Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Executive Education Leeds which sets out the pattern of parental appeals for the academic year 2007/08, both for admissions in September 2007 and also those relating to in year transfers

(Report attached)

The Chief Executive Education Leeds submitted a report informing Members of the pattern of parental appeals for the academic year 2007/08, both for admission in September 2007 and also those relating to in year transfers

Addressing the report Mrs Buckland said that there was a demographic decline in young people entering secondary school and as a result the demand at a number of schools has fallen.

There had been an increase, both locally and nationally, in the birth rate over recent years and this has already begun to affect entry into Leeds primary schools and this would filter through to secondary.  There was an increasing number of primary schools who were unable to accommodate their nearest children.  The number of primary schools oversubscribed on first preference was 51. Education Leeds continue to actively work with partners to resolve the situation.

There were 1669 appealed lodged during the academic year.  Of these 669 were in year transfer appeals, 639 annual cycle appeals for secondary schools and 361 annual cycle appeals for primary schools.  It was reported that there were relatively few successful appeals for Reception because most of the appeals for primary schools are covered by the infant class size legislation and unless a mistake had been made it was very unlikely that an appeal could succeed.

Primary – annual cycle

Of the 361 primary appeals, 80 were withdrawn or settled prior to the appeal hearing.  This occurs when a parent has been offered one of their higher preferences through the waiting lists and is happy to accept that offer.  Of the remaining 281 appeals that were heard only 19 were granted, in the main at schools where the class size legislation does not apply.  Whilst most primary schools in Leeds had admission numbers to match the legislation there were still a small number with irregular numbers where parents may be successful. 

Talbot Primary school had the largest number of appeals heard at 21 and 19% of these were Kashmir Pakistani, 14.9% Indian and 14.9% Pakistani. No appeals were granted for the school.

There were appeals for 68 different primary schools and 53% of these appellants were white/British, however only 5.7% were successful.  The other successful appellants were 1 Bangladeshi and 2 Pakistanis.  Indian and Pakistani were the two groups with the highest number of appeals after the white/British.

Secondary – annual cycle

There had been a significant reduction in the number of secondary appeals heard since 2006/07.  There had also been a reduction in the number of successful appeals.  This was a reflection of the amount of work that had been involved working with schools to develop more comprehensive statements of case outlining the issues faced by schools when they had to admit additional pupils.  It also indicated that the admissions policy was being applied correctly when places were allocated.  The declining birth rate was currently affecting intakes into secondary school.

The majority of secondary schools were reflective of their local community in respect of ethnicity.  Allerton Grange and Parklands Girls High both attract a higher proportion of Pakistani and Kashmiri Pakistani pupils than live in their immediate area.

Of the 639 appeals lodged for secondary schools 170 were settled or withdrawn before being heard.  469 appeals were heard with 32% of parents successful.  61% of the appeals heard were from white/British parents and they were successful in 41% of cases.  The majority of these appeals were for Roundhay. 

Mrs Buckland said it should be borne in mind that the groups are small in statistical terms and the conclusions that can be drawn from one year of data is limited.  Appeals are based around the personal circumstances of the families concerned and therefore vary greatly.

There were twice as many appeals heard for Roundhay as for any other secondary school.  25% of appellants were white/British with a very wide spread of ethnicities appealing for the school.  The white/British families represented 61% of all appeals heard.  This was a much higher percentage at schools such as Garforth, Temple Moor, Woodkirk, Pudsey Grangefield and Cockburn, and much lower at school such as Allerton High, Roundhay and Primrose.

In year appeals

Of the 669 appeals lodged 229 were withdrawn or settled prior to being heard.  Of the 440 appeals heard 56% were successful.  White/British families accounted for 57% of in year appeals and were successful 37% of the time.  Families from black/African, mixed black/African and Pakistani backgrounds were relatively much more successful, as were Gypsy Roma families. 

Primary

Bankside continued to have the most appeals heard for in year transfers.  There were 11 appeals, 82% from Bangladeshi families, seven were successful.  It is not unusual for families to lose their place in the school when taking extended holidays abroad. Of the 108primary appeals heard they were spread across 38 different schools, once again suggesting that there were relatively few difficulties for parents in obtaining a place in a school they were happy with.

Secondary

There were 332 secondary appeals heard 64% of which were by white/British families.  The most appealed for school with in year requests was Primrose, (30) with a wide spread of ethnicities appealing for the school.  Similarly Roundhay had the second highest number, again with a broad mix of appellants, only 37% of which were white/British.

In year appeals had the highest success rate for parents and this was often due to moving into an area outside of the normal admission round and finding that the local school was already full.  In these circumstances, if the Authority was unable to offer an alternative school within a reasonable distance then it presents no surprise that appeal panels will offer places where appropriate.  The relatively high success rate of parents at this type of appeal was a reflection of the appropriate use of the appeal process now picked up in the Fair Access Protocol which should reduce the number of appeals.

In conclusion Mrs Buckland said that the data indicated that all ethnic groups were accessing the appeals process and there was no significant evidence of any bias for or against any particular ethnic group.  Primary appeals were relatively unsuccessful due to infant class size legislation. Secondary appeals for annual cycle places were successful in around 32% of cases.  This appropriately reflects the need for an appeal process to hear the exceptional cases that are unable to be considered adequately within any admissions policy. 

The higher success rate of parents submitting in year appeals, around 59%, is reflective of the lack of places that can be available in many of our secondary schools when families move into an area outside of the normal admission round.

There was no evidence to suggest that a family’s ethnicity or social background affects their ability to gain admission to any particular school.

RESOLVED – To note the information on the breakdown of appeals by ethnicity and school.