SCHOOLS ADMISSION REVIEW

The City of York's Education Committee is currently reviewing the rules which determine which schools children, moving from junior to secondary schools, will attend in future. Few can envy the committee its difficult task, but the consultation process it has undertaken leaves a great deal to be desired. In particular, it is the impression given by the committee of haste and, especially, of having an undisclosed private agenda; which has disturbed York parents most of all.

As a start, the document issued to parents is incorrect in places and hence misleading, and it is also ambiguous in respect of some of the options it proposes. For instance, Option 1 (the present system) does not make clear that it has been common practice for parents living in the old city boundary to apply to schools outside it and to gain admission there, and vice-versa. Would that continue or not?

Next, Option 3 (linking primary schools to a choice of three secondary schools) is confusing and contradictory. Will parents be assured of getting their second if not their first choice of three? If not, and they only get their third and last choice, then there is no effective choice whatsoever. Likewise, Option 4 (linking each primary school directly to a specific secondary school) makes a complete mockery of any idea of pupil need or parental preference.

The Options, moreover, are profoundly limited in imagination and appear devoid of educational principles. Could the committee really not think of any further or more flexible options which embody educational ideas rather than geographical ones?

Furthermore, it is simply nave, at best, for the committee to say that all York schools are good schools. That may well be the case, but it is simply not the point. The point is that they are different. For instance, some schools have sixth forms - for many parents a crucial issue. The response from the committee that many pupils from such schools go to the sixth form college anyway also utterly misses the point. A school with a sixth form is likely to have a very different educational culture than one without it - and that influences the rest of the school. The same is true for a university without a post-graduate division.

In any event, will pupils still choose to go to the Sixth Form College if and when it merges with the College of Further Education? For other parents, sixth form issues may matter far less than, say, whether there is a good music department (or one at all), whether the range of language teaching provision is wide enough, whether there are good sports facilities, or distance from home.

But the real problem in this consultation process is that the Education Committee has not stated clearly the fundamental principles and criteria which will govern its decisions. All parties on the council believe in open government: so why not practice it? It is no good setting out a variety of worthy objectives in the booklet ('strong partnership, 'greater continuity' and 'more choice' are amongst them) if some of these conflict. For instance, you can't provide for continuity between primary and secondary schools and also enhance parental choice. So which of these principles takes precedence for the committee?

It is important to remember that this consultation is not a referendum. The council will decide, irrespective of the outcome of the consultation, as it is empowered and entitled to do.

But parents are also entitled to know now what principles and criteria will guide it. Does it want large and full schools? Does it want to limit or enhance parental choice? Does it have a budget problem which some decisions will help overcome more than others and, if so, which?

Does it intend to redress the imbalance between provision in different schools? Why should a geographical principle (where you live) take precedence over an educational principle (the kind of subjects you might wish your children to study)? Has the committee commissioned research that will help it make sound decisions? If so, let's hear about it. If not, why not do so now and postpone any final decision?

Many York parents are understandably and profoundly concerned. A wise committee would issue a clear policy statement now, outlining the principles and priorities which will govern its decisions about admissions policy and long-term strategy - before it takes those decisions. That way there could at least be a debate. But parents are also voters. And while no one imagines that its decision will be easy, the committee might also remember that if it does not come clean, it may well come unstuck.

See the council's Director of Education MICHAEL PETERS response

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.