Primary school place question

[MessyMonstersMum]

We got our first choice, but we have realised that we really wanted our second Is there anything we can do? Or are we stuck with it?

[2014newme]

You can go on waiting list

[ExplodedCloud]

Speak to the L.A. If there is a place at school 2 you can ask for it. If no space you can ask to be put on the waiting list and accept school 1 in the mean time.

[meditrina]

Agree with PPs.

Accept the place, then ask to go in the waiting list for the school you now prefer. If it's undersubscribed they'll offer you a vacant place straight away. If full, you just have to sit it out on the waiting list. You'll be added to that according to how well you fit the entrance criteria, not by when you joined the it.

[MessyMonstersMum]

Thanks for the replies. Will speak to the LA and accept the offer on the meantime.

[Charmatt]

From today until 4 May there is a window for late applications for spare places which you can use. Following 4 May waiting lists will be in operation for schools if they are full. In the meantime you should accept your allocated place. It will not influence whether you are offered another place at another school.

[prh47bridge]

Charmatt's advice probably won't apply in your LA. Most LAs don't work like that. Indeed, if Charmatt's LA is allowing people to take places that they would not have got via the waiting list, it is questionable whether they are acting legally.

[Blankscreen]

Prh

As.ypy seem to know.everything about admissions do you know if council can centrally allocate places when there are people already on the waiting list?
The School website/newsletter said they would do waiting list then central allocations.

Thanks and.sorry for the hijack.

[Charmatt]

Actually my advice applies for every LA I have looked at. There has to be a fair process to process applications outside of deadline dates.

[prh47bridge]

Blankscreen - Yes, the council can invoke the Fair Access Protocol to get the school to admit a pupil ahead of the waiting list, for example if a pupil moves into the area outside the normal admissions round and there are no schools with places available within a reasonable distance. Also a pupil with an EHCP naming the school leapfrogs the waiting list.

Charmatt - In England the fair process is that late applications are processed after on time applications. If they are received before offers are made and it is possible to allocate them places they should be offered places at the same time as everyone else. If they are not offered places at that time they must go via the waiting list (if there is one - if the school they want has spare places they can be offered a place immediately). The waiting list starts operating the moment offers are made. Late applicants cannot leapfrog the waiting list nor can operation of the waiting list be delayed until 4th May or any other random date.

It is true that a number of councils seem to have a deadline of 5th May for late applications. However, late applicants cannot legally leapfrog the waiting list (if there is one). They can, however, take spare places at any time. And this "deadline" is meaningless. The council cannot refuse to process an application just because it has been received after 5th May. I suspect that, since many councils want parents to accept or reject offers by 5th May, the "deadline" is simply to encourage late applicants to get their forms in before waiting lists start moving.

[Blankscreen]

Thanks prh47. It looks as though they've offered out 4 places that (i.know of). None of.whom were on the waiting list or higher category. Is it likely they invoke the protocol for 4 children? Also.its.a faith School and they previously told me they try to.stick.to the 50/50 ratio of.open/church places.

Does the protocol trump.everything??

[Charmatt]

You have misunderstood what I meant - applications to go to a school after allocations have been made (and you didn't get what you wanted) are what I meant (sorry this was misinterpreted). You can ask to be considered for another school other than the offered school but a place or place on the waiting list will not be allocated until 4 or 5 May for every LA I am aware of.

[Gaggleofgirls]

Thanks some very helpful info on here, also in the same boat. I intend to call the school next Monday when back from Easter holidays