Challenge the way Catchment areas for schools is calculated, its outdated · petition

What the petition asks

School Catchment areas use an outdated straight line rule which has been in place for over 30 years. My child who live 0.8 miles away from a school didn't get a place int hat school as its not in "our" catchment area. Unbelievably the school in our catchment area is 2.8 miles away.

I would like parliament to review the process of how the catchment areas are calculated to geographical location and closest school as it’s based on practicality – children will become friends with local children, those travelling further might not make it in bad weather. local schools for local children.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

We're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.

The UK Government and Parliament aren't responsible for defining catchment areas for specific schools. That's the responsibility of local admissions authorities and schools. Local admissions authorities aren't required to use a "straight line rule" to define catchment areas, so we're not sure exactly what you'd like to happen.

The UK Government and Parliament are responsible for the School Admissions Code. You can read the Code here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/389388/School_Admissions_Code_2014_-_19_Dec.pdf

On catchment areas, the Code says:

"Catchment areas must be designed so that they are reasonable and
clearly defined. Catchment areas do not prevent parents who live outside
the catchment of a particular school from expressing a preference for the
school."

You could start a new petition asking for a specific change to the School Admissions Code, if that's what you'd like to happen.

Timeline

15 May 2018	Petition opened for signatures
22 May 2018	Rejected by the Petitions Committee