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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be utterly pissed off that having a child already at the school has no bearing on getting a place if you do not live in the catchment area?

295 replies

samram · 28/02/2011 18:32

Ok, This news to me.

Having just rang the school admission line to make sure they had my dd4 application form i was told that already having my elder daughter attending the school has no bearing on my application if i do not live in the catchment area!
Im so worried now - i mean how can i possibly be in two places at once?
Its not even like my elder daughter is old enough to walk home on her own (she's 6 in a few weeks)

Does any know if this is correct or have any advice? Thanks

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 28/02/2011 18:33

Take your eldest one out of that school and have them all in a school within your catchment area?

DreamTeamGirl · 28/02/2011 18:34

It depends for each school/ LA. they have their own criteria,
Its usually
Looked after, statement dependant, catchment, sibling out of catchment, out of catchment
Are they usually over subscribed?

Mollymax · 28/02/2011 18:35

Tbh i thought it did have a bearing if sibling already there. Maybe it is catchment first then siblings?

privategodfrey · 28/02/2011 18:35

YANBU to be pissed off.

YABU to expect people who do live in the catchment area take second place to your DC as she has a sibling at the school.

Did your other child get a place there whilst you were living in the catchment area?

scurryfunge · 28/02/2011 18:35

If you can't get both children to different schools, then maybe think about getting both children to your younger daughter's offered school.

expatinscotland · 28/02/2011 18:36

Why should your child be allocated a place over someone else who lives in the catchment area?

Your school run problems are your lookout because you chose to send your child out of your catchment area.

If you can't sort it out, tough, send your kids to your catchment school or move.

YABU.

idobelieveinfairies · 28/02/2011 18:36

It's the same here, i had 2 children at secondary school and got refused a place for 3rd child. They were expecting me to start up relations with a 4th school!

I appealed and went before a panel and they decided that my 3rd child could attend the secondary school after all (thank-goodness!)

I will have to do the same next year with twins i am sure.

Primary schools here go on siblings having priority and secondary it is catchment first.

Good Luck!

SoMuchToBits · 28/02/2011 18:37

I think in our area it goes like this.

Children with SN are considered first.
Then it is children in catchment. If there are too many in catchment for number of places, then those with siblings are prioritised. If there are still spaces after all catchment children have them, then out of catchment children with siblings at school get priority over those who don't.

Sadly this does sometimes mean a younger sibling will not get into the same school as the older one. There is a girl in ds's class whose younger sister is at a different school, as they are out of catchment. Don't know how they manage to get them both to school on time....

omnishambles · 28/02/2011 18:38

It is irritating but then so is someone not getting a place because the next person has accepted a place and then promptly moved out of the area expecting siblings to now get in anyway under the sibling rule - you should have looked at the policy before you moved.

backwardpossom · 28/02/2011 18:39

Agree with expat

PaperView · 28/02/2011 18:39

Its usually children in care and/or with additional needs naming the school, then children in catchment, then children with siblings at school in catchment then children with sibs out of catchment then children with no sibs out of catchment.

PaperView · 28/02/2011 18:39

Its usually children in care and/or with additional needs naming the school, then children in catchment, then children with siblings at school in catchment then children with sibs out of catchment then children with no sibs out of catchment.

ThierryHenryismyBoyfriend · 28/02/2011 18:42

I think this is completely fair and right. Children in the catchment should always be first to be allocated a place and only then should siblings be considered.

If it meant that much that they went to the same school you either 1) shouldn't have moved or 2) move the elder one to the same school as the younger one.

I would be very unhappy if my DS missed out on a place for children out of the catchment to be given a space.

Journey · 28/02/2011 18:42

Why should your DD get a place if you're not in the catchment area? I'd be annoyed if someone took my child's place (when I was in the catchment area) just because they had a sibling at the school.

McDreamy · 28/02/2011 18:43

It's not always that straight forward though is it?

My children do not go to a catchment area school as all the schools within my catchment area couldn't offer me a place for both DC's (we moved due to being in the Forces). I will be very cheesed off if DD2 doesn't get a place at DD1 and DS2's school however siblings do get a priority so I'm hoping she'll be fine.

tougholdbird · 28/02/2011 18:44

our local school has just adopted this policy as so many children in catchment were losing out to children whose parents would rent just long enough to get eldest child in. it's a very difficult and emotive subject.

mamalovesmojitos · 28/02/2011 18:44

YABU

atthecarwash · 28/02/2011 18:47

YABU
Children who live in the catchment area should get in first. If you liked the school so much you should have moved. Or you should move your eldest into a school in your catchment.

Your child would be taking the place of someone who could theoretically live down the road from the school...now that would be unreasonable wouldn't it!

idobelieveinfairies · 28/02/2011 18:48

You are right McDreamy, It's not always that straight forward.

I chose not to choose my first child to our catchment secondary school even though it was the best secondary school at the time. Some years later the school i chose had become the most popular and now it is hard to get in there.

I didn't move my children as DS1 was in the middle of his GCSE's and the school wouldn't happy about me suggesting that i did.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 28/02/2011 18:49

Same as tougholdbird they were fed up of people geting one child in and moving away

CameronCook · 28/02/2011 18:50

Think its common for people to rent in catchment to secure a place for the eldest at over subscribed school and then move back to their previous residence assuming that subsequent DCs get in.

I'm assuming though that the school would have published it's admission criteria in the prospectus that you got when your eldest DC joined?

Littlefish · 28/02/2011 18:50

YABU.

atthecarwash says everything I wanted to say.

Original poster
samram · 28/02/2011 18:51

ok basically we lived at the same address as we do now when my elder daughter was accepted into this school.

This school is a three minute walk from my house but not first in my catchment area. (Dont want anyone to think i drive a big 4x4 for 30mins everyday to and from school)
In my view and other school was just not good enough and still isnt.

OP posts:
CameronCook · 28/02/2011 18:52

Its less of an issue at secondary though as most DCs are expected to make their own way to school so the parent wouldn't have multiple school runs to contend with. More of an issue at primary when the DCs need an adult to take them?

foreverondiet · 28/02/2011 19:00

Well if you haven't moved since your older child got a place then you are right to be annoyed and would def worth appealing if you don't get a place.

I know people who have rented just to get their oldest child in, and others who have deferred their move to their family home, staying in a smaller flat due to catchment areas - so I understand why schools have these policies.

Even if your younger child doesn't get a place initally if she had a sibling in the school a place will come up eventually although can see that school runs would be hard in the meantime.

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