§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make an order under sections 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996 requiring Nelson Thomlinson school of Wigton,, pursuant to section 411 of the Education Act 1996, to admit a pupil whose name has been communicated to the Minister by the hon. Member for Workington. [82630]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is minded to make a direction to require the governors of Nelson Thomlinson School to admit the child concerned and his position is unchanged despite the additional representations which have been submitted by the governing body in support of their case for refusing 365W admission. Nevertheless, before my right hon. Friend reaches a final decision on whether to use his powers to make a direction, he has asked the local education authority to arrange a meeting at the earliest opportunity between the parents and governors to try to reconcile the differences which have led to the child being refused admission. My right hon. Friend considers that the interest of the child would be served best if this could be achieved. In that event, he expects the child to be admitted to the school shortly. If, however, reconciliation cannot be achieved, and the child is still not admitted, my right hon. Friend will reach a speedy decision on whether to issue a direction to the governing body. I will be writing to my hon. Friend again to inform him of the outcome.