On Tuesday last week there were several questions asked by MP’s and one of them was published by Laura Trott, the Conservative Kent MP for Sevenoaks. Her request was to the Minister of State (Education), Catherine McKinnell and the response from Laura was “what assessment she has made of potential impact of Brighton and Hove City Council new schools admission policy on school children.” Catherine is the Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North.

The question and response are very interesting for us in Sussex. The text is as follows and it is below. No Sussex MPs have made similar comments since last Summer although recently two Sussex MPs have raised questions about new secondary schools’ admissions. From BBC Sussex news source;

Both Brighton MPs have raised concerns about the impact on children with SEND, particularly those without an education, health and care plan (ECHP).

Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, is concerned that the current catchment proposals “could result in some children with SEND having to travel a long way and potentially via multiple forms of transport” to go to school.

The proposals will go before councillors on 27 February.

Here is the question from Laura and the response to Catherine on 18th February

Laura Trott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of potential impact of Brighton and Hove City Council new schools admission policy on school children.

Catherine McKinnell: This government believes admissions arrangements should be fair, lawful and support good outcomes for all children.

School admission arrangements are set and applied locally by the admission authority for each school. After providing highest priority to looked after and previously looked after children, it is for the council, as the admission authority for the community and voluntary-controlled schools in its area, to decide what oversubscription criteria to apply for places at its secondary schools and in what order the criteria are applied. The purpose of consultation is to provide the local community the opportunity to express any concerns that they may have about the proposed admission arrangements.

Admission arrangements must be fair, clear and objective, and comply with the school admissions code. To ensure that a school’s admission arrangements meet the needs of their local community, the admission authority is required to consult on them locally when making a change.

The consultation for Brighton and Hove City Council went live on 6 December 2024 and closed on 31 January 2025. The council is required to determine the final admission arrangements for September 2026 by 28 February 2025.

Once the council has determined their admission arrangements, anyone who feels they are unlawful or unfair may raise an objection to the schools adjudicator. Objections to admission arrangements must be referred to the adjudicator by 15 May in the year they were determined. The adjudicator’s role is to consider whether the admission arrangements and consultation comply with the school admissions code and admissions law. The adjudicator’s decisions are binding and enforceable.