Stakeholders' perspectives on the secondary school admissions procedures in Brighton and Hove

The transition from primary to secondary school is a social and academic turning point for adolescents and, for some, can be a stressful process. It is, therefore, important to understand stakeholders’ perspectives and experiences of the procedures which govern the allocation of secondary schools, and for these perspectives to inform the development of school allocation procedures. This research aims to present an informed account of various stakeholders’ experiences of Brighton and Hove’s secondary school admissions’ procedures. It has been commissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council (B&HCC), and forms part of a broader review of the secondary school admissions’ procedures within Brighton and Hove. The report is based primarily on visits to eight secondary schools from five of the six catchment areas within Brighton and Hove, and to five primary schools from five of the six catchment areas, including one primary school within the catchment area not covered by the participating secondary schools. The secondary schools included in the research comprised of schools within dual school and single school catchment areas, and academies and faith schools. Focus group discussions and interviews were held with a total of 29 students who attended their first choice of secondary school; 24 students who did not attend their first choice secondary school; 13 parents1 whose children attended their first choice of secondary school; 6 parents whose children did not attend their first choice secondary school; and 10 members of staff from secondary schools with responsibility for the transition of students from primary to secondary school. Interviews were also conducted with members of staff within the five participating primary schools who oversaw the transition of students from primary to secondary school. The report also includes a review of relevant literature, and the following statistical data were collected to provide contextual information for the report:  For each year from 2006-2014, the percentage of students within B&H who were: allocated their ‘first choice’ school; allocated their ‘second choice’ school; and those not allocated any of their first three choices of schools.  For each year from 2007-2014, the number of appeals submitted/dismissed/upheld within B&H.