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Original poster

Genuinely interested so please don't flame me...

27 replies

sausagesmakethebestfrieds · 12/02/2023 21:35

So I was talking to a friend a while back and she was talking to me about the criteria for a particular school that she would like to get her son enrolled in come sept. Now I don't have kids so honestly I know nothing about this but friend was telling me that the first criteria (or at least on the criteria somewhere) it mentioned that children who's parents are in receipt of benefits are prioritised. Friend wasn't saying this in bad taste and I completely understand why such children would be entitled to free school meals etc but I never thought it affected entry to a school. Can anyone tell me why this is? Seems strange for a parent that has to go to a physical workplace who has a child living close by could be turned away when maybe another child who's parent has the time facilitate this better in the mornings gets a place. Honestly please don't flame me, I'm just curious

OP posts:
Greensleevevssnotnose · 12/02/2023 21:37

I assume to make sure they have a cross section of society there.

Nimbostratus100 · 12/02/2023 21:37

why do you think being on benefits means the parent doesn't have a physical work place to get to?

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 12/02/2023 21:39

People on benefits work too. And not all children whos parents claim benefits get free school meals.

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General education
VladmirsPoutine · 12/02/2023 21:40

Why would a parent on benefits have more time in the morning?

WaddleAway · 12/02/2023 21:40

Most people on benefits work, so I’m not sure what your point is re facilitating getting there in the mornings?

GoldilockMom · 12/02/2023 21:40

Priority always goes to children who are looked after - those with siblings and then general area from the front door.
Others might be based on faith.

These things are available in the school websites so perhaps take a look because I very much doubt income is relevant for school intake.

Original poster
sausagesmakethebestfrieds · 12/02/2023 21:40

@Nimbostratus100 to be honest I don't know that they don't so I'll retract that. I think my friend had mentioned 2 separate parents that didn't work and that they would be prioritised so maybe that's how I came off with that.

OP posts:
TetherEndOfMy · 12/02/2023 21:40

I earn 34k a year and get benefits.

BadHabitsGoodFun · 12/02/2023 21:41

Unless this school has very specific criteria I think she’s become confused. Being on benefits is not normally a criteria - being a forces kid, or having an EHCP or being a LAC child yes, but benefits no.

Original poster
sausagesmakethebestfrieds · 12/02/2023 21:42

But even if you receive benefits and work, why does that prioritise any child getting into a school?

OP posts:
Soapboxqueen · 12/02/2023 21:43

Tbh I've not heard of this kind of criteria before but I'd suspect it means that the houses near to the school have shot up in value so that less affluent families cannot hope to get into the school as more well healed families snap up homes.

Some LAs have tried various methods to combat this such as a lottery but I don't know how popular/effective this methods are.

YoBeaches · 12/02/2023 21:43

She's talking nonsense. You can read the criteria on the government school admissions website.

Badbudgeter · 12/02/2023 21:45

I don’t think it does. Are you sure they were the parents. I know of someone who took on their grandchildren due to mothers mental health and they got priority school admissions.

TetherEndOfMy · 12/02/2023 21:48

sausagesmakethebestfrieds · 12/02/2023 21:42

But even if you receive benefits and work, why does that prioritise any child getting into a school?

Might just be the school's policy. I would assume it would have to be in combination with other criteria, so you still have to be in the catchment area. I've not heard of it before but should your friend be correct, it's probably the school wanting to give more spaces to those who get free school meals or are from socially disadvantaged circumstances.

Original poster
sausagesmakethebestfrieds · 12/02/2023 21:48

I must admit I don't live in uk, I just thought it was the same in Ireland but maybe it's different to the mainland.

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 12/02/2023 21:48

I think your friend is getting confused with ‘children looked after by the authorities’, ie children in the care system.

GoldDuster · 12/02/2023 21:52

It's usually looked after children, acronym LAC, rather than a child of anyone in receipt of of benefits, but a quick check on the admissions policy will clear that up for you.

Widgets · 12/02/2023 21:56

I worked in School Admissions many years ago, in the UK. I’ve never heard of a criteria based on benefits.
The criteria can be found on Local Authority websites, but as others have said the first criteria is often: looked after children or previously looked after a children, followed by siblings at the school, then living in the catchment area and finally distance from the school.

BertieBotts · 12/02/2023 21:57

Yeah, she's almost definitely misread the child in care criteria.

Original poster
sausagesmakethebestfrieds · 12/02/2023 22:06

Ah maybe she's got mixed up then. I did think it sounded odd to be fair so at least it now makes sense lol I feel a bit silly now 🤣

OP posts:
Cornelious2011 · 12/02/2023 22:06

Some schools near me do have 'free school meals' as a criteria but it's about 6th on the criteria list so not really that relevant.

IreallyLikeCrisps · 12/02/2023 22:09

I don't think it would be 'benefits' per se, more likely children entitled to Pupil Premium (which also gives the child free school meals). The school gets extra money for children with Pupil Premium. Even when the child is no longer entitled to PP, the school will still get the money for a few years after.

A school local to me had the criteria...

  1. looked after and previously looked after children
  2. exceptional social or medical need
  3. EHCP
  4. Pupil Premium
  5. Feeder school
  6. siblings
  7. closest school
  8. catchment
  9. any other applicant
ThankYouKindly · 12/02/2023 22:12

Are you in NI? Most pre schools give priority to children whose families are socially disadvantaged but don't think it applys to primary school (though 'looked after' children may get priority then).

We didn't apply to our closest pre school as we were told it was always over subscribed and as we didn't receive benefits we would be too far down the list. Turns out that was the one year they weren't over subscribed and we prob would have got in as we literally lived next door.

Greyhalo · 12/02/2023 22:20

A local school (William Tyndale, which is very sought after in London) had the criteria:

  1. Children Looked After
  2. Children of staff at the school
  3. Siblings
  4. Children eligible to be registered for free school meals up to a quota of 15 places
  5. Medical or social need
  6. Distance

I always assumed the free school meals was to ensure that some local poorer families from the nearby estates would be prioritised - it's an area with council estates practically next door, but other houses are milions, so limiting the effect of wealthier families buying in catchment. The school is an academy, so doesn't have the same criteria as local community schools.

Anyway, I've just checked the admissions for 2023, and the FSM is no longer mentioned, but it's mentioned on 2022 admissions, so I guess they've stopped it.

https://www.williamtyndale-islington.co.uk/our-school/admissions

fyn · 12/02/2023 22:28

She must mean the pupil premium which is given to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. They often are given priority for admissions. My children receive priority in admissions under this also for the service pupil premium.

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