Schools’ admissions policies show bias

Some schools are still failing to give priority to looked-after children in their admissions processes, according to a new report.

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator upheld or partly upheld 27 out of 35 referrals objecting to schools’ failure to admit looked-after children ahead of others, its annual report for 2004-5 reveals.

Over-subscribed schools are meant to give priority to looked-after children in admissions, but MPs on the education and skills select committee found last year that this guidance was often “set aside”.

Another report published this week reveals the proportion of children receiving free school meals who are admitted to church primary schools in parts of England is far lower than their representation in the population in surrounding areas. The study was by the Institute for Research in Integrated Strategies.