Mr Knight would put a figure on the number that were apparently acting illegally, pending verification. |
| But Mr Balls said: "When we saw the evidence we were very concerned. This was not a handful, it was certainly in the tens of schools." | But Mr Balls said: "When we saw the evidence we were very concerned. This was not a handful, it was certainly in the tens of schools." |
| Mr Knight said: "The fact that there are some things that are singled out in primary legislation that are still going on is shocking." | Mr Knight said: "The fact that there are some things that are singled out in primary legislation that are still going on is shocking." |
| The schools in question were caught asking parents banned questions about their marital status, financial background or even for financial contributions to the school. | The schools in question were caught asking parents banned questions about their marital status, financial background or even for financial contributions to the school. |
| Rules tightened | Rules tightened |
| Mr Balls said that in a number of cases the requirement for a financial contribution ran into "many hundreds of pounds per term". | Mr Balls said that in a number of cases the requirement for a financial contribution ran into "many hundreds of pounds per term". |
| Parents of pupils past and present at these schools may seek legal redress Chris Keates National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers | Parents of pupils past and present at these schools may seek legal redress Chris Keates National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers |
| "I want to be clear that this practice must stop immediately," he said. | "I want to be clear that this practice must stop immediately," he said. |
| Parents must be told the payments were voluntary and those who wanted their money back should be reimbursed. | Parents must be told the payments were voluntary and those who wanted their money back should be reimbursed. |
| The general secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, Chris Keates, added: "It is also likely, and entirely understandable, that parents of pupils past and present at these schools may seek legal redress to recover monies inappropriately taken from them." | The general secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, Chris Keates, added: "It is also likely, and entirely understandable, that parents of pupils past and present at these schools may seek legal redress to recover monies inappropriately taken from them." |
| The code was intended to stamp out unfair practices that allow schools to select pupils in covert ways. | The code was intended to stamp out unfair practices that allow schools to select pupils in covert ways. |
| The government is now going to amend a bill currently before Parliament to put a new duty on local authorities to report each year "on the legality, fairness and effectiveness of all school admission arrangements in their area". | The government is now going to amend a bill currently before Parliament to put a new duty on local authorities to report each year "on the legality, fairness and effectiveness of all school admission arrangements in their area". |
| Local admission forums, which are supposed to monitor arrangements, will be reviewed. | Local admission forums, which are supposed to monitor arrangements, will be reviewed. |
| Mr Knight said he had spoken to "extremely senior figures" in the Anglican, Catholic and Jewish faiths and they were fully supportive of the government's actions. | Mr Knight said he had spoken to "extremely senior figures" in the Anglican, Catholic and Jewish faiths and they were fully supportive of the government's actions. |
Let | |
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