Adjudicator publishes a decision on an objection to the admission arrangements of St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Rotherham

London, 4 June/GNN/ -- OFFICE OF THE SCHOOLS ADJUDICATOR News Release (39.08) issued by The Government News Network on 4 June 2008 The Office of the Schools Adjudicator has published a decision on a

The adjudicator, Mr Andrew Baxter, partially upheld the objections. He
made changes to the school's arrangements by removing the criterion that
gave first priority to children with statements of special education needs,
and by amending the criterion that afforded priority to siblings attending
the school at the time of application. However, he concluded that it was
acceptable for the school to use attendance at the school's Foundation Unit
combined with distance from home to school as a tie breaker, although he
revised the wording to make the relationship between these two factors clear.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Schools adjudicators are independent of the Government. They decide on school
organisation issues, disputes on land transfer and assets and admission
arrangements which cannot be resolved locally. They were appointed under
the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Their role is to look afresh at
all cases referred to them, considering each case on its merits and taking
account of the reasons for disagreement at local level in the light of the
legislation and the guidance in the School Admissions Code.

Copies of the determination reached by the adjudicator can be obtained from
the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. It can also be found on the Schools
Adjudicator Website - www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk. Individual adjudicators
are not in a position to comment on their decisions but, if clarification
of those decisions is needed, enquiries can be addressed to: The Office of
the Schools Adjudicator, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington DL3 9BG

Press Enquiries Tel: 0191 202 3600
Public Enquiries Tel: 0870 001 2468

Issued on behalf of the Office of the Schools Adjudicator
by COI News and PR North East.
For more information please contact: Ian Farrimond or Kate Read
Telephone: 0191 202 3608 or 3694;
email: ian.farrimond@coi.gsi.gov.uk - kate.read@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington DL3 7PJ
T 0870 0012468
F 01325 391313
E offschl@dfee.gov.uk

Source: Office of the Schools Adjudicator

2008-06-04 05:44:30 0376876 PRNEWSWIRE