Complaints about schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
How to complain in general and about admissions, exclusions and SEND in schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

MPs will debate a motion on the role of grammar and faith schools on Tuesday 8 November in the House of Commons Chamber. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a representation from Lisa Nandy. This House of Commons Library briefing provides some background information and a summary of the Government's proposals as well as recent press and parliamentary coverage.
The role of grammar and faith schools (209 KB , PDF)
“That this House notes recent proposals by the Government to expand the role of grammar and faith schools; and calls on the Government to conduct a full assessment of the evidence relating to the effect of grammar schools and faith schools on children’s learning.”
In September 2016 the Government published a consultation, Schools that work for everyone, which included proposals to remove the existing ban on new grammar schools in England. The proposals extend to allowing existing non-selective schools to become grammars, and include Government encouragement for multi-academy trusts to establish a ‘single centre’ (physical or virtual) for their most able pupils. Schools would be required to undertake certain measures, such as taking a proportion of students from low-income households, in order to become selective.
These proposals have proved highly controversial, with debate focusing on the impact grammar schools have on social mobility.
The September 2016 consultation also proposed changes to faith school admissions. New academies or free schools with a religious character are currently required to admit, as a minimum, 50% of their pupils without reference to faith where the school is oversubscribed. The consultation proposed to remove this requirement, and allow oversubscribed schools to select the whole of their intake on the basis of faithd.
These proposals have also proved controversial. Faith organisations have indicated that this change would encourage them to open new schools and provide new places, while concerns have been raised about the potentially divisive nature of schools with 100% faith-based admissions.
The Schools that work for everyone consultation is open until 12 December 2016.
The role of grammar and faith schools (209 KB , PDF)
How to complain in general and about admissions, exclusions and SEND in schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Short article on planned strike action in schools across the UK, including key dates
Find out how to complain about schools in general, school admissions, exclusions and special educational needs provision.