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Original poster

Labour reviewing school admission criteria

711 replies

JustAlice · 09/08/2025 10:16

"Sir Keir Starmer plans to update the Equality Act to give public authorities a new duty to consider a person’s “socio-economic background”.
The changes could mean that schools are forced to give pupils from a working-class background priority when applying for school places, according to Conservative research, instead of judging applications based on how far away from a school someone lives."

Last year BBC had articles on how Brighton and Hove Labour council implemented similar policy, and now substancial % of school places goes to children on FSM instead of childre living closer to the school, making average % of FSM in them closer to the council average.
Protests didn't lead to anything.

If Starmer is going to rollout this model for the whole country, I'm torn, because though I'm against class division and think that current model encourages it

  1. I strongly disagree that the families on less than minimal wage income are the only working people in the country. Maybe call them deprived to be honest.
  2. In Brighton, faith schools are still not impacted.

YABU - we should be happy about this
YANBU - not a good idea

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
nearlylovemyusername · 10/08/2025 12:09

Brianthedog · 10/08/2025 11:27

You know you don’t have to tell the truth about parents education and jobs, right? What are the going to do, turn up and shake you down for your certificates?

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True.

So we're going for society where you need to lie to get access to state services/jobs? where we need to hide success? where improving yourself is something to be ashamed about?

Another76543 · 10/08/2025 12:07

GrandmasMeatloaf · 10/08/2025 12:02

I hope they go through with it. It would ensure that access to good state schools are improved for the ones who need it the most - and it doesn’t require any funding.

And what about the bad schools? Do we just sit back and accept that some children have to go to bad schools?

nearlylovemyusername · 10/08/2025 12:03

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 10:43

Why is that funny?

A denial would be easy. There’s clearly a government comms team working over the summer. They had to firefight the story of the homelessness minister chucking her tenants out, after all.

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Oh yes, this was real fun. Did we have a thread about it? I got my popcorn ready

GrandmasMeatloaf · 10/08/2025 12:02

I hope they go through with it. It would ensure that access to good state schools are improved for the ones who need it the most - and it doesn’t require any funding.

Another76543 · 10/08/2025 11:58

noblegiraffe · 10/08/2025 11:17

Labour deny it in the article, which no one appears to have bothered to read.

It doesn’t sound like much of a denial

“A government spokesman said: “This Government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity through our Plan for Change by providing a good school place for every child, regardless of their background.
“We are determined to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of people in Britain. That’s why we launched a consultation on the socio-economic duty. No final decisions have been made””

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/08/2025 11:58

Dangermoo · 09/08/2025 10:42

I'm 50:50 on this.

So am I. Nice idea in theory but will families in poorer areas be able to cover transport costs? I hope the Government isn’t expecting strapped councils to provide it. They’re in enough trouble already.

Another76543 · 10/08/2025 11:55

DrPrunesqualer · 10/08/2025 10:50

Faith schools are partly funded by that faith with buildings and grounds owned by that faith.

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As far as I’m aware, the majority of faith schools have 100% of running costs and 90% of their capital costs funded by the taxpayer. The percentage of costs funded by the faith/church is tiny.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 11:51

noblegiraffe · 10/08/2025 11:38

Well, they're not denying that they put out a consultation on amending the Equality Act because that's true.

The rest of the article is openly confected by the Tories. It literally says so.

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Oh, I agree there’s fifty feet of claim made from an inch of fact.

But you said there was a denial in the article. There isn’t.

And it’s hardly implausible that this government would plan something like this or at least open the door to it. That’s why it’s a clever line for the Tories to push, true or untrue.

noblegiraffe · 10/08/2025 11:38

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 11:21

Do you mean the Telegraph article? There’s no denial in that. There is some meaningless waffle from Labour, but no straight denial.

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Well, they're not denying that they put out a consultation on amending the Equality Act because that's true.

The rest of the article is openly confected by the Tories. It literally says so.

Valeriekat · 10/08/2025 11:28

A great way to lose even more teachers from the profession.

Valeriekat · 10/08/2025 11:27

OneCoralCat · 09/08/2025 10:45

Typical Labour: try and level the playing field for people of all backgrounds and incomes.

I’m not sure you’re going to find any solicitors that toss in the towel at work and pitch up at McDonald’s to get a primary school place in x years time, after the birth of their first child.

