"CHILDREN IN PUBLIC CARE SHOULD HAVE TOP PRIORITY", SAYS CHIEF SCHOOLS ADJUDICATOR.

The Chief Schools Adjudicator, Dr Philip Hunter, today announced his decision to give top priority to children in public care in the admission arrangements of six Wigan schools.

The Wigan schools admissions forum, a committee of school governors, churches and the Local Education Authority, concluded that children in public care are particularly vulnerable and are at a disadvantage in applying for school places. Many schools give priority for places to children and families who have lived in certain parishes or have attended certain churches. Children in public care move homes frequently as their residential placements change and cannot meet these conditions. The forum urged schools in the area to give children in care top priority. Six schools in Wigan did not agree to do so and Wigan LEA, on behalf of the forum, objected to the Schools Adjudicator.

Dr Hunter agreed with the forum. He pointed out that the national Code of Practice on School Admissions, a document approved by Parliament, made clear that schools should give top priority to children in public care. A school is free to depart from this guidance but should have a good reason for doing so. Almost all schools in Wigan, including most church schools, had agreed to follow the policy and the six schools concerned had not made out a convincing case why they should not.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Schools adjudicators are independent of the Government. They decide on school organisation issues and admission arrangements which cannot be resolved locally. They were appointed under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Their role is to look afresh at all cases referred to them, considering each case on its merits and taking account of the reasons for disagreement at local level in the light of the legislation and the guidance in the Code of Practice on Schools Admissions.

Copies of the determination reached by the adjudicator can be obtained from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. It can also be found on the Schools Adjudicator Website - http://www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk. Individual adjudicators are not in a position to comment on their decisions but, if clarification of those decisions is needed, enquiries can be addressed to: The Office of the Schools Adjudicator, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington DL3 9BG

Issued on behalf of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator by Government News Network North East.

Mowden Hall Staindrop Road Darlington DL3 7PJ