Mr. Paul Crone:

The connections that families have is something that we put in our submission. Parents often feel that they have had a positive experience in the school themselves and they would like that experience for their child. That is very real and positive. However, it can indirectly or inadvertently result in discrimination against a child who lives directly outside the gate of the school and who is perhaps looking at that school for 12 years of their life. It may be that they have to attend a primary school closer to where their grandparent lives because they are doing the childminding, but the child always intended to go to the local school.

That is an important and valid point, and one which should be central in decision-making. Equality of access for local children to local school should be a priority.

Regarding SEN, that was not in the JMB but it is something very close to our hearts. Planning for students with special educational needs starts in the October before they start school the following September. Often, that means there is not enough time to collect reports, do what needs to be done and prepare and collaborate with all of the other schools and agencies in order to have a SEN plan, SNA or whatever else is needed. I will not comment on primary schools as we are primarily concerned with secondary schools.