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Original poster

Admissions criteria ; can anyone clarify sibling link?

33 replies

Benzalkonium · 15/09/2015 11:22

Hoping for some reassurance from any resident experts on here.

"Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/ carer's partner where the child for whom the school place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling."

Do the conditions regarding residence at the same address apply to every type of sibling relationship?
Or is it still considered a sibling link if brothers/ sisters are resident at different addresses?

Any experience?

OP posts:
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MargaretThursday · 03/03/2025 19:28

It might bump her up the waiting list, but you have to check the criteria, because sometimes the sibling link only moves downwards.

It also won't start until he starts, so she might move up the waiting list in September after he starts.

EduCated · 03/03/2025 17:57

kimberlyjhon · 03/03/2025 17:28

My son who's younger than my daughter got into a school closer to my house so will the council move his sister to his school or no please reply if you see this I need to know asap

You should start your own thread to get advice. People will open and answer the original post, which is 10 years old.

MyNightWithMaud · 03/03/2025 17:49

The council will not move the older sibling to the younger sibling’s school unless you ask them to and there is a space for them there.

kimberlyjhon · 03/03/2025 17:28

My son who's younger than my daughter got into a school closer to my house so will the council move his sister to his school or no please reply if you see this I need to know asap

tiggytape · 19/09/2015 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sockattack · 18/09/2015 20:50

The primary school is a new one for Sept 2016
Secondary school is last intakes

Sockattack · 18/09/2015 20:49

See this is a sibling connection at a local primary school.

  1. Children with siblings who will still be attending the preferred academy at
the time of their admission. “Siblings” means brothers or sisters. They are defined as children with at least one natural or adoptive parent in common, living at the same or a different address. Children living in the same household at the same address would also be counted as siblings, regardless of their actual relationship to each other. To qualify as a sibling a child must be on the roll of the academy in question at the date of application, allocation and admission

So my son wouldn't have connection to my partners daughter ( not his dad) but his sister would.

Our local secondary school has this.

. Children with siblings who will still be attending x Academy at the time of their admission. Siblings (brothers or sisters) are considered to be those children who live at the same address and either:- have one or both natural parents in common are related by a parent’s marriage are adopted or are fostered

My daughter ( nor my son) would have sibling link due to different address.

I really wish schools would all have the same policy!

AuntieStella · 18/09/2015 20:37

I think it's more a change that recognised children living under the same roof may not be biological siblings.

The main rationale is that the children of one household have the opportunity to all go to the same school (minimising chances of conflicting school runs). It's why more primaries have sibling priority categories than secondaries (as children that age can reasonably be expected to travel to school alone).

TeenAndTween · 18/09/2015 20:36

I don't know, I've never really paid attention.

However I have just checked 3 other nearby secondary schools (we are in Hants) and they all have the same wording.

Original poster
Benzalkonium · 18/09/2015 20:25

That's interesting, teen. Has it chAnged recently, or been like that for a,while?

Perhaps things are changing to recognize thAt children can hAve sibling relationship without being permanent resident at same address.

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TeenAndTween · 18/09/2015 18:46

As a matter of interest, DD's school also has pretty much exactly the same wording as Didgeridont . It isn't the same school is it is section ci not iii.

Original poster
Benzalkonium · 18/09/2015 18:37

Thanks for the posts, it's really helpful. I'll proceed on the basis that any type of sibling must be primarily residing at the same address.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 17/09/2015 23:17

I agree with others. I think any appeal panel would look at that and interpret it as meaning that the child must live at the same address as the sibling regardless of the nature of the relationship.

The criteria set by Didgeridont's school are irrelevant. All that matters is the criteria for this school. I think they are completely clear.

Blu · 17/09/2015 22:15

Op , I think that paragraph is very clearly stating that siblings of all the ones specified must be living at the same address.

Didgeridont's school has a supplementary sentence to explain that certain categories of sibling do NOT have to live at the same address.

Sorry, I don't think your school's policy is ambiguous at all.

MyNightWithMaud · 17/09/2015 22:00

The criteria for Didgeridont's school have no bearing on your school. Each school/LEA sets its own admissions criteria and what applies in one school doesn't necessarily apply in another; they are free to set their own criteria as long as they comply with the Admissions Code.

Your school seems to have a very clear expectation that siblings of whatever type will be living at the same address.

littledrummergirl · 16/09/2015 22:29

Not on mumsnet. It's a site mainly aimed at 11+ prep however the appeals section has great advice on admissions.

Original poster
Benzalkonium · 16/09/2015 19:39

Little tummer girl.....What is this 11+ forum of which you speak? Is it on mn?
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Benzalkonium · 16/09/2015 12:38

Thanks for your comments.

I th I k I will need. Clarification.

OP posts:
littledrummergirl · 15/09/2015 21:25

Go to 11+ forum appeals section and post the question. They will be able to help.

tiggytape · 15/09/2015 19:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tiggytape · 15/09/2015 19:04

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
Benzalkonium · 15/09/2015 18:23

Thanks for your replies.

I think that diheridonts policy shows there's an ambiguity, but I'll need to check with the school.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

OP posts:
tiggytape · 15/09/2015 17:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

InimitableJeeves · 15/09/2015 15:42

I think the words "that sibling" must relate to "sibling" at the beginning of the sentence, and it therefore means that all siblings must be living at the same address. They presumably won't want siblings living a long way away with another parent having automatic priority over people living much closer.

Didgeridont · 15/09/2015 15:25

The wording has changed the definition above came in in the 2015-2016 admissions policy. In the 2014-15 (if only I could copy the link but my phone won't do it) the policy was not so clear- it was more or less the same as the paragraph you wrote in your OP.

Maybe there has been both a subtle change in policy, to better reflect how families have evolved (and to include foster children) and also clearer language to minimise ambiguity.

It is possible that there was a challenge, legal or at an appeal that forced the County Council to rewrite the definition.

I hope this helps.