Annual report: Chief Schools Adjudicator for England 2017 to 2018
Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) annual report for September 2017 to August 2018.
The annual report of the Chief Adjudicator, Ms Shan Scott, to the Secretary of State for Education, covering the period 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018 is published today, (17 January 2019). The report records the progress made by admission authorities in England in complying fully with the school admissions code and achieving fair access to schools for all children.
In her report, Ms Scott states that adjudicator casework and reports from local authorities suggest that the admissions system as a whole works effectively in the normal admissions round and that the needs of vulnerable children and those with particular educational or social needs are generally well met at normal points of admission to school.
The Chief Adjudicator drew attention to the use of the pupil, early years and service premiums in school admissions. The premiums are additional sums of money given to schools to help support the achievement of children from disadvantaged backgrounds or whose families serve in the armed forces. Around 550 schools now give priority for places to children entitled to one or more of the premiums. Although this number represents a small proportion of the 20,200 state funded mainstream schools in England, reports made to the Chief Adjudicator suggest that the number is growing year by year. The schools using one or more of the premiums include primary and secondary schools, urban and rural schools and academies and local authority maintained schools.
While most schools and local authorities work hard and collaboratively to find places promptly for children – especially vulnerable children – who need them outside of the normal admissions round, there continue to be some difficulties. Reports from local authorities suggest that some schools are less willing to play their part and adjudicator casework also revealed that local authorities themselves did not always follow proper procedures when seeking to find a place for a child. As a result, the Chief Adjudicator believes that some of the children who can least afford to miss any part of their education are out of school for too long.
Notes to editors
- Read the OSA 2017 to 2018 annual report.
- Ms Shan Scott was appointed as an adjudicator in 2013 and to the post of Chief Adjudicator on 4 April 2016.
- There are currently 10 adjudicators, including the Chief Adjudicator. All are part time and paid only for the work they are asked to undertake.
- Adjudicators resolve differences over the interpretation and application of legislation and guidance on school admissions and statutory proposals concerning school organisation.
In relation to all state-funded schools adjudicators:
- rule on objections to and referrals about determined school admission arrangements
In relation to maintained schools adjudicators:
- decide on requests to vary admission arrangements
- resolve disputes relating to school organisation proposals
- resolve disputes on the transfer and disposal of non-playing field land and assets
- determine appeals from admission authorities against the intention of the local authority to direct the admission of a particular pupil
- The Chief Adjudicator can also be asked by the Secretary of State to provide advice and undertake other relevant tasks.
- The Office of the Schools Adjudicator is a tribunal and until its abolishment in August 2013 was supervised by the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council. Once published decisions can only be challenged through the courts.
- Adjudicators do not deal with complaints from parents whose child has not been offered a place at a particular school.
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