Query on Freedom of Information act - can I apply it?

[PomsMum]

We haven't got our first place choice for dd1's primary school. We chose to apply out of catchment knowing the risks, and are well informed as to the criteria applied.

We expected to get in on proximity to school and haven't, last year the last child in was 2.1 miles from the school - we are 1.1 miles from the school. (It is a straight line measurement so no confusion re. footpaths etc) I need to know whether I will appeal for not - this is based on wether I think the criteria haven't been correctly applied.

I know that there are a variety of other factors which may have influenced the figures this year BUT on the basis that this info is publically available later on in the year can I ask the school/LEA what the furthest distance from the school was for the last place offered on the basis of freedom of information act? Are they obliged to tell me earlier than it is normally disclosed and would a solicitors letter extract this info even if I couldn't?

Bumping for you.

You can certainly ask, under FOIA2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (a little-known bit of legislation that actually gives you more rights to info than FOIA). The usual refusal is on the grounds that it would be too onerous to collate data early that will be published later, but that shouldn't apply in this case.

you can appeal to them and then the info commissioner if they don't answer/refuse to.
A solicitors letter wouldn't help.

However the easiest way to apply FOI is often to simply phone up the office and hope for a nice secretary who will chat to you and tell you what you need to know!

disclaimer - i know nothing about school appeals

How refreshing - I rang up the admissions office explained my concerns and the info I wanted was volunteered, yes you did read that right volunteered.... My cycnical mind needs to be reined in at times. So the last kid in was 1.02 miles away, we were 1.0561 miles away - waiting list it is for us then....

Thanks for all the help.

Excellent - that you got the info and the criteria were applied fairly, at least. Good luck with the waiting list...