Parents and children "have a right to know" details of schools' breaches of admissions code

3.12.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 13th Mar 2008

Parents should be told the details of schools' breaches of the admissions code, insist Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat campaigner Chris Nelson has called for Northamptonshire County Council to release the details of alleged breaches of a national admissions code for secondary schools, after the Kettering resident made a formal request for the information under the Freedom of Information Act.

The schools, which were accused by the government of breaching the code after the results of a 'spot inspection' were announced on Tuesday, have not been named by the Conservative-run county council, which claims that breaches of the code were merely "technical".

Chairman of Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats Chris Nelson said, "Parents and children have a right to know whether or not their school has acted in accordance with the code, if only to ensure that the mistakes of this year are not repeated again."

"The Labour government has put a cloud over our county by not revealing which schools they are accusing of not following the admission procedures. If they have evidence they should make it public, and not just issue a press release which casts a slur over all our schools."

"In responding to this, I welcome the assurances of Cllr Kirkbride that she does not believe any Northamptonshire children were disadvantaged. But, technical or not, parents and children should nonetheless be entitled to assess the effect of breaches of admissions code rules themselves.

"There is a strong public interest in the release of this information. I have therefore requested that this information be released to me under the Freedom of Information Act, and look forward to the County Council's reply."

ENDS