To think that if I want to send my DC to the outstanding school in the next village then I bloody well can??

[MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll]

My local school is very full...its ok but not great and when it came time to send DD1 there, she couldn't get in anyway (BIG catchment)...we were offered a very bad alternative 3 miles away (we did visit and hated it) and so sent her to a private prep over the road....(struggled to pay for this and luckily got a bursary) and put her name down at the local school, plus 2 others in neighbouring villages both of which are less than 2 miles away.

We were offered a place for her this year at an outstanding school we were on the list for and we duly sent her and she has settled in very well. We also registered our youngest at the preschool which is linked.

We have met about 20 other people who live in our village that go to our new school in the neighbouring village...so it's not ALL local kids.

Waiting outside preschoool for DC2 today I mentioned something to one Mum about an event happening at the school and another Mum immediately butted in said, "Oh it's terrible...there are something like 20 siblings coming into reception this year...so locals with one child can't get in." to her friend loudly.

She was obviously having a go....I can't help that we couldn't get in more locally can I?? I totally ignored her and carried on my conversation whlst she informed all the new Mums local and not...that the places are given to siblings before locals.

We only live a mile and a half away ffs and there are no other schools nearby offering us a place! We couldn't afford prep any more even with a bursary...are we in the wrong? I had hoped there wouldn't be any ill feeling....

Petty parochial rubbish tbh. Take no notice and rise above it.

Have the same thing on a regular basis with my Dc. DC1 got in to local 'village' school (incidentally our nearest school) although we do not live in the 'village'. Regularly commented upon by people who live in the 'village' as I am asked where we live. The irony is many of the so called 'local villagers' moved in that village to get into school. You know what people say about people in glass houses not throwing stones.....

Frankly I find these conversations quite funny now (it has taken 2 years I admit) but as DC2 is coming up to school admission time I can hear the same old stuff all over again. Except this time I challenge them!

No system is entirely fair and people will also 'buck' the system. It does not sound like you have done anything 'wrong' so stop feeling bad.

It is U of the school IMO to give siblings priority from outside catchment if catchment kids can't get in. Schools in my area have changed to no sibs and in catchment to above siblings.

It's your choice where you send them but years ago people generally went to local school and all this choice malarky just leads to more traffic, sink schools etc. in some areas.

I get asked where we live too fuffle I started saying "Oh you know....up the..." and then gettng disracted!

It's not "My" choice though is it jelly read the thread. As someone sad earlier on, without the influx a school the size of ouurs would get shut down anyway...there would be about 10 local kids per class...if that.

Jellybeans Sibling-preference leads to less traffic.

Yes that is why i said in SOME areas and it was a general point, not about OP.

I disagree Andrewofgg. Siblings from out of catchment should come after catchment kids with no sibs. If someone living right next door can't get a place yet someone living miles away who has a sib there-how is that right? They may not have a car or public transport. The traffic wouldn't increase if they used their local school in the first place where they can. Appreciate that OP couldn't, and others do have the right to choose, but it can have a wider effect on other areas and schools.

I have only heard a few debates about siblings versus catchment. Interestingly, those wishing to abolish sibling rule had an only or first to get in. Those in favour had siblings to get in. I can't enter the debate-our first choice school is 100 yards away with fields in opposite direction.

In our LEA primary admissions local children come before out-of-catchment siblings.If an OOC child id admitted the LEA make it clear that sunsequent siblings might not get a place.I think that's fair enough
Strangely at secondary out of catchment sibs come before local children.

My personal opinion is that people who move further away from a school should lose their right to sibling priority simply to stop the renters.

This would only work where the school don't work with catchment areas, here there are no catchments, it's distance as the crow flies.

Our school has gone from 2 form entry to 1 form entry and changed from infant to primary so as the larger years go through and are there longer there have been a very high number of siblings between 18 and 25 out of 30 places and of course many of those siblings would not get in on distance. Fortunately this is a short term issue and in a couple of more years it will be very local children who will generally get a place.

Anyone who gets sibling priority fairly and squarely shouldn't feel bad. (I don't include temporary house movers in that btw)

Having siblings at one school makes sense for the school too..a split family means that the parents have less time to help at functions and the family atmosphere is also affected.

I know that if DD2 doesn't get in, I won't be able to assist as much as I currently do....I help with many activities and volunteer...having families moving up through a school helps to create traditions and a more familiar school group.

How many LEAs still operate catchment areas though? Surrey and the London boroughs don't anymore so it's a really alien concept to me.

I think sibling rights should exist as long as you stay put in the house you signed up for the school in-as far as that is within your control. Near us is a couple who have just moved back into their house after renting near an allegedly more desirable school. Her son is safely into reception and they're back again. I do smile when I see her on her way back from the school run an hour after school ended, though. I'm guessing they won't move again now given the sibling rule.