Council overhaul of school admission policy aimed at improving ‘fairness’ for families

The change to admissions rules would give priority in oversubscribed schools to pupils who live closest.

Current ‘tie-breaker’ guidelines favour youngsters who would otherwise have to travel the furthest to an alternative school, but are now set to be altered to bring the county in line with other North East authorities.

Coun Olwyn Gunn, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “If some children considered within this criterion cannot get a place at their preferred school, the tiebreaker was applied and priority given to those who would otherwise have to travel the furthest distance to the next nearest school.

“This was introduced to ensure that pupils living in remote rural areas who could not get a place at their nearest school would not have an unreasonable distance to travel to the next nearest school with a place available.

“However, schools in rural areas have sufficient places available.

“Secondary schools with a shortage of places tend to be in more urban areas such as Chester-le-Street and Durham City.”

Cllr Gunn was speaking at yesterday’s (Wednesday, February 11) meeting of the county council’s ruling cabinet, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

According to John Pearce, the council’s corporate director of children and young people’s services, the rule change, which was agreed by the panel to come into force for admissions from next year (2022), resolves an ‘anomaly that was created historically for a very specific reason and which is no longer valid’.

Backing for the policy overhaul was granted despite public opposition.

Out of 76 responses to a consultation on the change, just a third were in favour, with the rest against.

A report for the panel noted most of those opposed to the proposal live in Fencehouses, Bournmoor and Lumley and believed the new guidelines would make getting their children a place at Park View School, in Chester-le-Street, more difficult.

However, the revised guidelines will not apply to Park View School which, as an academy, is free to set its own admissions criteria.

Cllr Lucy Hovvels, cabinet member for adult and health services, said the policy ‘exists to ensure fairness and equality’.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news, information and puzzles online. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu.