Secondary school admissions

Abstract

Findings Admissions in 2006 were better coordinated and more effectively regulated than in 2000.However in some areas the co-ordination role of Local Authorities ended with the offer of places in March.After this date each admission authority within the area dealt with its own appeals and any other matters and no one had responsibility for the management of admissions and appeals across the whole area. Appeals heard increased up to a peak of 7% of all admissions in 2000/01 and then have steadily declined to 6.1% in 2005/06 1 In the sample, parental satisfaction was broadly similar to that in 2000.Overall about 85% of parents gained their first choice school.The figure for London parents was 72%.Nationally 93% of parents gained either their first or second preference.Once their children start at the school, the great majority of parents are satisfied with the school with 95% of parents who got their first choice being satisfied and 82% of parents whose child attended a school that was not their first preference being satisfied. In the sample 81% of parents said they were satisfied with the choice of schools in their locality.Satisfaction was lowest among parents living in London even though they have more schools to choose from. 25% of parents did not apply to their nearest maintained school.The main reasons cited were poor reputation, poor exam results and problems with behaviour/discipline 2 . Socio-economic status is widely considered to be a factor in the fairness of admissions.The sample was analysed to find any associations between the outcomes of the admissions process and socio-economic status.No association was found between the chances of gaining first choice of school and the socio-economic status of parents.This suggests that either different groups of parents seek different things from their secondary school or that parents are responding realistically to their chances of gaining entry to certain schools, or both.It does not mean that there are no educational disadvantages systematically visited on some groups rather than others.It indicates rather that the way that inequality of educational opportunity continues to occur is not reducible to whether or not a parent gets their first 1 Figures from DCSF Statistical First Releases 2 This is different from the number of children who do not attend their nearest school which appears to be higher.DCSF figures supplied to the authors suggest about 50% of pupils travel further than their nearest school.Burgess et al also suggest a higher figure see Burgess S.,