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Unfortunately the better schools are “better” because the families and parents care about education and good behaviour which makes classes easier to manage.

Brianthedog · 10/08/2025 11:27

MaturingCheeseball · 10/08/2025 10:38

Is it fiction though?

Dd has been applying for jobs. As well as questions about sexual orientation (myob) and ethnicity, two applications asked about parents’ jobs and their level of qualification. We’ve let her down!!

A pity they don’t ask about grandparental jobs as then dd would be ringing up three bell fruits.

The ideology seems to be that you should only become “middle class” for one generation.

You know you don’t have to tell the truth about parents education and jobs, right? What are the going to do, turn up and shake you down for your certificates?

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 11:21

noblegiraffe · 10/08/2025 11:17

Labour deny it in the article, which no one appears to have bothered to read.

Do you mean the Telegraph article? There’s no denial in that. There is some meaningless waffle from Labour, but no straight denial.

noblegiraffe · 10/08/2025 11:17

Labour deny it in the article, which no one appears to have bothered to read.

BIossomtoes · 10/08/2025 11:11

DrPrunesqualer · 10/08/2025 10:48

Your dd should refuse to answer and tick the
prefer not to say on all personal questions

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Then her application will be binned by the AI that’s increasingly being used at the Sift stage.

DrPrunesqualer · 10/08/2025 10:50

LacStCharles · 10/08/2025 10:42

Not if it doesn't include faith schools. Eg the school I work in 40% FSM. The faith schools at the end of the road 4% FSM. This proposal won't change that.

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Faith schools are partly funded by that faith with buildings and grounds owned by that faith.

DrPrunesqualer · 10/08/2025 10:48

MaturingCheeseball · 10/08/2025 10:38

Is it fiction though?

Dd has been applying for jobs. As well as questions about sexual orientation (myob) and ethnicity, two applications asked about parents’ jobs and their level of qualification. We’ve let her down!!

A pity they don’t ask about grandparental jobs as then dd would be ringing up three bell fruits.

The ideology seems to be that you should only become “middle class” for one generation.

Your dd should refuse to answer and tick the
prefer not to say on all personal questions

DrPrunesqualer · 10/08/2025 10:46

BIossomtoes · 10/08/2025 10:19

You can talk about it all you like but you’re discussing a work of fiction.

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I enjoy discussing fiction. Nothing wrong with that

EasternStandard · 10/08/2025 10:45

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 10:43

Why is that funny?

A denial would be easy. There’s clearly a government comms team working over the summer. They had to firefight the story of the homelessness minister chucking her tenants out, after all.

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Yep why the usual emoji

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 10:43

BIossomtoes · 10/08/2025 10:35

😂

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Why is that funny?

A denial would be easy. There’s clearly a government comms team working over the summer. They had to firefight the story of the homelessness minister chucking her tenants out, after all.

LacStCharles · 10/08/2025 10:42

Serencwtch · 09/08/2025 10:21

That's a really good idea & will help to keep access to good schools open to children from a wider range of backgrounds & not just the kids of parents who can afford to buy into the best catchment.

Not if it doesn't include faith schools. Eg the school I work in 40% FSM. The faith schools at the end of the road 4% FSM. This proposal won't change that.

EasternStandard · 10/08/2025 10:38

Browniesforbreakfast · 10/08/2025 10:14

So you are saying they are working their way down the social hierarchy blaming each in turn when the previous group of parents didn’t magically improve things in failing schools?

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Yep. It doesn’t cost much and some people will still rally for them.

Whilst they make it harder to get a good education.

MaturingCheeseball · 10/08/2025 10:38

Is it fiction though?

Dd has been applying for jobs. As well as questions about sexual orientation (myob) and ethnicity, two applications asked about parents’ jobs and their level of qualification. We’ve let her down!!

A pity they don’t ask about grandparental jobs as then dd would be ringing up three bell fruits.

The ideology seems to be that you should only become “middle class” for one generation.

BIossomtoes · 10/08/2025 10:35

nearlylovemyusername · 10/08/2025 10:32

Another good point. It's all over SM. If it's not true it takes one 2 min interview or BBC page to get it shut.

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😂

nearlylovemyusername · 10/08/2025 10:32

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 10:15

What has Labour said about this? It seems like a pretty major story. Have they stamped on it?

Show quote history

Another good point. It's all over SM. If it's not true it takes one 2 min interview or BBC page to get it shut.