Category Archives: THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Minister’s Letter Highlights Again the Importance of Legal Semantics
In September 2015, when the Schools Minister Nick Gibb published an open letter urging admission authorities to allow entry to Reception class at CASge for summer born children, I highlighted the importance of the next School Admissions Code ensuring its legal wording is absolutely … Continue reading
‘Immediate Action’ Irony Given DfE Delay
Ten months ago (a significant amount of time in a child’s life, and a whole primary school admissions cycle that left hopeful parents once more distraught and disheartened), the Schools Minister Nick Gibb published an open letter announcing the DfE’s proposed changes to summer born admission … Continue reading
DfE Promises ‘Educational Excellence Everywhere’ (Stop Postcode Lottery?)
Reference to summer born children appears in the DfE’s new white paper ‘Educational excellence everywhere‘ (pg.67), which was published on March 17th. Setting out the government’s plans for the next 5 years, it says: “4.61. We intend to make a number of … Continue reading
No News is No News
In September 2015, Schools Minister Nick Gibb published an open letter asking for “immediate action” by councils and academies to “admit summer-born children to reception class at the age of 5, if their parents want this [and] make sure the children can … Continue reading
DfE Confirms ‘New Year’ Code Consultation
In response to a written question from Wimbledon Conservative MP Stephen Hammond, the Schools Minister Nick Gibb has confirmed that, “Work is now underway to assess what other changes it might be appropriate to make to the Admissions Code. We … Continue reading
Could London be the Litmus Test for Admissions Reaction to DfE’s Decision?
We know the Schools Minister Nick Gibb has today told all admission authorities in England, “We are going to make changes to admission rules – but we want councils and academies to take immediate action.” But while one member of the … Continue reading
Summer Born Semantics are Not Out of the Woods Yet – Code’s Wording ‘Must’ Be Clear
I don’t mean to be the party pooper, but I’ve noticed something concerning (albeit perfectly fixable) in the DfE’s announcement today. Technically, we’ve been promised something we already have within the existing 2014 School Admissions Code: The Schools Minister’s open letter says, “We have, … Continue reading
New DfE Letter from Schools Minister tells Authorities: ‘Take Immediate Action’
The DfE has today published a letter from Nick Gibb, the Minister of State for Schools, addressed to all parents, local authorities, admission authorities and schools in England. Mr Gibb says, “We are going to make changes to admission rules – but … Continue reading
Minister Says School Admissions Code WILL Be Amended – and Summer Born Scandal Stopped
During a Parliamentary debate in the early hours of this morning, Schools Minister Nick Gibb publicly confirmed his intention to amend the School Admissions Code, hopefully putting an end to the education inequality and postcode lottery that currently exists for many summer … Continue reading
Liverpool City Council Formally Supports the Summer Born Campaign
Following last week’s Liverpool news, today the Summer Born Campaign received a formal “supporting statement” from Councillor Lana Orr in the office of the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson. We are very grateful to this council for listening to us and doing what … Continue reading
Prematurity Is Not The (only) Point – Legislation Covers All Summer Born Children
Summer Born is Summer Born is Summer Born If a child is born between April 1 and August 31, they do not reach compulsory school age until the term following their 5th birthday. And if a child is born prematurely during … Continue reading
School Exclusions Report Suggests Summer Born Children May Be Adversely Affected
I read the DfE’s latest report on school exclusions in England (2013-14) in the knowledge that summer born children are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with SEN than any other group. Interestingly, the report, published yesterday, links to another, 2012 Research Report (A profile … Continue reading
DfE Official Confirms Minister’s Commitment to Changing the Code
In email correspondence with the Summer Born Campaign group member Gemma Adams, an official from the DfE’s School Organisation and Admissions Division has said: “The Government recognises that this has been problematic in a number of cases… …children are still being admitted to … Continue reading
Minister Nick Gibb Confirms ‘Missed Year’ Concerns in BBC South Today Interview
Callum Gafford is yet another summer born child who faces losing a year of his education as penalty for starting school at CSAge, and his mother Natalie was interviewed by reporter Sean Killick on BBC South Today (02:58-07:59) During today’s report, member of the Education Select … Continue reading
Summer Born Solution is Simple: Change the Code to Stop ‘Contentious Cases’
The Summer Born Campaign‘s Rosie Dutton has been interviewed on ITV’s Good Morning Britain as part of wide media coverage following today’s press release from the Education Committee: ‘MPs are promised action on summer born admissions‘. Rosie says, “There needs to be a change … Continue reading
Many Ministers have Talked the Talk – Could Nick Gibb Actually Walk the Walk?
The House of Commons Education Committee has today published ‘MPs are promised action on summer born admissions‘ alongside a letter from Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb, wrote to its Chair, Neil Carmichael, earlier this month. The letter acknowledges that recent changes … Continue reading
Education Minister Nick Gibb to Review Summer Born Issue at ‘Earliest Opportunity’
This month, one of the Summer Born Campaign leaders, Michelle Melson, had the privilege of meeting with the Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb, following her submission of oral evidence on Summer Born Children at the Education Select Committee meeting in March. … Continue reading
MP Support for Summer Born Campaign
Election over; let’s hope a new Parliament with the support of the MPs below (and more besides) will ensure summer born children finally have fair and equal access to a full education when they start school at CSAge and not … Continue reading
DfE Promised Flexibility but Look what it Chose to Change in the Code
DfE Ministers (very likely because they have limited detailed knowledge of what DfE officials are actually doing behind the scenes – though this is no excuse) keep stating publicly that “the key thing is flexibility“; we want to “empower parents” and we “will … Continue reading
In Law: Some Summer Born Children are More Equal Than Others
Once you start looking at summer born children and the 2010 Equality Act, it’s pretty difficult to stop. And once you throw summer born children with additional needs into the mix, it becomes even harder. In this article, Summer Born Campaign … Continue reading
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