Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Thursday, 19 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 January 2003. It was answered by David Miliband (Labour) on Thursday, 9 January 2003 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what advice he gives to local education authorities on admission policies to secondary schools from out of area children; and if he will make a statement. - Includes ref to Code of Practice on School Admissions.

Answer: Jeremy Corbyn:: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice he gives to local education authorities on admission policies to secondary schools from out of area children; and if he will make a statement. [89373] Mr. Miliband: Local education authorities (LEAs) and admission authorities for schools may set their own admission arrangements, as long as they comply with legislation and have regard to the statutory Code of Practice on School Admissions. The Code gives advice to LEAs and schools on setting admission arrangements, and refers to the `Greenwich Judgement' of 1989 which ruled that LEA maintained schools could not refuse applications simply because a child did not live in the Authority's administrative area. However, admission policies may give priority for entry to oversubscribed schools to children who live within a specified catchment area, to those who live closest to the school, or (for secondary schools) to those who attend named "feeder" schools. These, and the many other criteria which are used to determine priority for admission to schools, may include children who live both inside and outside a LEA's area.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 89373; 397 c344-5W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Codes of practice Admissions Local education authorities Secondary education
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk