At SchoolGuru, we work hard to ensure that parents have the most accurate and up to date information available. Many of you have told us that you can’t get the information that you need from Hertfordshire County Council. We put them to the test and emailed a series of questions to Justin Donovan, Director of Education and Early Intervention. He’s paid £115,000 a year (from your money) to help parents (like you). His unedited responses are below. If you need further clarification, why not drop him an email at justin.donovan@hertscc.gov.uk – we're sure he’d be delighted to hear from you.
Justin Donovan: Parents should carefully read the literature available at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions also available in the annually published admissions booklets.
Justin Donovan: Parents should carefully read the literature available at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions also available in the annually published admissions booklets.
Justin Donovan: Parents should carefully read the literature available at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions also available in the annually published admissions booklets.
Justin Donovan: Unfortunately we do not hold this information.
Justin Donovan: A significant number of children are placed through continuing interest every year, but percentages change year on year and within each process and for each school.
Justin Donovan: Parents must use the child's permanent home address. More information about the address to be used is available at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions, and in the annually published admissions booklets.
Justin Donovan: Significant measures are in places, at various stages of the allocation process and afterwards, to help identify fraudulent applications.
Justin Donovan: For the 2010/11 admissions round there were approximately 80 investigations into potential fraudulent applications and 500+ random address checks.
Justin Donovan: In excess of three places were withdrawn in 2010/11.
Justin Donovan: Admission arrangements can not prioritise applicants according to a child's home Local Authority, that would be illegal.