This older girl did not get a place and the younger did

[Octavia09]

In my school catchment area I know one girl who is going to be five in November, did not secure the place whereas another girl who is not even four at the moment did receive an offer. I thought the admission team would give a priority to the older girl.

age isn't a factor is it? it goes on distance from school/siblings/special needs. they're both due to start school the september after they're 4 yes?

Age has nothing to do with allocating places.

I don't think the list of criteria for allocating places normally includes age. It would go on looked-after children, then statements, then siblings, then distance most likely.

Well, she is much further from the school than another girl. Both of them do not have older siblings. I just wondered why it was like that.

Age isn't a factor. There will be a list showing exact priorities and age isn't one of them.

the younger one may have specific needs that are best catered for by that particular school.

you'd need to really know the ins and outs of each situation to understand why. does it affect you?

It does not affect me. The mother is upset but that it. I was just curious on this situation.

The only way you can find out is by looking at the admission criteria for the school. You will find them on your council's website. It is usually the case that all the community schools will use the same admission criteria whereas faith schools will all be different.

As others have said, age never has any bearing on whether or not a particular child is admitted. In some councils distance doesn't have any bearing either. Although most use distance as a tie breaker, some allocate places by a lottery. As others have said, things like being in care, having an older sibling at the school, having special medical or social needs, religious faith and so on can all affect whether or not a child is admitted.