Balls: Clampdown on admissions rules

School secretary Ed Balls has vowed to tighten up the rules on schools' policies after an official inquiry found that one-sixth are breaking the code on admissions.

The inquiry found that 96 schools out of the 570 checked in Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet breached some aspect of the code.

Six of the schools had asked parents to make a voluntary financial contribution during the admissions process, with the majority of others failing to give due priority to children with special needs or in care.

"We have no reason to think that these areas are any different from any other authorities around the country," said Mr Balls.

Mr Balls commented that he understood parents view their own children as a priority, but warned that breaches of the admissions code could lead to a "two-tier system".

However, Michael Gove, shadow schools secretary, replied that Mr Balls has started a "witch hunt" to distract attention from his policies which have affected schools' admission procedures.

On BBC Radio Four's Today programme, Fiona Bulmer, cabinet member for children's services at Barnet council, defended the schools in her area as "excellent" and said the government's allegations were "factually incorrect", reports the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.