Since this problem arose, Alfie has made a couple of television appearances and a small number of newspaper articles have been written.  The press interest was entirely down to the huge number of people who have signed the petition.  We just can’t thank you enough for the difference you have made to Alfie’s situation.

Newport City Council in it’s capacity as the Local Education Authority, are always invited by the press to comment on the articles and appearances.   Every time, the authority’s response says, among other things, that 93 on time applications were refused at Bassaleg school.

Regular readers of Alfie’s updates will know that there are a number of issues around Alfie’s rejection, but the central and most important issues revolve around Alfie being the only child out the 60 children in his primary school year to be turned away and not given a place at Bassaleg School.  Alfie is the only child in the whole catchment for Bassaleg School to be turned away (we believe ever).  Alfie is the only child in the whole Newport City Council area to be turned away from their catchment school. 

Furthermore, 4 children from out of catchment, who would normally be expected to go to their own catchment school, were admitted to Bassaleg School by the appeal panel.  This is why Alfie did not get any of places that were initially not taken up in September at Bassaleg School. 

The children who got in on appeal are all from out of catchment, would not be “looked after” or statemented because “looked after” and statemented children from out of catchment have priority without needing to go to appeal.  So, it would be really interesting to know how these children would have been prejudiced more than Alfie to the extent that Alfie lost his place at his catchment school and was banished to a school on the far side of the city.  A question for another day perhaps.

Anyway, as part of the Freedom of Information Request process, we have what appears to be the press release provided to media organisations who take an interest Alfie’s situation.  I have reproduced it below.  Most of the press release seems fine, but there are a couple of things we would like to tell you about.

Regular readers will know that we have an issue with the appeal body being “independent of the council,” because the panel is supervised and advised by the council’s own in-house solicitor, the very same solicitor fighting the case against Alfie on behalf of the council.  This is plainly wrong, and we would argue that it is a breach of the rules. 

But the major issue is this.  The press release says that 93 on time applications were declined.  This may be so, but to neglect to mention that 92 out of the 93 on time applications declined were from out of catchment, is plainly misleading. 

Alfie is the only child, in catchment to be turned away from Bassaleg school, not one of 93.  Would you say that simply referring to the 93 on time applications was a lie?  A lie by omission perhaps?

I have reproduced the press release below; the emphasis is mine.

As always, there is no way to thank you all enough for the support, encouragement and advice received.  Thank you.

We are, amazingly, approaching 100,000 supporters.  This is my weekly plea for signs and shares; nearly there and I promise not to bother you for signs and shares after we get to 100,000.

Thank you again!

This is the press release:

“School admissions 

Places in Newport schools are allocated in line with our admissions policy, which is derived from Welsh Government guidance and is available to view on our website. This means that our approach is consistent with other local authorities in Wales.

The admissions policy sets out that living in a school catchment area does not guarantee a child a place in that school.

School admission numbers are set based on Welsh Government guidance and therefore reflect the number of pupils each school can safely accommodate.

The number of applications received for September 2021 Year 7 entry exceeded the number of available places for this school. In total, 93 on-time applications were declined. Twenty-five of these exercised their right to appeal the initial decision to an independent appeals body.

This body is independent of the council and has the power to overturn the initial admissions decision in certain circumstances.  A small number of appeals for this school were successful due the specific circumstances of the applicants.

All applications that were unsuccessful remain in the waiting pool for consideration should a place become available at their preferred school. We have every sympathy with families in this situation, but we have a duty to balance the needs of individuals with the school’s need to be able to safely accommodate pupils.

Should an applicant feel that there was maladministration in the appeal process, they are able to refer this to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

Ends 

Public Relations

Newport City Council

01633 210460”