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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Row over school admissions claims | Row over school admissions claims |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A head teacher has questioned the government's claim that "a significant minority" of England's schools appear to be breaking the law on admissions. | A head teacher has questioned the government's claim that "a significant minority" of England's schools appear to be breaking the law on admissions. |
| Ministers said yesterday a check on three areas had produced instances of the admissions code being broken. | Ministers said yesterday a check on three areas had produced instances of the admissions code being broken. |
| The head of Northampton School for Boys, Mike Griffiths, said their claims were "outrageously inaccurate". | The head of Northampton School for Boys, Mike Griffiths, said their claims were "outrageously inaccurate". |
| The Department for Children, Schools and Families said verification of the claims would leave him embarrassed. | The Department for Children, Schools and Families said verification of the claims would leave him embarrassed. |
| Mr Griffiths suggested the ministers had been putting up "a smokescreen" to hide admissions figures showing almost one in five children did not get their first preference schools. | |
| "This is a disgrace. Parents should not have their confidence in the system undermined by outrageously inaccurate accusations," he said. | "This is a disgrace. Parents should not have their confidence in the system undermined by outrageously inaccurate accusations," he said. |
| 'You are wrong' | 'You are wrong' |
| It was all about politics, Mr Griffiths said. | It was all about politics, Mr Griffiths said. |
| "They put in place a new code of admissions and they unwisely and inaccurately promised parents that the new code would increase their chances of getting their first choice of school. | "They put in place a new code of admissions and they unwisely and inaccurately promised parents that the new code would increase their chances of getting their first choice of school. |
| "The reaction of ministers has been to blame schools and to imply that if only we had all followed their code, the world would be a happier place. | "The reaction of ministers has been to blame schools and to imply that if only we had all followed their code, the world would be a happier place. |
| "I am sorry, Mr Balls," he said. "You are wrong. | "I am sorry, Mr Balls," he said. "You are wrong. |
| "You have vilified schools in this county with wholly inaccurate accusations of malpractice. | "You have vilified schools in this county with wholly inaccurate accusations of malpractice. |
| "In fact, almost no schools nationwide have engaged in the scurrilous tactics of which you speak. | "In fact, almost no schools nationwide have engaged in the scurrilous tactics of which you speak. |
| "You should retract your statement and your slur upon the integrity of school leaders, governors and local admissions forums." | "You should retract your statement and your slur upon the integrity of school leaders, governors and local admissions forums." |
| 'Ludicrous' | 'Ludicrous' |
| But a spokesman for Mr Balls' department said: "It would be wise of Mr Griffiths to pause before making inflammatory comments. | But a spokesman for Mr Balls' department said: "It would be wise of Mr Griffiths to pause before making inflammatory comments. |
| "He will be embarrassed in a couple of weeks' time when the information is verified. | "He will be embarrassed in a couple of weeks' time when the information is verified. |
| "Evidence of non-compliance was found on publicly available websites, as the media themselves are now discovering. | "Evidence of non-compliance was found on publicly available websites, as the media themselves are now discovering. |
| "It is frankly ludicrous to claim the government has imagined this." | "It is frankly ludicrous to claim the government has imagined this." |
| On Tuesday, Mr Balls told reporters most schools were complying with the new code. | On Tuesday, Mr Balls told reporters most schools were complying with the new code. |
| "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." |
| He added that some schools were asking parents for financial contributions running into "many hundreds of pounds per term". | He added that some schools were asking parents for financial contributions running into "many hundreds of pounds per term". |
| 'Minor' issues | 'Minor' issues |
| But two of the areas involved, Manchester and Northamptonshire, have denied any schools there were seeking money. | But two of the areas involved, Manchester and Northamptonshire, have denied any schools there were seeking money. |
| In the third area checked, Barnet in north London, one Jewish primary school has admitted that it had asked parents for a £50 deposit towards voluntary contributions for extra-curricular Jewish studies. | In the third area checked, Barnet in north London, one Jewish primary school has admitted that it had asked parents for a £50 deposit towards voluntary contributions for extra-curricular Jewish studies. |
| It said that "historically but incorrectly" this had been shown on the application form as an "admission fee" - which would be illegal. | It said that "historically but incorrectly" this had been shown on the application form as an "admission fee" - which would be illegal. |
| Barnet played down any other problems in its area as "minor". | Barnet played down any other problems in its area as "minor". |