ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR PARTIALLY SELECTIVE SCHOOLS

That this House notes that there are a number of schools permitted to select a minority of pupils by ability; further notes that the draft School Admissions Code currently under consultation proposes that the admissions procedures for such schools will no longer be able to give priority to siblings of existing pupils; expresses its concern that the absence of this admissions criterion may create practical difficulties for those families who have children attending such schools; further notes the value to a school of a continuity of parental support gained by siblings' attendance at the same school; and calls for the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to permit partially selective schools to continue to give priority to siblings of existing pupils.