Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that school intakes are reflective of their local communities.

The School Admissions Code requires all admission authorities to consult publicly for eight weeks when drawing up or proposing changes to its published admission arrangements, thus ensuring the views of the local community are considered before those arrangements are finalised. This consultation period allows parents, other schools, religious authorities and the local community to make known their views and raise any concerns they may have about what is proposed. Subject to consultation, it is for admission authorities to decide what oversubscription criteria would be most suitable for the school taking account of local circumstances.

Once admission arrangements have been determined, anyone who believes they are unfair or unlawful can object to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator whose decision is binding and enforceable.