Can a primary school change admissions criteria for a school without consultation?

[zippyswife]

I have two dcs at a school. Dc3 is due to start sep 2020. The school has changed the admissions policy for that year meaning that we are now way down on the criteria and dc3 will almost certainly not get a place.

Can they change the admissions policy without any consultation with the parents?

This is a faith school.

What bit have they changed zippy ?

The catchment and you now need a certificate of practice. I now fall further out of catchment and have fallen down the list on the criteria.

I have consulted the school they say they put it on their website for 6 weeks and then removed it.

This was never mentioned in any newsletters or on the school app. Literally would only have found it is you were looking through the admissions page on the website during a 6 week window.

Any change has to be consulted on and advertised in appropriate places - they have an obligation to show they've made reasonable effort to tell interested parties about the consultation. However, for the 19/20 admissions round consultation would've been 18 months ago 🤷‍♀️

You could contact the school or the LA to ask when the consultation was and where it was advertised?

My county council managed this so it would easier for a school.

Sorry just seen your update, contact the LA and advise them as this doesn't seem right!

It’s for the 20/21 round. They have not put it on our school app or any newsletters.

I’m going to contact the LA

Thanks for the advice

Any luck?