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Admissions appeal - year 1

6 replies

Llareggub · 03/12/2012 20:05

I am shortly due to move to Wales where unfortunately the catchment school is full. I have a son in year 1 and another due to start reception in September. I am looking at closer schools but I am afraid that those with a place for my older son will not necessarily have a reception place for my younger son in September, as we will be out of catchment.

The school admissions team have told me I can appeal for a place in my catchment school, but I understood there to be a statutory maximum class size in year 1, so I am struggling to see on what basis an appeal might win. The admissions team couldn't tell me either, and told me that the panel will make a decison based on our circumstances. I just don't get it - if they can't go over the class size there seems little point!

Can anyone advise? it is a popular school and the next nearest school is also full. There is a school fairly close by with a not so leafy catchment area which I am being warned off. It is a minefield!

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lalalonglegs · 03/12/2012 20:21

Do any of the schools not give priority to siblings? That would surely put your son at the top of the list should anyone not take up their offer. If they don't, paint a smile on your face and send your child to the not-so-good school, chances are that he will only be there for a short while.

My daughter had to go to a school that we hated weren't wild about and, while I resented every minute she was there, she didn't know any different and enjoyed it well enough. She moved to a school I love in Y2 and settled in very quickly, is thriving and generally seems very untroubled by the experience.

Good luck with the move.

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Llareggub · 03/12/2012 21:35

Yes they do, but DS2 won't start until September, and year 1 is full. DS2 would put Ds1 at the top of the list but I'd have children at two different schools. My son is very happy at this current school and after a very difficult and traumatic year for them I really want the best new start possible. I am seeing 2 schools this week, so will know more then.

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creamteas · 03/12/2012 21:49

Not sure about Wales, but I'm pretty sure in England under Fair Access Protocols, they can go over the primary class limit if the alternative is no school.

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Llareggub · 03/12/2012 21:59

There are plenty of alternatives, to be fair. I am moving to a city so there schools within driving distance and I will be getting in the car for work in any case. I rented in this particular suburb for the schools so I am a bit gutted to find them full!

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prh47bridge · 03/12/2012 23:01

If this school has 30 children per class in Y1 or Y2 it is unlikely that an appeal will be successful. If the classes are smaller than 30 you have a much better chance of success as they are below the infant class size limit. You can then win your appeal by showing that the disdvantage to your son in not being admitted outweighs the problems the school will face through having to cope with an additional pupil.

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Llareggub · 03/12/2012 23:25

This is the bit I don't quite follow. The admissions officer also said that my appeal is unlikely to be successful as the class has 30 children. What I am trying to understand is why the phrase is "unlikely" instead of "will be." I was altogether resigned to not appealing as I thought it pointless but when she started talking about my right to appeal I thought I'd try and understand the process. It feels like a pointless exercise. Are there any grounds at all on which anyone has been successful?