Admissions 'the key to rebel MPs'

By Sean Coughlan
BBC News education reporter

What will MPs want from a coffee and a chat with the prime minister?

The government could toughen up plans to make school admissions "fairer", in order to win over backbench rebels, says a senior Labour MP.

Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to persuade disgruntled Labour MPs to back the White Paper on schools.

Following its defeat on anti-terror plans, the government wants to regain support for public sector reforms.

This could mean making concessions on the allocation of school places, says the prominent Labour MP.

Shifting ground

While senior figures in the government might not favour imposing compulsory rules for distributing school places more "fairly", the MP says this could be where the government has to shift ground.

He says backbench opposition to changes to local education authorities could be overcome.

Ministers could talk round Labour MPs fearful about what a future Conservative administration could do with a system of "independent state schools".

But in exchange, there would need to be a tougher and less optional approach to measures such as ensuring that a wider range of pupils have access to the most sought-after schools.

This could involve a strengthening of the role of the schools adjudicator, who rules on admissions disputes.

Segregated

In a later Westminster debate, Labour MPs raised their concerns about the government's plans for schools.

David Chaytor warned that it could create "the most stratified and segregated system of secondary education in Europe" - and called on ministers to define a fair admissions system and to make it mandatory.

Michael Foster argued that any introduction of extra choice over schools had to be balanced by a transparent system of admissions.

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith promised to "listen and reflect very carefully" and to work towards "the objective of fair admissions".

The White Paper, published last month, set out ways in which rules over school admissions could be adapted to ensure a more comprehensive intake.

This could include systems such as "banding", where places are allocated to children from a range of abilities, rather than on how close families live to a school.

But the admissions proposals in the White Paper are not compulsory - and the self-governing schools being proposed could reject them.

There are plans to create more places where parents want them, such as expanding popular schools - and the promise of advice on admissions and subsidised transport.

But the system proposed by the White Paper does not impose any additional, statutory rules.

Choice

Before its publication the question of school admissions had promised to be the most controversial and problematic.

Mr Blair pointed to the current system where school choice was already available to those parents who could afford "to move house in order to be next to the good school."

But he rejected any one-size-fits-all "choice mechanism". He argued that the best route to a fairer system was to improve the quality of education serving deprived areas.

In the final version of the White Paper, schools are being encouraged to promote a more innovative and socially-inclusive approach to admissions.

But there have been accusations that leaving this to schools to determine - and to the market forces of parental pressure - will continue to favour better-off families.