Admissions issues

Schools may justifiably believe that if they exceed their admission number, they cannot take another pupil. However, in M v Haringey the judge reinforced the decision that 'prejudice to efficient education' has to be proved. The fact that the number of children is effectively more than the school's capacity does not mean that the admission of one more child would negatively affect 'efficient education'.

At least the perverse effects of the English Admissions Code do not go as far as the Spanish system, which has attempted to deal with social disadvantage by giving extra points to the children of divorced parents.

And, yes, there is a marked increase in some areas of parents trying to get divorced before 31 March, which by a strange coincidence is the deadline for school applications.