Ministers have said that 96 schools out of 570 that it checked have been found to be breaking the code on admissions.
Ministers have said that 96 schools out of 570 that it checked have been found to be breaking the code on admissions.
Of those, six were asking parents to make financial commitments as part of the admissions process.
Of those, six were asking parents to make financial commitments as part of the admissions process.
Many of the other cases - in England -involved not giving due priority to children in care or with special needs. The government is seeking to tighten the system even further. Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the situation was "unacceptable".
Many of the other cases - in England - involved not giving due priority to children in care or with special needs. The government is seeking to tighten the system even further.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the situation was "unacceptable".
Amendments to the Education and Skills Bill, currently before parliament, will:
require local authorities to report annually on the legality and fairness of all schools admission arrangements in their areas
extend the power of the schools adjudicator to amend arrangements that come to his attention
make sure that parents and local communities are properly consulted about school admissions arrangements
Amendments to the Education and Skills Bill, currently before parliament, will:
require local authorities to report annually on the legality and fairness of all schools admission arrangements in their areas
extend the power of the schools adjudicator to amend arrangements that come to his attention
make sure that parents and local communities are properly consulted about school admissions arrangements
Last month the government claimed "a significant minority" of schools in three areas were still breaking the admissions code which was tightened up last year.
Last month the government claimed "a significant minority" of schools in three areas were still breaking the admissions code which was tightened up last year.
Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet were chosen simply as being representative of a metropolitan authority, a shire county and a London borough - and were areas where there had not been objections to admissions policies.
Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet were chosen simply as being representative of a metropolitan authority, a shire county and a London borough - and were areas where there had not been objections to admissions policies.
"We have no reason to think that these areas are any different from any other authorities around the country," Mr Balls said.
"We have no reason to think that these areas are any different from any other authorities around the country," Mr Balls said.
At the time it declined to put a precise figure on the number involved, pending checks.
At the time it declined to put a precise figure on the number involved, pending checks.
Now that the schools have been asked to explain themselves, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has published lists of those involved along with their breaches of the code.
Now that the schools have been asked to explain themselves, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has published lists of those involved along with their breaches of the code.
About a third failed to comply in more than one respect.
About a third failed to comply in more than one respect.
'Wrong'
'Wrong'
The schools were allegedly asking parents banned questions about their marital status, financial background or even in some cases asking for financial contributions.
The schools were allegedly asking parents banned questions about their marital status, financial background or even in some cases asking for financial contributions.
It was put to Mr Balls that he had made too much of these requests for money - that they involved only six, mostly Jewish, schools in Barnet and these were only about 1% of those checked.
It was put to Mr Balls that he had made too much of these requests for money - that they involved only six, mostly Jewish, schools in Barnet and these were only about 1% of those checked.
Mr Balls said one school would mean hundreds of parents affected, six schools meant thousands.
Mr Balls said one school would mean hundreds of parents affected, six schools meant thousands.
"I think one child and one parent being deterred from applying to a school because of an unlawful charge is wrong," he said.
"I think one child and one parent being deterred from applying to a school because of an unlawful charge is wrong," he said.
"What we are highlighting here is thousands of parents being put in that position."
"What we are highlighting here is thousands of parents being put in that position."
He rejected the idea that the sort of middle class parents schools wanted to attract could afford the payments - which he said in one of the schools in Barnet were £995 per child per term.
He rejected the idea that the sort of middle class parents schools wanted to attract could afford the payments - which he said in one of the schools in Barnet were £995 per child per term.
He knew parents wanted the best for their children and he was on their side, "but you can't have a two-tier system".
He knew parents wanted the best for their children and he was on their side, "but you can't have a two-tier system".
To eradicate educational disadvantage it was "absolutely critical" that governing bodies, local authorities and the Schools Adjudicator enforce the code.
To eradicate educational disadvantage it was "absolutely critical" that governing bodies, local authorities and the Schools Adjudicator enforce the code.
"That's the law."
"That's the law."
Are you a parent who has been asked to to make a financial commitment to a school? Have you been asked unusual quesitons to get your child into a school? Send your comments using the post form below:
Are you a parent who has been asked to to make a financial commitment to a school? Have you been asked unusual quesitons to get your child into a school? Send your comments using the post form below:
