Almost one in six schools checked by an official inquiry are breaking the rules on admissions, according to the Government.
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, said that the current situation was "unacceptable" and plans are afoot to tighten rules further.
Amendments to the Education and Skills Bill, currently before parliament, will:
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, said that the current situation was "unacceptable" and plans are afoot to tighten rules further.
Amendments to the Education and Skills Bill, currently before parliament, will:
- require local authorities to report annually on the legality and fairness of all schools admission arrangements in their areas
- extend the power of the schools adjudicator to amend arrangements that come to his attention
- make sure that parents and local communities are properly consulted about school admissions arrangements
Of the 96 schools caught breaching the rules, six had asked the parents of potential pupils to make a financial commitment as part of the admissions process.
Schools have also been asking parents banned questions about their marital status and educational background.
Shadow Schools Secretary, Michael Gove said: "Ed Balls started a witch-hunt against schools which were alleged to be handing out places for cash.
"But there's no evidence that money played any part in determining admissions in any of these schools.
"Ed Balls knows that many faith, and other, schools ask parents if they'd like to make purely voluntary contributions.
"He also knows that Jewish faith schools have to secure additional funding to guarantee the physical safety of their children.
"But he put these schools in the dock simply in order to distract attention from the fact that 100,000 parents weren't getting their first choice of school thanks to his policies," he added.
Schools have also been asking parents banned questions about their marital status and educational background.
Shadow Schools Secretary, Michael Gove said: "Ed Balls started a witch-hunt against schools which were alleged to be handing out places for cash.
"But there's no evidence that money played any part in determining admissions in any of these schools.
"Ed Balls knows that many faith, and other, schools ask parents if they'd like to make purely voluntary contributions.
"He also knows that Jewish faith schools have to secure additional funding to guarantee the physical safety of their children.
"But he put these schools in the dock simply in order to distract attention from the fact that 100,000 parents weren't getting their first choice of school thanks to his policies," he added.
