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Statistics Publication Notice
PLACING REQUESTS IN LOCAL AUTHORITY SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND, 2001/02

20 March 2003

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

This document is also available in pdf format (60k)

The results of the latest annual survey of placing requests are published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department.

These results have been calculated using information from the annual survey of placing requests collected from local authorities in Scotland - the latest survey covers 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002.

The 2001/02 survey also collected information on the number of deferrals to entry.

The main findings are:

• The total number of placing requests received in 2001/02 was 31,872, an increase of five per cent on the 2000/01 figure, but a decrease of one per cent relative to 1999/2000.
• Of the placing requests received in 2001/02, 20,678 were for primary (including 186 early entry requests), 11,051 were for secondary (Tables 1 and 2) and 143 were for special schools.
• In 2001/02, 85 per cent of all requests were granted. For primary, 22 per cent of early entry and 90 per cent of other primary requests were granted. In secondary, 76 per cent of requests were successful (Tables 1 and 2).
• Placing requests received in 2001/02 for stage P1 (excluding early entry) and stage S1 represented 21 and 13 per cent respectively of the pupil rolls at these stages (Table 4).
• "Accommodation constraints" was the reason for refusal reported in 63 per cent of primary (excluding early entry) and 79 per cent of secondary requests which were refused (Table 5).
• There were 2,165 requested deferrals to entry to mainstream primary schools and 146 requested deferrals to entry to special school (Table 6).

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

1. In this Statistics Publication Notice, a placing request is defined as a request that a child be placed in a specified school under the control of the local authority concerned. The figures also include requests that a child would not have to move to another school as a result of a change of residence.

It excludes:

• requests by parents of children who have been recorded as having special educational needs to have their child placed in a grant-aided or independent special school;
• requests for a child to be placed in the school which he/she would, in any event, have attended, except for those children who are under statutory entry age for primary school;
• requests for placements in nursery schools.

2. The systems operated by local authorities vary considerably. Some authorities operate a flexible policy whereby arrangements are made by the parent contacting the head teacher, without the involvement of the education authority. In this Statistics Publication Notice, a statutory request is defined as a written request, either to the local authority or to a school, that a placement be made. Where an oral request has been followed by a statutory request, only the latter is counted.

3. The usual arrangements for pupils entering P1 are that children whose 5th birthday falls between 1 March and 28 February start school together in the August in the middle of that period. For example, pupils whose 5th birthday is between 1 March 2002 and 28 February 2003 would generally start school in August 2002. Requests for entry under the statutory entry age are for a child to enter in the August of the year before the normal entry date.

4. In Table 4, the number of placing requests have been expressed as percentages of the relevant pupil populations as at September 2001. Note that most requests in 2001/02 would be for placement at the start of the 2002/03 school year. However, pupil figures for September 2002 were not available at time of going to press.

5. Grounds in 2001/02 for refusing a placing request include:

a) where placing a child in school would make it necessary to employ an additional teacher;
b) where it would give rise to significant expenditure on extending or altering accommodation;
c) where it is likely to be seriously detrimental to order and discipline in the school;
d) where it would be likely to be seriously detrimental to the educational well-being of the pupils already at the school;
e) where it would be seriously detrimental to the continuity of the child's education;
f) if the education normally provided at the specified school is not suited to the age, ability or aptitude of the child;
g) if the education authority have already required the child to discontinue his/her attendance at the specified school;
h) if, where the specified school is a special school, the child does not have special educational needs requiring the education or special facilities normally provided at that school;
i) if the specified school is a single sex school and the child is not of the sex admitted to the school;
j) where in certain circumstances schools retain places for children moving into the catchment area.
k) accepting the request would make it necessary for the council to create an additional class or employ an additional teacher at a future stage in the child's education.
l) under the terms of Section 38(1) of the standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000 the education normally provided at the specified school would not be suited to the ability and aptitude of the child.

6. In 2000/01, the survey form was amended to take into account the changes to placing request legislation made by the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000, which came into force on 13th October 2000. In particular, data were collected to monitor the impact of an unintended consequence of that Act, which meant that parents had no statutory right to make placing requests for children under 5 years of age who were nonetheless eligible to start school under section 32(6) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. The statistics that were collected showed that in 89 per cent of cases local authorities granted requests they received for these children on a non-statutory basis. The legislative error giving rise to this situation was rectified by section 1 of the School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2002 which came into force in February 2002. The form reverted to its previous format for 2001/02.

7. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

Enquiries

8. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to:
Mal Cooke,
The Scottish Executive Education Department, Room 1A-West,
Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ.
Telephone: 0131 244 1689 or
email: ea.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

9. Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should be addressed to:
Barry Winter: 0131 244 2087
Statistics Publication Notice
20 March 2003

TABLES

Table 1 - Placing requests received and granted. 1990/91 to 2001/02:
Chart 1 - Placing requests 1990/91 to 2001/02.
Table 2 - Placing requests received and granted, by type, primary and secondary schools, 1990/91 to 2001/02.
Table 3 - Placing requests, by type and outcome primary and secondary schools, 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002.
Chart 2 - Outcome of placing requests to primary and secondary schools 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002.
Table 4 - Placing requests received as a percentage of the relevant stage roll. Primary and secondary schools, 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002.
Table 5 - Placing requests refused, by reason for refusal, primary and secondary schools, 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002.
Table 6 - Requests for deferred entry to P1, 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002.

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