Primary school offer withdrawn - PLEASE HELP!

[tinyt137]

My son was offered a place at our first preference catholic school and I quickly accepted and received email confirmation of this. The following week I received a letter in the post that his place had been withdrawn because an error was made by the school when the admission criteria was being applied.

(I originally applied for his school place in 2011, when I moved house in early 2012 I contacted the school with my new address and a copy of my council tax form. The changes were confirmed and in September 2013 before I made the final application I emailed the school once again to make sure the application was complete, all confimed and proof via email conversations.)

After accepting his place at the school, the error was uncovered when another mother contacted the school to inquire why her daughter didn't have a place as she lived one street closer. After the school investigated it transpired that our previous address had not been updated on the waiting list, therefor putting him waiting list. His offer was withdrawn and it was given to the other family. I feel it is wholeheartedly unfair to offer a place and revoke it and want to appeal that his offer should be honored as it was a school error.

Can anyone help..the offer was made and accepted on Wednesday 16th april and letter sent out the following wednesday 23rd april revoking it. The council had the cheek to pre date the letter too (to 16th april), I guess to cover themselves. But as it was easter holidays and bank holiday monday, nothing could of been investigated at the school to at least tuesday 22nd april - leading to my letter dated the next day. But I have evidence from the school as to when the mistake was uncovered as the admin lady told me what had happened in an email and the mother in question is a friend who i knew was going to complain.

I know this is a long and complicated one BUT PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. WILL AN APPEAL ON THE GROUND OF UNREASONABLE WORK...CAN A SCHOOL REVOKE AN OFFER DUE TO THEIR OWN ADMIN ERROR

[prh47bridge]

You might be better off placing this in Primary.

Yes, a school can withdraw an offer if it is made in error. However, previous cases suggest they have to do so within 3 days. The Admissions Code (which governs these things) does not specifically mention this time limit and has changed fairly significantly recently so it is not clear if this time limit still applies. However, you should appeal on the basis that the school took too long to withdraw the offer. If the appeal fails you can refer the matter to the LGO (assuming this is a VA school). The LGO made the 3 days ruling so they would have to decide whether or not it still applies.

[tinyt137]

Thank you for taking the time to reply, very helpful. Very new to this and MUCH apreciated!

[PanelChair]

Excellent advice there from prh47bridge.

It sounds (based on past cases) as if the school/LEA have been too slow to revoke the offer, but you will need to take it to appeal and the LGO for an up-to-date decision.

[LIZS]

I'm confused as to why you had originally applied in 2011 for a place in 2014. If your actual application had the correct address then that is the one they should have used. Presumably LA handle the admissions not the school itself.

[tinyt137]

Its the only catholic primary in the area and I put his name down on their waiting list and filled out their own application in 2011. Being an eager first time mum I thought it might help in a situation like this!