HC Deb 23 April 1999 vol 329 c713W
Mrs. Gordon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many representations he has received from parents in Havering concerning secondary school admission for September; [81610]

(2) what powers he has under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to require admission authorities to take part in consultation over secondary school admission arrangements with the local education authority; [81611]

(3) what powers he has under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to ensure that, in cases where a local education authority operates catchment areas for secondary school admission, all primary schools within the local education authority fall within a catchment area. [81612]

Ms Estelle Morris

To date, we have received 25 letters from parents in Havering not offered their preferred secondary school place for September 1999. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State could intervene only in an admissions issue where he is satisfied that a local education authority or governing body has acted unlawfully or "unreasonably", that is, in a way which no sensible authority or governing body would have acted. Our investigation of these complaints found no grounds for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's intervention.

Academic year (age as at 31 August)
1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
15 14 13 15 14 13 15 14 13
London 329 564 435 395 607 473 366 590 435
South East 332 466 297 397 531 321 391 480 412