Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Legal advice; under what circumstances can a LA withdraw a school place (apart from fraud)?

2 replies

SE13Mummy · 05/01/2010 10:54

I am a primary teacher but also a parent of a Reception child who didn't get into my school (it's a whole 800 metres from our home) so started Reception at another local school but as it has no before/after school provision it won't actually be possible for me to get my child to school whilst also arriving at school on time myself (I'm on maternity leave at the moment).

During the Christmas holiday I received a letter from Admissions informing me that there was a place for my child at 'my' school. Fast forward one week and it would appear that Admissions have over-offered the available place, twice. 'My' school are now taking legal advice as to what they should do but I was wondering if Admissions have any legal right to withdraw the offer of a place to my child? I understand that places can be withdrawn if misleading information was used in an application for a place but this is not the case for me - we were offered the place because we came to the top of the waiting list.

I'm assuming that if it is an administrative error then the LA would simply have to make arrangements to fund an additional place/provide an additional teacher so that the class size is 30 or less.
Does anyone know anything else that may put my mind at rest? Thank you!

OP posts:
bumpybecky · 05/01/2010 11:04

I'm no expert, but that's never stopped me offering an opinion before so...

was there really a space on offer? (I'm guessing so as you said LEA had over-offered)

and if so, we're you really at the top of the list? (based on published admissions criteria)

if yes to the above I don't see how they can justfy not giving it to you.

I'm wondering if they've told both sets of parents it's gone in the hope that one lot will back down, so leaving it clear for the other lot?

are the school being suportive of you?

SE13Mummy · 05/01/2010 14:18

Thanks bumpybecky. I have an official letter from the LA offering the place and am fairly certain we were at the top of the list as we'd slowly worked our way up. As far as I am aware the other parents haven't been told about the over-offering; I only know because I teach at the school!

The school are being supportive but are stuck between a rock and a hard place as they have to do what the LA tell them.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page