- Media & Campaigns
- Press releases
- March 2010
- LGA heralds recognition of councils' vital role in adult care White Paper
- Winter weather review announced - councils respond
- Total Place report an important first step to better local services that cost less - LGA
- Potholes being fixed at record rate - LGA
- Chancellor announces £100m for potholes - councils respond
- LGA responds to council tax announcement
- LGA calls for councils to be 'freed from out-dated rules' on libraries
- LGA responds to Shelter research on housing
- Councils respond to landfill bans
- LGA response to Ed Balls announcement on child social work
- CAA costs 'are climbing' for some, LGA warns
- Councils seek freedom to build up to 500,000 new homes
- Councils respond to Audit Commission report
- Councils already alert to the problem of school admission fraud
- School admissions system stable despite increased pressure because of the recession
- New list published of 250 words the public sector shouldn't use
- Child protection reforms risk weakening safety net, LGA warns
- Microchips in bins - response to Big Brother Watch report
- Councils respond to Taxpayers Alliance pensions report
- Local Innovation Awards announced
- Early research findings show growing need for more social workers
- BBC poll shows tough times ahead for councils
- Delay to personal care at home implementation will ensure efficient service from day one - LGA
School admissions system stable despite increased pressure because of the recession
LGA media release - 11 March 2010
Commenting on the latest figures showing how many children got a place at one of their chosen secondary schools, Cllr Shireen Ritchie, Chair of the Children and Young People board at the Local Government Association, said:
“Councils and schools have worked extremely hard to co-ordinate secondary school places for more than half a million children. Only five per cent of those children were not offered a place at one of their top three preferred schools and an appeals process is available to all of them.
“Many high-performing schools are oversubscribed. It’s hard to imagine a time when every single child would be able to get a place at their first choice school. It’s natural that parents want the best for their children and many put a lot of effort into finding the school where they believe their children will feel happiest and be most successful. Councils also want children to be happy and able to achieve their best.
“Despite the recession placing increased pressure on the state school system, the number of children getting their first choice school has remained stable, and there has been a small increase in the number being placed at one of their top three. This is testament to the enormous amount of hard work and effort that councils and parents put into ensuring that pupils can attend the school of their choice wherever possible.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The latest statistics have been published at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000914/OSR072010Updated.pdf