Increasingly popular Islington schools mean changes to admissions policy (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Increasingly popular Islington schools mean changes to admissions policy

April 20, 2004 12:00 AM

Islington's Liberal Democrat councillors have agreed small changes to the Council's admissions policies due to the increasing popularity of the borough's schools. When the Liberal Democrats took control of the Council in 2000, they inherited a poorly performing education service. The government was so appalled by Islington's management of its schools by the previous Labour administration that it instructed the Council to contract out its education services to CEA@Islington. Since 2000 standards in schools have improved steadily and last year a record level of exam passes was achieved, with 38.5% of students achieving at least 5 grade A*-C GCSEs - compared to 26.5% just three years previously. As a result, local parents have felt increasing confidence in Islington's schools and, for the first time in recent years, the Council's schools have been oversubscribed. To reflect the growing demand for school places at secondary level, Liberal Democrats agreed minor changes to the school admissions policy at their Council Executive meeting last Thursday. The changes mean that the brothers and sisters of students over 16 already in Islington schools will not automatically have a right to attend the same secondary school. Councillor James Kempton, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Education, said: "Under the Liberal Democrats, Islington's schools are now seen as a success story and more and more parents want their children to go to our secondary schools. "Clearly we have to manage this increased demand for places. "We consulted widely on this proposal, and not a single objection was made. "We have to ensure there are enough secondary school places for people who want them in Islington and this change will reduce the pressure for places."