Rise in school place appeals

Parents' chances of winning an appeal for a better state school for their children worsened last year.

Department for Children, Schools and Families figures showed the number of families who successfully demanded a place at one of their preferred schools after panel hearings dropped from 36.3 per cent in 2005-6 to 34.4 in 2006-7.

The number of successful appeals to faith schools fell to just 30 per cent. In London, successful appeals were less than half the national average - the proportion of victorious parents in primary schools dropped from 18.9 per cent to 16.6 per cent between 2005-6 and 2006-7.

Liberal Democrats said the data showed that Labour had failed to raise standards in too many schools, while education watchdog Ofsted warned that the school improvement drive had "stalled".