HC Deb 02 July 2001 vol 371 cc34-5W
Mr. Forth

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in the London borough of Bromley have not had an offer of a secondary school place for September. [1268]

Mr. Timms

As of 25 June, 152 children in Bromley were still to be made an offer of a secondary school place for September. However, appeals are still taking place, and some parents may also be holding offers of places in neighbouring boroughs. As in previous years, the LEA will be negotiating with their schools to take on additional pupils. They also have powers to direct the admission of pupils for whom no school place can otherwise be found.

Mr. Forth

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to review the effects of the Greenwich Judgment, particularly with regard to the number of out-of-borough pupils in schools in the London borough of Bromley. [1270]

Mr. Timms

We have listened carefully to representations that we should seek to reverse the effect of the Greenwich Judgment. However, when we consulted on the Bill that became the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 there was no evidence of a groundswell of opinion nationally for doing so, and we have no reason to alter that view. The judgment was a sensible recognition of cross-LEA patterns of travel to schools. It prevented LEAs from refusing applications for schools simply on the basis that a child might not live in their specific administrative area.

Parents can apply for any school, regardless of where they live. If a school is oversubscribed, admission criteria are applied to decide which applicants should be allocated the available places. The Code of Practice on School Admissions encourages admission authorities to operate admission arrangements which reflect the reality of pupil admission patterns, especially where there tends to be a high level of cross-border movement.

Typical criteria used give priority where there is a sibling already at the school, to those who attend a named feeder school, who have a medical condition, live in a defined catchment area or who live closest to the school. Admission authorities for schools must review and consult on their admission arrangements each year, and this gives an opportunity to introduce any changes they consider to be in the best interests of local parents and children.

In many cases, a child's nearest school may be in another authority area. This is one reason why there is so much cross-border travel. Cross-LEA travel to school is a well-established practice in London, and pre-dates the Greenwich judgment. It is one of many factors that LEAs must take into account when planning and organising the provision of school places in their area.

Supply and demand of places is finely balanced at present in Bromley with significant growth predicted. A new secondary school will open in September 2003.