AIBU to feel cheesed off that my son still does not have a school place for when they eventually open

Mooncup it depends on the LA. In our county, all in year admissions go direct to the school, and they have to respond within five working days. The LA doesn't get involved at all unless the schools are all full and the parent can't find a space. So the PP might just be following the standard procedure in her area. And yes, in year admissions are always a priority, particularly when a child is not on any school roll so there could be safeguarding as well as educational concerns which are not being addressed.

[quote choosingcrumble]@NeverDropYourMoonCup
I would have thought it would be a priority as he is 'missing in education'. He isn't registered as homeschooled nor registered with a school.[/quote]
Honestly? Compared to the thousand or so applications for 150 places that are required by law to be handled right now?

It can't be.

The local authority, however, would be able to allocate him somewhere. You just wouldn't be able to put him in the school of your choice - which presumably, is what you are trying as you're contacting the school directly (and perhaps completing a supplementary application form, which means they have additional admissions criteria?).

I dont understand OP have the council told you this school is one which have spaces?

It sounds like you are trying to choose a preferred school that maybe doesnt have space. Its very poor that they are ignoring you, but I wonder if because they are full they simply arent expecting the council to direct any in-year applicants to them.

Have you asked the council which schools have places?

Sorry, typo - prh47bridge

Blimey, I'm appalled by this. I work in (primary) admissions and would always respond to an application within five school days, regardless of how busy I am! That's the requirement here, but I don't know if that's a national requirement or just my LA. It's also pretty poor of a school not to appreciate that this is really rather important to you!!

In your situation, I would be doorstepping the LA until they do something. I'm also tagging admission and phr47bridge in case they can provide specific advice on your area.

Just keep calling OP, every day if necessary. Eventually you'll get through to someone.

You are not unreasonable to start to feel antsy. It sounds like you applied for one school each time? It's normal to list 3 (6 if in London)

When I returned to the UK the council gave me a list of schools with spaces so I could make an application with high chance of success.

"The council have an obligation to provide an education place. I would call the council and find out where the spaces are and take it from there."

The council have an obligation to provide an education but that doesn't have to be a school place although for a child in mainstream yes there will usually be a school place somewhere.

Normally they can't try and find a place until you are actually resident in the council area. December is only two months so not actually that long.

You need to phone and find out where has a place available irrespective of your preference

OP have you rung the council and asked which local schools have space? In almost all local authorities there will be one less popular school with space. Its likely to be a poorer performing school and not the one you would choose but that's the reality of in year admissions. Then you can go on a waiting list for a school you prefer. The fact that he is not in education won't make him magically a priority for a better school, it means he will get offered a place in any school with space and there may not be much choice.

Have you tried phoning them? It is a very busy time for secondary admissions generally but i would except them to tell you very quickly which schools have Y8 places.

Would be worth moving to Secondary Education board and tagging @admissions and the brilliant experts that give advice there.

[quote choosingcrumble]@NeverDropYourMoonCup
This is for an in year admission.[/quote]
Yes, I saw that. What I meant is that the Admissions Manager is quite likely rather busy right now with a timescale determined by law, so an in year admission that isn't governed by the same restrictions is likely to be lower on the list of priorities than the 1000 other applications they have to handle.

It took me a year to get my daughter into our catchment school when we moved. I would apply to more than one school to be honest and then put him on the waiting list for your preferred school.

I think it was called a Fair Access Panel - for children who had no school place

Unfortunately it does take time - we moved back to UK last summer. I applied at end of June for places for my two but we didn’t get a place until end of September. My eldest is year 8 and his took longer as all the schools in a reasonable distance were full so it had to go to a panel where the council made a decision (we were lucky and he got our local school).

It’s very frustrating but all I can recommend is keep ringing the council and chasing it up, be polite but firm.

It doesn't take months for admissions outside the usual phase transfer round

But dealing with the usual phase transfer round does become a full time job whilst it's happening.

Yes, what year are you applying for and are you now resident in the UK?