School appeals figures revealed

PARENTS in Oldham are highly likely to lose an appeal to get their child into the school of their choice, new figures show.

Growing competition to get a child into a favoured school has resulted in the number of appeals across the country rocketing.

In Oldham, only 22.6 per cent of appeals against a local education authority’s (LEA) decision are successful at primary school level and 17.4 per cent for secondary schools.

Figures released by the Department for Education show in 2009-10 , there were 200 appeals lodged by a parent or guardian over the primary school allocated in Oldham. Of those 186 were heard and 42 ruled in favour of the family.

In secondary schools, there were 254 appeals lodged, 230 heard and 40 were won by families.

Nationally 24.5 per cent of parents won appeals against primary schools and 34.4 per cent for secondary schools.

The appeals process is completely independent of Government, local authorities or schools’ own governing bodies.

Councillor Hugh McDonald, cabinet member for children and young people said: “Oldham Council and all secondary schools in the borough start the admissions process early in the year and all work hard to ensure that parents understand the admissions process.

“By working this way we are successful in getting it right first time.”