11 Plus Exams Forum

Recommendation 5 [from 2009]­ An earlier date should be considered for submitting objections to the OSA against determined admission arrangements.
16. The then Secretary of State confirmed that he would `ask...officials to consider further how ...concerns might be addressed'. Subsequent discussions have centred on a wish not to reduce the length of time that parents, particularly, have to object to arrangements. Currently arrangements do not have to be published until 1 May, with a cut off for objections three months later on 31 July. Because of the summer holiday period, with most schools closed (at least for part of that time), objections that arrive at the OSA towards the end of July cannot often be dealt with until the beginning of the autumn term ­- sometimes too late to have a decision publicised for the beginning of the following year's admissions round. This remains a serious concern.

39. It has already been reported that changes have been made during the last year to involve the OSA in determining objections to Academy admission arrangements. However, the changes have provided only a partial solution to the problem, with ultimate responsibility for agreeing and issuing Academy determinations being retained by the YPLA, or by the Secretary of State. From a parental point of view, it would seem sensible to have one independent route through which they can object for all state funded schools rather than the mixed solution we now have. This is a particular issue as we are about to see more Academies (including Free School Academies) being created. There is an added issue that if different routes are being applied for different types of school, there could at some point in the future be a legal challenge relating to equity of treatment.