THOUSANDS of parents in Kent could have less time to make crucial decisions about which secondary school their children will go to because of a protracted wrangle over next year's admissions arrangements.

Parents of children entering the final year at primary school, Year 6, are supposed to get information about secondary schools and the admissions process in early September, the start of the autumn term.

But the Office of the Schools Adjudicator says it is unlikely to rule on various objections over Kent's proposed admissions arrangements and those of individual schools before, the end of August.

County council officials fear that will make it impossible for KCC to give parents enough time to reach decisions before the October 24 deadline. Local education authorities are supposed to send parents information booklets six weeks before the deadline for applications.

But in a letter seen by the Kent Messenger Group, Group, KCC admissions officer Jenny Young has told the adjudicator: "I am concerned that a decision so late in August will jeopardise the LEA's ability to meet its obligation to publish the Secondary Admission Booklet six weeks before parents express preferences for secondary schools.

"If the adjudication decision is not received until August 29, this gives the LEA only 10 working days to make amendments and print and despatch over 16,000 copies."

The admissions booklet guides parents through the arrangements and how to make applications. This year, KCC has proposed different arrangements making the booklet more important.

A spokeswoman for the Schools Adjudicator said that while it understood KCC's concern, it could not guarantee its rulings would be made any earlier. "We cannot promise to bring forward the date because of the volume of work involved but are doing the best we can," she added.

One reason for the hold-up is that the Secretary of State has not yet told KCC if he is prepared to agree to its scheme to co-ordinate its secondary admissions proposals for next year.

The Department for Education said it could not say when that announcement would be made, although it is expected shortly.