Year 4 local sch full- worth appealing?

[Salbertina]

Moving in-year soon and dd due to rejoin yr 4 at local sch attended before going overseas, also where dc1 went. Its our only school within walking distance.
Can we appeal for a place on grounds that its only walkable choice, our nearest school, where existing friends
are, where dc used to attend? Or does full
really mean full?

I doubt any of those would be useable, with the possible exception of existing friendship groups; and that's a pretty uncertain one. Will you be able to demonstrate that DD has remained in close touch with these pupils during her time away (kept any emails/letters/photos of visits?) and form a line of reasoning why friendship groups are disproportionately important to her: friends aren't part of admission criteria, but you might be able to form a persuasive argument about balance of prejudice (ie prejudice to your DD being greater than prejudice to school in admitting a further pupil).

It might be advisable to check if full actually means 'overfull': this is no longer ICS, so there is some flexibility, but if already well over 30 per teacher it's much harder. Check year group sizes for all years 4-6 to see what size they have cooed with recently.

Ok thanks, sorry but what's ICS?

Infant class size

Thanks, so if it is 30, is it head's discretion whether to admit an extra or does it sit with council admissions? How do i persuade either?

It's never head's discretion (unless independent school).

The LEA has to find you a place, but they will have to apply the published admissions criteria. If you reject the place they offer you, they are under no obligation to come up with another and you will have to arrange education elsewhere (private sector or HE being the most frequent other options).

You can also apply to whatever schools you like the look of, and appeal against a rejection. You then need to persuade the appeals panel.

Thanks again and apologies if my qus seem obvious, been out of Uk system for over 3 years! Re residency, we will have just moved back (to permanent address, got mortgage payment proof etc). Will this be a problem do you think?

I think it's definitely worth a try. Assuming your previous relationship with the school was OK, the head may well be sympathetic and, though s/he may not be allowed to let dc in immediately, s/he may not try too hard in terms of opposing any appeal.

As you haven't moved yet it is a bit early to be thinking about appeals. The first thing is to apply for a place via the council. If there is a place available it will be offered to you. If there are no places available at your preferred school they will offer you another school. That is the point at which you can appeal.

The appeal will be heard by an independent panel. The case to refuse admission will probably be presented by the council unless it is a faith school. The head may not attend the hearing at all.

As Tiggytape says, the reasons you suggest will not win an appeal. You need to show that the problems your son will face if he is not admitted outweigh the problems the school will face through having to admit another pupil. You therefore need to concentrate on why this is the right school for your son.