HC Deb 27 July 1982 vol 28 cc504-5W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions in 1979, 1980 and 1981 local education authorities have applied to him under section 37(3) of the Education Act 1944 for directions as to which school should be named in a school attendance order in relation to (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and on how many of those occasions the school directed by him to be named in the order was that selected by the parent in relation to (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools.

Dr. Boyson

Records do not provide quite the information requested. In the period May 1980 to June 1982, local education authorities sought directions in 45 school attendance order cases. All these related to secondary schools. In 10 cases, the school directed to be named in the order was that selected by the parent.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions he has received representations from parents against the allocation by local education authorities of their children to (a) primary and (b) secondary school places for the years 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981; and on how many of those occasions he gave a direction to the local education authority concerned under section 68 of the Education Act 1944 on the grounds that he was satisfied that it was acting or proposing to act unreasonably in relation to (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools.

Dr. Boyson

The representations received were as follows:

Year Primary Secondary*
1978 45 967
1979 51 1,032
1980 44 751
1981 57 767
* Including middle schools.

One formal direction was made under section 68. This was in 1979 and related to a secondary school.