NEWS


Admissions appeals reach five-year low


percentage of total admissions has fallen steadily since 2004/05, when it stood at 9.4 per cent. Although the total number of


by Chris Parr


The number of appeals lodged against secondary school admissions procedures has hit a five-year low, according to government statistics. The figures, which refer to the


2008/09 academic year, show that out of around 640,000 admissions, just over 50,000 appeals were lodged, equating to 7.8 per cent of all pupils entering the secondary sector. The number of appeals as a


appeals is on the decline, the amount of appeals decided in favour of par- ents was up on 2007/08, from 32.6 to 33.3 per cent. In 2004/05, parents won 35.7 per cent of appeals. In the primary sector, appeals were up 0.4 per cent compared to 2007/08, at 3.6 per cent: a five-year high. Despite the steady decline in


secondary appeals, schools minister Nick Gibb said the statistics proved that an increasing number of par- ents were unhappy with the school choices open to them. He used the data to back up his


government’s plans to create more “free schools” and academies, claim- ing that “by putting education in the hands of parents and professionals, rather than bureaucrats, we can raise standards in all our schools, par- ticularly in the poorest areas where problems are most acute”. He continued: “The level of dis-


satisfaction underlines why it is so important we change the schools system so providers like teacher groups and charities can open new state schools wherever parents want them; and give outstanding schools the freedoms they need to help improve those in more challenging circumstances.” Mike Griffiths, headteacher at


Northampton School for Boys, disagreed with the link between the appeals data and the Tory’s free school plans. He told us: “I think it is an error


to try to make these statistics link to anything – let alone academy freedoms. The figures are a com- plex mish-mash of a variety of spe- cial individual circumstances. “The appeals system is chaotic


and allows some parents to play the game and use all sorts of emo- tional blackmail and unsubstanti- ated stories to get what they want, and increasingly they are employing lawyers at enormous cost to help them – fortunately almost always to no avail.”


The new government’s academy plans will pander to high-flying pupils and overlook the needs of thousands of middle-achieving youngsters, a charity has claimed. Career Academies UK, which


works with employers to raise the aspirations of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, has questioned the coalition’s commit- ment to social mobility, claiming that awarding academy status to “outstanding” schools first will “benefit only the few and is not the way to ensure that hundreds of thousands of students achieve their potential”. The government has promised to


fast-track all outstanding schools to academy status by September, with 1,100 reportedly already express- ing an interest. Non-outstanding schools will also be able to apply for academies status, but will have to present a “business plan” and cannot be fast-tracked. According to the charity, this policy could result in an unaccept-


The changing face of secondary admissions


2004/05 Admissions: 668,470 – Appeals lodged: 62,750 Percentage: 9.4 per cent Appeals heard by a panel (as % of total admissions): 6.8 per cent Percentage of panel decisions favouring parents: 35.7 per cent 2005/06 Admissions: 666,200 – Appeals lodged: 56,670 Percentage: 8.5 per cent Appeals heard by a panel (as % of total admissions): 6.3 per cent Percentage of panel decisions favouring parents: 36.4 per cent 2006/07 Admissions: 665,640 – Appeals lodged: 53,570 Percentage: 8 per cent Appeals heard by a panel (as % of total admissions): 5.9 per cent Percentage of panel decisions favouring parents: 35.3 per cent 2007/08 Admissions: 658,000 – Appeals lodged: 53,430 Percentage: 8.1 per cent Appeals heard by a panel (as % of total admissions): 6 per cent Percentage of panel decisions favouring parents: 32.6 per cent 2008/09 Admissions: 644,390 – Appeals lodged: 50,200 Percentage: 7.8 per cent Appeals heard by a panel (as % of total admissions): 5.9 per cent Percentage of panel decisions favouring parents: 33.3 per cent


Charity questions commitment to social mobility


boost the aspirations and achieve- ments of ordinary, mainstream students, and present a worrying picture of a two or even three-tier education system – the likes of which would be a false economy at a time when we are trying to safeguard the future prosperity of UK Plc.” According to research by the


able number of middle-achieving young people leaving education without key employability skills. James McCreary, chief execu- tive of Career Academies UK, said:


