catholic primary school over-subscribed for this Septembers intake

[ANamesANameForAThatsTaken]

Does anyone know what will happen in these circumstances. My newphew (a catholic with one catholic parent) has applk

[ANamesANameForAThatsTaken]

Sorry I'll start again

my newphew - a catholic child with one catholic parent - is due to start his nearest catholic primary in September. there are 30 spaces and 42 catholic children have applied. He lives outside the catchment area and is an only child whereas some of the other children already have siblings there.

What are his chances, really?

[ANamesANameForAThatsTaken]

it's nephew isn't it? silly bint.

[Nemoandthefishes]

will just depend on when they have put the form in and whether he meets any of the basic requirements like siblings, living in the area etc.
This happened at ds school 180 people applied for 120 places. Luckily ds got a place despite being my eldest but I filled in application the day I got it.

[LIZS]

They will have published criteria on which basis they prioritise allocations ie look after children, proof of faith siblings of those already attending, then possibly distance from school (measured in a particular way) and so on . ie if at least 30 kids fulfil the religous and sibling criteria he has no chance, if less than 30 he will be considered ahead of any non RC kids but may still lose out to another, on distance. Really depends on who has also applied.

[creditcrunched]

I think unlikely he'd get a place straight off. Most people who apply to catholic schools are catholics who fulfil the religious criteria so it may then come down to how close to the school he lives.
I would recommend his parents go to the school and speak to someone in the office and ask about his realistic chances. I have visited a few schools in the last 2 months and each time I got a great deal of information from the lovely ladies who work in the school offices.

[bamboo]

As others have said, depends on criteria and who else is applying. Ours is:

1. Catholic children in care of local authority.

1. Catholic children living in the parishes served by the school.

1. Catholic children living outside the parishes.

1. Other children in local authority care.

1. Children who are baptised or dedicated members of other churches, as recognised as Churches Together in England.

1. Children of other faiths, not mentioned above.

1. Other children.

There's obviously priority to siblings, then mass attendances are taken into account if still oversubscribed. And finally distance.

[Amey]

I'm assuming your dn's parents are:

1. Reasonably regular attenders at their local church (or even better the church local to the school),
2. On the parish register and,
3. Well known to the priest.

(I can't understand anyone applying for an over-subscribed catholic school without doing the above.)

I agree with other posters that an initial offer of a place appears unlikely. However, families move and children get sent to private schools instead.

I have heard of a child in a similar situation to your dn getting a place after they started off very low down on the waiting list. The parents 'deferred' the offer at the second choice school and kept the dc at nursery until a place at the catholic school came up. Which it did just before the dc's 5th birthday!! It only took one child to leave as the 'waiting list' had disappeared when all the other children started in their second choice school.

[zanzibarmum]

how do you know 42 have applied

[lisata]

As a governor at a Catholic school - it all depends!!!

In our school one catholic parent is enough to make you qualify - it is whether the child is baptised that is important.

In my experience it always worth appealing a decision anyhow. Lots of parents change their minds for one reason or another - if you show you are keen it is amazing what can happen!