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Academies could give priority on places to poorest Academies could give priority on places to poorest
(about 1 hour later)
  
Academies and free schools in England could be allowed to give priority to students from the poorest backgrounds when allocating places, under a new admissions code being published. Academies and free schools in England may be allowed to give priority to the poorest pupils when allocating places, under a new proposed admissions code.
The Department for Education is due to publish its proposed changes, many of them expected, later. The rules, published for consultation, also make it easier for schools to expand and allow them to give priority to teachers' children.
The new code will also make it easier for schools to expand and allow them to give teachers' children priority. The government will also consider allowing free schools to give priority to their founders' children.
But there have been warnings that changes could water down the code. There had been warnings that changes could water down the code.
The admissions code covers the controversial issue of school entry, particularly the basis on which places are allocated in popular, oversubscribed schools.The admissions code covers the controversial issue of school entry, particularly the basis on which places are allocated in popular, oversubscribed schools.
Apart from grammar schools, state schools are not allowed to select on the basis of academic ability.Apart from grammar schools, state schools are not allowed to select on the basis of academic ability.
But in many cases they give priority to families living within a certain distance of the school, prompting better-off parents to buy homes near popular schools.But in many cases they give priority to families living within a certain distance of the school, prompting better-off parents to buy homes near popular schools.
However, children eligible for free school meals - those whose parents earn less than £16,000 a year - could be given priority under the proposed changes, which will go out to consultation.However, children eligible for free school meals - those whose parents earn less than £16,000 a year - could be given priority under the proposed changes, which will go out to consultation.
But this would apply only to "free schools" set up by parents and community groups under the government's flagship programme, and academies, which are state schools operating outside local authority control.But this would apply only to "free schools" set up by parents and community groups under the government's flagship programme, and academies, which are state schools operating outside local authority control.
Schools would not be forced to prioritise in this way, and would have to consult the local community first if they wanted to, the Department for Education said. Schools would not be forced to prioritise in this way and would have to consult the local community first if they wanted to, the Department for Education (DfE) said.
A spokesman for the DfE said the existing system had "rationed good schools".A spokesman for the DfE said the existing system had "rationed good schools".
"Some families can go private or move house. Many families cannot afford to do either. The poorest are often left with the worst schools. The system must change," the spokesman said."Some families can go private or move house. Many families cannot afford to do either. The poorest are often left with the worst schools. The system must change," the spokesman said.
'Red tape'
In April, the coalition's "pupil premium" came into effect, under which schools receive an extra £430 per year for every pupil on free school meals that they teach.In April, the coalition's "pupil premium" came into effect, under which schools receive an extra £430 per year for every pupil on free school meals that they teach.
The draft code will also allow schools to give priority to the children of their own teachers and other staff, something which was stopped under Labour.The draft code will also allow schools to give priority to the children of their own teachers and other staff, something which was stopped under Labour.
Such a restriction "leads to some schools losing out on potentially very valuable mbers of staff as they week to balance work and life as a parent", the updated code states. Such a restriction "leads to some schools losing out on potentially very valuable members of staff as they seek to balance work and life as a parent", the updated code states.
It is also expected to remove the requirement for schools to obtain permission from their local authority or the education secretary if they want to increase the number of pupils they take.It is also expected to remove the requirement for schools to obtain permission from their local authority or the education secretary if they want to increase the number of pupils they take.
The DfE said it was "removing the red tape that now stops good schools from expanding".The DfE said it was "removing the red tape that now stops good schools from expanding".
Another proposed change would allow primary schools to increase class sizes beyond 30 pupils in order to take in children whose parents are serving in the armed forces. They are currently only allowed to do so for children in care. Separately, the government said that it would, on a case by case basis, consider allowing free schools set up by parents to give priority to the children of those who founded them.
This is not included in the new code, but would be written into each school's funding agreement with the government.
Another proposed change in the code would allow primary schools to increase infant class sizes beyond 30 pupils in order to take in children whose parents are serving in the armed forces. They are currently only allowed to do so for children in care.
Highly competitiveHighly competitive
The use of school admissions lotteries across whole local authority areas could also be outlawed, although this is barely used, and individual schools and smaller localities will still be allowed to use random selection to allocate places.The use of school admissions lotteries across whole local authority areas could also be outlawed, although this is barely used, and individual schools and smaller localities will still be allowed to use random selection to allocate places.
Coalition ministers have long said they wanted to shorten and simplify the existing code, and are reducing it from 130 pages to about 50. Coalition ministers have long said they wanted to shorten and simplify the existing code, and have reduced it from 130 pages to about 50.
However, the outgoing head of the school places watchdog, chief schools' adjudicator, Ian Craig, warned in November that this could risk "throwing the baby out with the bathwater". However, the outgoing head of England's chief schools adjudicator, Ian Craig, warned in November that this could risk "throwing the baby out with the bathwater".
"I think we need to be very careful that while we're making it more accessible we don't simplify it to such an extent where it becomes a useless document," he said."I think we need to be very careful that while we're making it more accessible we don't simplify it to such an extent where it becomes a useless document," he said.
The government is also altering the school admissions appeals process in the Education Bill currently before parliament. The government is also altering the school admissions appeals process in the Education Bill currently before Parliament.
It wants to end the requirement for local panels to be set up to consider individual appeals, and limit the Office of the Schools Adjudicator to investigating specific complaints, rather than wider issues where it suspects there may be a problem.It wants to end the requirement for local panels to be set up to consider individual appeals, and limit the Office of the Schools Adjudicator to investigating specific complaints, rather than wider issues where it suspects there may be a problem.
The government says this will reduce bureaucracy without affecting fairness, but Labour has warned that such changes could result in reduced scrutiny and an increase in "selection by the back door".The government says this will reduce bureaucracy without affecting fairness, but Labour has warned that such changes could result in reduced scrutiny and an increase in "selection by the back door".
School admissions remain highly competitive in some areas, with one in seven pupils failing to get a place at their first choice of secondary school this year.School admissions remain highly competitive in some areas, with one in seven pupils failing to get a place at their first choice of secondary school this year.
There are also concerns about a shortage of primary school places in the next few years in some areas, with London predicting a shortfall of about 70,000 over the next four years.There are also concerns about a shortage of primary school places in the next few years in some areas, with London predicting a shortfall of about 70,000 over the next four years.