PLACING REQUESTS IN EDUCATION AUTHORITY SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND,
1988-89 TO 1998-99
The provisional 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 education authorities in Scotland
— the latest survey covers 1 August 1998 to 31 July 1999. This News Release
updates the figures published in June 1999 in the statistical bulletin: Placing
Requests in Education Authority Schools in Scotland: 1987-88 to 1997-98,
Edn/B6/1999/1, which reported the results of the 1 August 1997 to 31 July 1998
survey.
The main findings are:
- The total number of placing requests received in 1998-99 was 31,011, a decrease
of 1.6 per cent on the 1997-98 figure, but 28.8 per cent more than in 1988-89.
Of these, 19,786 were for primary (including 327 early entry requests), 11,155
were for secondary and 70 were for special schools. (Tables 1 and 2).
- In 1998-99, 87.0 per cent of all requests were granted. For primary, 21.7
per cent of early entry and 91.3 per cent of other primary requests were granted.
In secondary, 81.6 per cent of requests were successful. (Tables 1 and 2).
- Placing requests received in 1998-99 for stage P1 (excluding early entry)
and stage S1 represented 19.2 and 13.4 per cent respectively of the pupil
rolls at these stages. (Tables 3 and 4).
- Accommodation constraints was the reason for refusal reported in 73.6 per
cent of primary (excluding early entry) and 61.5 per cent of secondary requests
which were refused. The continuity of the child’s education was cited
as a factor in 45.3 per cent of S2-S6 requests which were refused. (Table
5).
TABLES
Table 1 - Education authority
schools, 1988-89 to 1998-99: Placing requests received and granted.
Table 2 - Education authority primary and secondary
schools, 1988-89 to 1998-99: Placing requests received and granted, by type.
Table 3 - Education authority primary and secondary
schools, 1 August 1998 to 31 July 1999: Placing requests, by type and outcome.
Table 4 - Education authority primary and secondary
schools, 1 August 1998 to 31 July 1999: Placing requests received as a percentage
of the relevant stage roll.
Table 5 - Education authority primary and secondary
schools, 1 August 1998 to 31 July 1999: Placing requests refused, by reason
for refusal.
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
1. In this News Release, a placing request is defined as a request that a child
be placed in a specified school under the control of the education 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 education 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 News Release, a statutory request is defined as a written
request, either to the education 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 1999 and 28 February 2000 would generally start
school in August 1999. 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 the September
closest to the end of the period (e.g. September 1999 pupil populations for
requests made between 1 August 1998 and 31 July 1999) as the majority of requests
in a year will relate to placements commencing at the start of the following
school session.
5. Grounds in 1998-99 for refusing a placing request include:
- where placing a child in school would make it necessary to employ an additional
teacher;
- where it would give rise to significant expenditure on extending or altering
accommodation;
- where it is likely to be seriously detrimental to order and discipline in
the school;
- where it would be likely to be seriously detrimental to the educational
well-being of the pupils already at the school;
- where it would be seriously detrimental to the continuity of the child’s
education;
- if the education normally provided at the specified school is not suited
to the age, ability or aptitude of the child;
- if the education authority have already required the child to discontinue
his/her attendance at the specified school;
- 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;
- if the specified school is a single sex school and the child is not of the
sex admitted to the school;
- where in certain circumstances schools retain places for incomers.
There were no refusals recorded in 1998-99 on grounds (h) and
(i).
6. 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
7. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News
Release should be addressed to Dave Sorensen, Statistician, The Scottish Executive
Education Department, Area 1A-West, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone
0131 244 0322 or email dave.sorensen@scotland.gov.uk.
News Release
28 June 2000
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