Schools and learning

Changes to school admissions arrangements 2007-2008

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator published a decision on objections by Hertfordshire County Council to the admission arrangements of thirteen Voluntary Aided Schools for 2007/2008 admissions on 29 September 2006.

The adjudicator upheld the objections on the grounds that the admission arrangements for 2007/2008 did not comply with legislation relating to Looked After Children. He determined that the arrangements should be changed to reflect this.

Schools adjudicators are independent of the Government. They decide on school organisation issues 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 Code of Practice on Schools Admissions.

The 13 schools involved are:

• Christ Church School, Chorleywood
• St Johns CofE JMI School, Lemsford
• St Ippolyts CofE Primary School, St Ippolyts
• Nash Mills CofE Primary School, Hemel Hempstead
• St Mary’s CofE First School, Northchurch
• Countess Ann CofE Primary School, Hatfield
• St Georges School, Harpenden
• Great Gaddesden CofE Primary School, The Gaddesdens
• St Pauls CofE Primary School, Hunton Bridge
• St Nicholas CofE Primary School, Stevenage
• St Michaels CofE Primary School, Bishop’s Stortford
• Albury CofE Primary School
• Saints CofE Primary School

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. A link to this site can be found to the right of this page.

If you have any further queries with regard to the admission arrangements for the 13 schools, please contact the schools direct. Contact details are available in the ‘Moving On’ or ‘Starting School’ booklet.