Fair Access Protocol

[user1492287253]

we are moving (hopefully before the end of the summer term). dd is in year 4 so we have very carefully chosen a house thinking about secondary catchment.
this happens to be in a very small town. there is only 1 primary school in the town itself (0.8 miles away) and a couple of village schools both 2.5miles away. all schools are full.
the local education authority have told me to complete an application with them which they will submit to the school. if the school says we are full, they will ask them to admit her under the fair access protocol on the basis that it is the only school within a feasible distance. when they say ask, does that mean the school has to say yes ?(it is not an academy). under what curcumstances could they refuse?

The LA can direct the school to admit your daughter but they would prefer the school to accept your daughter willingly. The school will look at how well they can cope with an additional pupil. If they are already full to bursting they may resist admitting your daughter. The LA will then have to decide whether to direct the school to admit her or look for another school that is better able to handle an additional pupil.

thank you for your help.