§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities in England and Wales maintain a system of three-point entry into primary schools. [57219]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information is not collected centrally in the form requested. The dates of entry to infant classes are for an individual school's admission authority to determine. The admission authority for county and voluntary controlled schools is the local education authority, and for voluntary aided and grant-maintained schools it is the school's governing body. A number of local education authorities do operate a three-point entry system within their primary admission arrangements. The Secretary of State will shortly be issuing a consultative draft of a new, statutory Code of Practice on School Admissions. The Code is expected to advise that local admission arrangements should aim to meet the preferences of local parents as far as possible, and that local consultation should take place on the arrangements within admissions forums.