HL Deb 23 June 2004 vol 662 cc1243-5

3.12 p.m.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied with the current admissions procedures for secondary schools.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)

My Lords, independent research on secondary school admissions has shown that 96 per cent of parents nationally get a place at a preferred school and 91 per cent nationally are satisfied with the outcome of the admissions process. The introduction of co-ordinated admission arrangements for September 2005 will further improve the admission process, making it easier for parents. Co-ordinated admissions will ensure that all pupils are sent the offer of a place on the same day.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply. Is she aware that the number of appeals against admissions has gone up by 50 per cent since 1997 and now amounts to over 70,000? Does this not indicate that the procedures are not working well? In spite of the attempts at co-ordinated admissions that will take place from September, the voluntary aided and city academy schools will be left outside. This will create an enormous hole in admissions procedures.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, I am aware of the number of appeals. With popular schools, it is inevitable that some parents will be disappointed. There are independent appeal processes for parents to go through. I believe that co-ordinated admissions, which mean that on 1 March all children will be notified of their school, will considerably reduce the problems for parents. All but five education authorities now have agreed systems in place and those that have not have asked the Secretary of State to impose systems. Voluntary aided schools are part of that and city technology colleges are encouraged to take part.

Baroness Seccombe

My Lords, will the Minister tell the House the plans that the Government have to reduce the number of appeals?

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, we have no formal plans to reduce the number of appeals because it is right and proper that there is an independent appeal panel in each education authority area to deal with issues that parents feel are important and to ask for decisions to be looked at again. Our assumption, which I think is right, is that where we have co-ordination all children will get offers instead of some children receiving five offers and others none. That will make life a lot simpler and easier and will reduce the stress that parents and children feel.

Baroness Thomas of Walliswood

My Lords, is the Minister satisfied with what seems to be the system—or the problem—in London? People are travelling long distances across London to go to schools far away from where they live or they are moving house in order to get into a school's catchment area, whereas people living virtually next door to secondary schools cannot get into them. That does not seem to be a very sensible way of running an entry system for secondary education.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, my honourable friend Stephen Twigg announced the London schools admission system yesterday, I believe. It will bring together all the 33 boroughs and the eight adjoining local education authorities into one co-ordinated system. Underlying the noble Baroness's question is the other issue of ensuring that all schools are of high quality in order to ensure that parents are able to choose across the London area.

Lord Lucas

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the system in, for example, Kent, where schools do not know the order of preference expressed by parents, is much better than the alternative where schools do know and discriminate on that basis? Will she encourage those authorities that have opted for systems where the schools know to move towards the Kent system?

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, we have indicated that we want education authorities to work with their schools. There have been some wonderful examples of real dialogue going on to determine the best systems for education authority areas. As I have indicated, in all except five areas this has been achieved. It is for the local authority to decide its scheme by local determination.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, will the Minister agree that the lesson from Kent is that selective education brings poor outcomes for many thousands of young people in that county?

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, the evidence we have shows that children who attend grammar schools do marginally better at key stage 3 and are overtaken by children at comprehensives at key stage 4. In a sense, outcomes even out. We want to ensure that every child at every school in the country gets the best possible education, because they deserve it.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the issue of parents driving children long distances across London, raised by my noble friend Lady Thomas, is not solved by the new admissions procedures?

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, I did not try to indicate that it would be. I was merely answering questions about the admissions procedures. I thought my reply to the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas, was very clear. I said that there are issues about ensuring that every school is of the highest possible quality so that all children get a good education wherever they are. That is our aspiration, and that of parents and those working in schools.