Tonight:
2°c
Parents pay lawyers to get child into best state schools
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent22 Oct 2009
Parents are paying thousands of pounds for specialist lawyers as they fight for places at top state schools, the Standard has learned.
More than 9,000 London families have launched appeals after being rejected from their chosen secondary schools in the past two years.
Lawyers reported a surge in the number of parents willing to spend up to £2,500 a time on appeals as the recession fuels demand for leading comprehensives and grammars. And a growing number of parents apparently seek legal advice before they even choose a school. The pattern emerged ahead of tomorrow's deadline for the parents of almost 80,000 London children to apply for state secondary school places for next year. They must wait until March to find out if they have got offers from their chosen schools.
Next week ministers will publish figures showing the number of families who appealed after they were rejected by their preferred options.
An Evening Standard investigation across 27 London boroughs found:
■ One third of boroughs saw a rise in the number of parents appealing in the past two years;
■ Parents lodged 4,096 appeals after being rejected by their chosen secondary schools this year, compared with 4,733 appeals in 2008. Five boroughs could not provide figures but at least another 191 appeals are known to have been launched last year;
■ Typically, about one in 10 appeals was decided in favour of the parents this year;
■ Hackney received the most appeals, with more than 1,000 over the two years, while Croydon, Barnet and Richmond had the highest success rates for parents.
Education lawyers reported a 20 per cent rise in the number of parents paying for their services since last year. Legal fees range from £700 to £2,500 plus VAT, including representation at the hearing that decides a case.
Anita Chopra, a partner at Fleet Street-based Match Solicitors, said : "Parents are a lot more aware of their rights. I have had more calls when parents have been considering their applications, just asking for advice and, if they get refused, what preparation they should do." For a typical appeal she charges between £1,500 and £2,000 plus VAT, but more complex cases can cost up to £2,500 plus VAT.
Matt Richards, senior partner at Schoolappeals.com, said his firm dealt with 250 cases requiring intensive coaching or representation at appeal hearings this year, typically involving parents who could no longer afford the private sector.
Reader views (1)
Every child given a place as a result of these crooks and their liars deprives a child with a legitimate place. This is nothing more than selfish greed. It also means more traffic chaos as most of them will be driven to and from school in mummies 4 x 4.
- Blind Pugh, Woking, UK, 22/10/2009 18:30
Report abuse
