Anyone else get NO OFFER?!

One thing to bear in mind, though, @flippyfloppy, is that it lots of parents appeal, and it's found that the LA have done this to all of them, then they will have to work out the distances for everyone and work out who would have got a place fairly. You only win if the mistake cost you a place. If they find that you wouldn't have got a place anyway, then the fact that they've made a mistake isn't enough to win you an appeal.

You can also appeal on prejudice grounds - that is, that you think your DD really needs to attendthat school so much that they should go over number to fit her in, and that denying her a place is worse than the difficulty it will cause the school to take her.

Maybe not a long way, as I think there are other factors at play, but certainly some way.

flippy if that does turn out to be the case and many have been rejected because of that, it would go a long way to explain the lack of places overall as that would have started a ripple effect down the other schools.

Thank you, you have given me some hope x

@flippyfloppy "we are on the border of 3 LA's so two closest schools are in different LA to where we are and we have been told preference given to pupils within authority."

Unless there is something in their oversubscription criteria that states that children within X area are prioritised, or children within the borough of Y, or children attending the following primary schools ...., any "prioritisation" that is contrary to their published oversubscription criteria is against the Admissions Code of Practice and should be challenged at an appeal. If the panel find that you would have got a place if you were treated as if you lived in the same LA, i.e. your distance from school was within the distance of the last place offered on distance grounds, then you should win your appeal.

*admission policy

Unless it’s stated that they give preference on the schools admission policy, then no they cannot use it and you would have a strong case at appeal, if it got that far. They must apply each schools aidsion policy. They cannot add to it as they see fit.

flippy It’s 100% worth a complaint / appeal.

This sounds like a case for @prh47bridge !

@rustybear interesting. I will speak to admissions Monday for clarification and see where we can go from there.

@flippyfloppy - one of our local schools (with the backing of the LA) tried to prioritise children living in the borough over children who might live nearer in a neighbouring borough. It was referred to the Schools’ Adjudicator, who told them to think again. Might be worth a complaint?

flippy I have no idea where they expect children to go, the schools that have places in the neighbouring authorities are not going to be easy to get to and will be the ones others didn't want. (as the closer ones will be full as they are all over subscribed at the best of times)

They build all these houses (and plan more) in a narrow corridor and then seem surprised when this happens as they aren't putting the infrastructure in and paying a little bit of lip service to needing more school places.

We are lucky, we moved last year right next to the school and I have an older dc at the school, but none of his friends got in, yet every other year at least 1/2 a dozen have gone from that school (it is out of catchment for the primary area)

Funny enough I did think (prior) if he doesn't get in then there is a massive issue with school places - little did I know I guess.

The Schools Admissions Code is statutory and applies across England (and Wales?). Different LAs cannot make up their own rules.

N.B, for the avoidance of doubt, as lawyers like to say, I am not a lawyer of any kind, despite MN name.

“we have been told preference given to pupils within authority

Isn't that illegal? Or is it just illegal in London?”

Unless they are talking about a defined catchment, that is defined in the admissions criteria, it is not legal in England.

Thanks both, the next few weeks are going to be a long few weeks. I'm going to speak to admissions again on Monday, keeping everything crossed x

That sounds really dodgy @flippyfloppy - I am not an admissions expert at all but unless there are specific catchments for the schools you applied to, which stop at the county boundary, surely it must be illegal not to follow their own admissions code? Must be dreadful for you.

flippyfloppy you must be near me, it is a horrible situation. We were fortunate, but there were many a tear at school today apparently. I really hope they have something up their sleeve.

They are going to be overrun with appeals, because not only is there that massive group of children who haven't got in, there are a whole load of children with unhappy placements.

flippyfloppy you may want to ask @admission @panelchair @prh47bridge for advice if you think they are not following admission criteria (hope they don't mind me tagging them in)

The most important thing is not to panic there is always ALOT of movement especially in London. I have experience of working for a kids charity that supported London parents and foster parents of y6 chn going through the high school admissions process where family circumstances and essential needs hugely impacted school choices. I never once in 6 years had a family left without an offer for a school by the summer hols.
What others have said in regards to waiting lists is great. So stick your dc’s name on as many waiting lists as you can in any borough (geographical distance always trumps who you pay your council tax to). And just reassure your dc that it happens to thousands of children every year but it will get sorted.
If you get offered a place somewhere even half suitable, I would take it and remain on the waiting lists for the schools you really do want. Worst case senario is you will get an offer from one of those by Xmas and have to switch schools in the autumn term- however most decide to stick with the school they already attend including 6 of my friends in the last 2 years alone as they realise that actually they’ve settled in so well and really like the school!
XXX

Camden in London do this now. I know a few people over the last few years this has happened to (usually because they've been unrealistic in their preferences, not saying that applies to you). They've all been offered one of their preferences eventually.

OP, very unnerving for your poor Dc. Did all their friends and classmates get into your local school?

One way and another the LA has a duty to educate your child and find a school place. They may establish a bulge class somewhere.

Meanwhile:
Check that your application to each school has been assessed correctly. Are there any that you feel sure you should have got a place in? As for last distance and your distance.

You can go in waiting lists for any schools you like. Bear in mind that wait lists are held in the order of how you meet the criteria.
You can appeal for any schools you put on your list.

Check that you are on the waiting lists for the schools you named.

The London population is highly mobile and loads of places come up over the summer.

Could you say what borough you are in?

Happened in our area a couple of years ago. I think they did it as they didn't want to freak people out by offering them a school 15 miles away as they new 2 of the local school would put on a bulge class that would be allocated on the 2nd round. I definitely wouldn't panic yet but just make sure you are on any waiting list for. School you would consider.

@zinnia we live 1.7 miles from preferred school in neighbouring authority, the bus leaves outside our door. Admissions officer said they were accepting people from within their own LA 4 miles away as preference was given to where you pay council tax?!?! I have re read admissions policy and nowhere does it state preference would be given to people of their own LA. It was also never mentioned in open evenings. Next nearest school is 2.4 miles away within our authority ( which is irrelevant as we were rejected there too!) x

we have been told preference given to pupils within authority

Isn't that illegal? Or is it just illegal in London?

Apologies for grammar and typos!! X

My sympathies to you in this position but it's not just London. We are up in the North East here and there are about 6 of us at my daughters school who are without an offer we are on the border of 3 LA's so two closest schools are in different LA to where we are and we have been told preference given to pupils within authority. Next one is oversubscribed ( about 2 miles away, no others closer and Our LA) but they are over subscribed. I've applied to go on waiting list of 4/5th choice and will appeal the first two. We've had an awful day 😥 x