Rocketing numbers of parents are turning to lawyers and paying out thousands of pounds to try and get their children into the best schools.
Experts say the recession is partly to blame for the rise in admissions appeals, as parents who would have sent their children to private schools fight for grammar school places.
A solicitor specialising in admissions appeals said her firm was seeing an annual 20 per cent increase in the number of families seeking its legal advice.
And Peter Read, who runs Kent Independent Education Advice, said he had also seen a rise in the number of parents in the county contacting lawyers, who he said were charging “astonishing” sums.
The former headteacher said more parents were also turning to his service for advice on admissions appeals.
“I’ve certainly seen an increase,” he said. “My website is probably a fairly good indicator.
“During the appeal season, which is around March to April, I’m busy, but this year I’m still having people approaching me unhappy and wanting to make appeals.
“The appeals season has extended out of proportion and some people already unhappy about the schools they are going to.”
Pupils are currently preparing to take the county’s 11-plus exam, the Kent Test, on September 15 and 16. Students that live outside the county will take the test on September 19.
The results will be out in mid October and families then have until the middle of November to put down their school choices. The Medway Test will take place on October 17.
All parents have the right of appeal for admission to any school they have listed on their preference form. The appeals are heard by an independent panel.
This year parents lodged 2,593 appeals against allocated school places in Kent and Medway.
Mr Read said his website was getting 500 hits a day during the appeals season.
He said: “That has shot up from the previous year. During June and July the site was till getting hit 150 times a day.”
Anita Chopra, of education law specialists Match Solicitors, said the firm, which is based in central London, handles cases from across England.
She said she has acted against Kent County Council as well as most local authorities in the country.
“We set up Matches four-and-a half-years ago and year-on-year we see roughly a 20 per cent increase the number of parents who come to us in March, June and July time for help with admissions and appeals.
“I get an influx of parents that come to us for assistance, this year we had a lot that have come to prepare themselves for next year and how to complete the application form.
“Some actually want to go one step further after the appeal because they have not had a solicitor on board before and take it to judicial review or the Ombudsman.”
Ms Chopra said that her services could cost around £2,000 depending on the complexities of the case.
“Parents feel it’s their child’s education which will set them up for life,” she said.
“Since the economic crisis it is perhaps the parents who would have chosen private schools who now want a grammar school or the best schools in the borough.
“It is getting tougher and tougher for parents to get into good schools. There are simply not enough good schools around.”
Charities have said the use of lawyers in appeals was another example of more affluent parents exerting an unfair advantage over poorer families.
Kent education advisor Mr Read, who said he charges between £300 and £450 to prepare for appeals panels, said: “I’ve seen an increase and had people who have contacted lawyers who seem to be charging astonishing sums of money.”
He said Kent’s selective education system, which includes grammar schools, academies and faith schools, made appeals more complex than elsewhere.
This year, Medway Council received 148 appeals against allocated school places. Of the 86 heard by the panel so far, parents lost in 48 cases.
A spokeswoman said: “The council works with guidelines set out in the admissions code of practice which allows parents to be represented, if they wish, although we are not aware of any significant increase in the number of families who are choosing to instruct the services of a solicitor.”
Figures were not available but she said the number of appeals this year has not increased from last year and 90 per cent of pupils in Medway are offered their first or second choice school.
KCC said there was no need for families to go down the route of hiring a lawyer.
A spokesman said the Department for Schools provides a guide for families on admissions and appeal and Kent Choice Advisors offers help and support as well.
This year there were 586 appeals lodged for schools, including grammar schools, and a further 1,859 for foundation and voluntary aided secondary schools, he said.
But County Hall said new appeals were still being lodged, and the final figure would rise.
KCC was unable to provide appeals figures for 2008.
POSTED: 06/09/2009 09:00:00
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