Supplementary memorandum from David Miliband
MP, Minister of State for School Standards (SA 55)
Thank you for your letter of 27 February, continuing
our dialogue on interviewing and structured discussions.
The School Admissions Code of Practice does
not mention structured discussions. However, we are clear—and
say in the Code—that no maintained school should interview
children or their parents as any part of the admissions process,
except in the case of boarding schools interviewing to assess
suitability for a boarding place. The Code goes on to add that
any meetings which take place before admission to maintained schools—for
example at an open-evening—should not form part of the admissions
process, and that schools should make this clear. Therefore, the
Code makes clear that we would not support any kind of pre-admission
discussions at maintained schools, which would include the wider
use of structured discussions. As I have explained in my previous
letters, the position with CTCs is different. They are independent
schools not legally required to have regard to the Code of Practice.
All maintained schools are required to have
regard to the statutory Code of Practice when determining their
admission arrangements, and all admission arrangements are of
course subject to local consultation. Where local education authorities
or other admission authorities (or in the case of admission arrangements
at voluntary aided or foundations schools, all other schools in
the area) are satisfied that a school's published admission arrangements
do not meet the requirements of the Code, they can refer an objection
to the Schools Adjudicator. The Code encourages LEAs to object
on behalf of parents if they consider admission arrangements are
not in the best interests of local parents and children. It further
points out that LEAs that do not object to admission arrangements
that are stated in the Code to be bad practice can be held accountable
by the Local Government Ombudsman. Also, my officials will raise
with the relevant admission authority any admission policies they
are made aware of which are not consistent with the Code.
David Miliband
9 March 2004
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