25/01/2007

School catchment areas on the way out

Relocating parents will have to read the new admissions codes with great care for 2008 admissions. Alan Johnson, the education secretary suggested it might come to drawing names from a hat to stop middle class families monopolizing popular state schools – so the heat may be off for relocating families trying to buy a house in the best school areas. The new code also bans interviewing families and taking the parents’ background into consideration as just 3% of pupils from the best state schools are entitled to free meals (government’s key indicator of deprivation) in comparison to 17% nationally. Faith schools are affected too and must clearly state what constitutes religious affiliation. The new rules come into force in February.

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