23 July 2004
The code governing secondary school admissions is 'toothless' and has allowed some schools to introduce an unofficial form of academic selection, MPs said this week.
A critical report from the Commons' education and skills select committee concludes that, although the Code of Practice on Admissions was well-intentioned, its suggestions were unenforceable and allowed voluntary-aided schools and academies too much leeway over their admissions policies.
The importance placed on GCSE targets encouraged some schools to ignore the code and favour more academically promising children, the July 22 report notes.
The committee is recommending that the code be backed up by regulations that identify and define acceptable admissions criteria.
'It should be explicit which criteria admissions authorities are required to implement and which may be implemented at the authority's discretion,' the report states. 'Unacceptable criteria should similarly be identified and prohibited.'
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