Ofqual rejects science GCSEs


AsSecEd went to press on Tuesday (June 15), news was emerging that Ofqual, the exams regulator for England, has rejected the new science GCSEs developed by the awarding bodies. According to reports, Ofqual


has sent the new-look qualifica- tions back for more work because they do not fully address the “seri- ous concerns” it raised about the 2007 and 2008 science GCSEs. Ofqual had asked for changes


to be made and for new GCSEs to be designed, but does not feel the newly submitted qualifications are of a sufficient standard. Kathleen Tattersall, chair


of Ofqual and chief regulator, said: “Our job is to make sure that standards are maintained. If qualifications do not meet our standards, we cannot accept them into the regulated system. “Learners, teachers, employ-


ers and universities look for the independent regulator’s stamp of approval as assurance that quali- fications are rigorous, demanding and fair. I look forward to receiving improved GCSE science qualifica- tions that meet our requirements.”


No go: Kathleen Tattersall The new qualifications are set


to be taught from September next year, but if the problems persist, then this may prove difficult to implement. Ms Tattersall added: “Schools are expecting detailed information about the new quali- fications in time to prepare for first teaching in September 2011. We hope that that will still be pos- sible, but progress will depend on the quality of the revised qualifi- cations. In the meantime, improve- ments have been built in to the cur- rent version, and the regulators will make sure that grades awarded this summer are appropriate and fair.” For more on the emerging story, visit www.sec-ed.co.uk


“If the new government is serious about improving social mobility they need to give more support to middle-achieving students in mid- dle-achieving schools, rather than


apparently focusing attention on those who are already excelling. “The early policy indications


from the coalition government are a real concern for all those trying to


charity, which surveyed 100 teach- ers and 400 students, better relation- ships with employers are the key to ensuring middle-achieving stu- dents excel. Mr McCreary added: “The career expectations of middle- achieving students in urban areas are significantly raised through employer interventions. The schools and colleges we work with, those which are good but want to do better, are crying out for support to help broaden opportunities for their students who otherwise may drop out of further education without any useful employability skills.” Visit www.careeracademies.


org.uk


Good luck from Gordon Brown, Barack Obama, and the Queen!


A 16-year-old school girl has received letters of support from high profile public figures including the Queen, US president Barack Obama, and sprinter Usain Bolt as she prepares to take her GCSEs. It came about after Samira


Khalil wrote to politicians, athletes and other organisations as part of a “good luck” campaign before her school exams. Samira, an Afghanistani refugee,


now lives in London and attends Claremont High School in Harrow. She is currently in the middle of sit- ting 14 GCSE exams. Samira wrote her letters to ask


for inspiration during her mock GCSEs at the end of last year, with a view to reminding herself and her peers that you can achieve anything if you try hard enough. She said that she wanted the let-


ters to inspire her fellow pupils and show the effect a good education can have on their future. Among the responses received


were messages of support from Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, who said that: “Anything is possible, if you believe in yourself.” Former prime minister Gordon Brown quoted the words of Martin


4


Luther King in his response: “Everyone has the opportunity to make their mark in life whether for good or bad.” Samira and her classmates also


received good luck messages from the Queen as well as Chelsea and Arsenal football clubs. Samira said: “I’m so happy to


have the responses we got. I wanted to show students that successful sports stars, whether footballers or runners, have solid educational backgrounds.” The Khalil family arrived in


London from Afghanistan nine years ago and Samira added: “My parents have always been pro-edu- cation. It’s a ticket to your future.” Once Samira has completed her


school education, she wants to go to university and then be a journalist. Paul McCann, assistant


headteacher at Claremont High, said: “Samira is a very motivated, focused and articulate girl. She and her classmates were really happy that these people had taken the time and trouble to write back because often they are busy so do not both- er. They were thrilled that such high profile people were replying to her letter.”


New chair for cross- party group


Conservative MP Graham Stuart has been elected as chairman of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee. He replaces Barry Sheerman,


the Labour MP, who spent almost 10 years at the helm. The committee is a cross-party group of politicians who scrutinise government education policy. Mr Stuart, who has represent-


ed the constituency of Beverley and Holderness in Yorkshire since 2005, spent several years on the committee under Mr Sheerman’s stewardship. On his website, he said he


would be “fighting to get more cash allocated to fund school pupils in the East Riding, as well as pushing the government for money to be spent refurbish- ing or rebuilding schools”.


Good luck: Samira Khalil with some of the good luck messages that she and her classmates have received


SecEd • June 17 2010


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