§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the Education Department of the London Borough of Wandsworth on the number of children who have not obtained places in secondary schools in the borough for the September 1999 school entry. [85778]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisNone. Arrangements for admission to schools are determined locally by the relevant admission authority, that is the local education authority for county and controlled schools, the governing body for voluntary aided and grant-maintained schools. While parents are able to say which school they would prefer, they may not gain a place at that school if it is popular and oversubscribed.
The local education authority is responsible for ensuring that a school place is available for every child living in its area whose parents want one. The places do not have to be provided at schools in its area. Where a child is without a school place because he or she has been refused admission to, or excluded from, every school within a reasonable travelling distance, the local education authority has the power to direct a school to admit the child.
I understand that Wandsworth Local Education Authority is monitoring the position and expects it to be satisfactorily resolved in due course.