30 schools refused to give teen a place

The Department of Education has been criticised by Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan over enrolment appeals and home tuition after a teenager missed nearly two years of full-time education when up to 30 schools refused him a place.

While proposed legal changes would allow State agencies compel a school to enrol a child in certain cases, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) said current appeal systems against refusals and provision for home tuition for children in care were inadequate.

The teenager, who comes from a very vulnerable background, was expelled from a second-level school in May 2008 because of behavioural issues.