The Rhetoric of Choice
85. We have laid out above a number of specific concerns
about the operation of school admissions, but we would also urge
caution in the Government's use of the rhetoric of choice. Too
often, the admissions system is assumed to give parents a choice.
For example, in its response to the Committee's report, the Government
states: "Admissions law is underpinned by parental preference
and the Government continues to believe that it is for parents
to make choices about which school is best for their child.".[73]
This sentence confuses the expression of preference with the ability
to secure a choice. In oversubscribed schools, the satisfaction
of one person's choice necessarily denies that of another. What
is being sought is the satisfaction of parental preference. Open,
clear and fair arrangements to determine the order in which parental
preferences will be met is the best way of achieving that aim.
Our inquiry has focused on the legal, regulatory and administrative
arrangements for school admissions. However, these are second
to the overriding necessity to ensure that all schools are good
enough. All parents want a place in a 'good school' for their
child, although they apply different criteria when judging a school's
value. In circumstances where a number of schools are perceived
by parents to be of comparable standards, parents may prefer a
particular school for reasons of ethos, specialism or location
for example, but may be reasonably happy if their first preference
is not met. In contrast, where schools are perceived to be of
very different standing, competition for places at the better
schools can be fierce. We recommend that further options for the
creation of more places in 'good' schools be explored.
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