Hi, all.
Just found the primary school local to me and 1st choice has not offered us a place.
This year is the first year the school is operating on a reduced PAN of 45 (down from 60).
Am I correct in assuming that some consultation with parents in the area with children two years and above should have taken place before implementing a change like this? If so, what form typically should this consultation take?
As parents we and others received no formal consultation, despite residing in the catchment area, and our son attending the pre school of the primary.
Also the PAN appears to have been set below this years demand. Figures we've obtained indicated that 55 pupils applied to this school as first choice, leaving 10 without places. This sounds to me like a fundamental error in capacity planning, and as I understand the whole reason for adjusting the PAN is something to do with receiving significant extra funding for each pupil accepting as a 'bulge'. Can anyone shed any light on this?
We are left with the option to appeal. Strangely, we are getting the impression from the school, that we are being actively encouraged to do this. Could this be because the school will receive extra funding if they accept a pupil via appeal. If so, this cannot be ethically correct, can it?
Thanks.