Are schools obligated to allow potential students and their parents to visit?

[whomovedmychocolate]

I've been allocated a school which was not any of our three 'preferences' much to the shock of our current preschool who assumed she'd be going there.

So we called the school we have been allocated and asked to go to visit them to talk about our concerns and so DD could have a look round.

They've told us we can't go for several weeks because they are doing SATS (which makes me a bit to start with but never mind....) anyway, this means we are going to have to accept the place or lose it with the LEA before we've even seen the school.

I know accepting doesn't matter in terms of appeals etc. But it just feels really unfair to expect me to say yes to something I haven't seen. Can they do this?

Hmm tricky. Not obliged, but is absolutely standrad practice. You may have got hold of Scary School Office Lady (we are obliged to employ one ): ring again.

SATs finish next Thurs lunchtime BTW.

Well, KS2 SATs finish then, but KS1 will be doing their teacher assessments up until half term.
Thing is, you haven't really got much choice. You say "it just feels really unfair to expect me to say yes to something I haven't seen" but that's what you've been given and the LEA is kind of saying "tough luck" really. Saying 'yes' however, doesn't preclude you from appealing though. Or going on the waiting list for other schools.

Yes clam but KS1 teacher assessments aren't going to be disrupted by a family looking around are they? Not as much as 'exam conditions' KS2 SATs tests are.

Thanks both of you, I think I would probably rate as 'scary mummy' to rival scary school office lady.

So to sum up, it's crap, it's tough and I just have to roll with it. :)

Well, it depends, *christine." The KS1 reading tests need to be done under careful conditions.

Email/phone the Head directly. I'd be fairly cross if the office staff were turning away potential pupils.

OP - I think you can accept the school place and decline it later if you absolutely don't want to send your child there. That's what I've been advised and most MNers who know will tell you. Not as if the LEA are giving you an alternative at this stage!
Just make sure that you are on the waiting list for your preferred school and keep ringing to make sure they have her on the list (or to see if she's moved up).
I think the allocated school aren't saying you can't visit, just not now, right? I had the same problem with schools both private and state......in the case of the private schools it was whether one should fork out 50 quid to bag a place before even seeing the school!

I would personally have a real problem with any school that starts rationing visits and even not letting them happen. They need to start sniffing the coffee and wake up to who is the customer here and that pupils = funding.
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While I completely agree with you that you ought to be able to visit the schools you are considering, do have a thought for the poor head teacher who has to show you round. You are not the only family wanting a visit and a chat. At our school we are get three or four every day during "decisions" season. It takes at least half an hour per family. Multiply that by all the visitors and it does take valuable time away from all the other work he / she needs to do, especially February / March when they are frantically doing the school's budget. We did suggest group tours, but understandably parents want their personal and private time with the head.

Abigail I asked if there was a group tour and they said no. I need to ask four specific questions and asked if I could just call the head direct and ask them and was told 'no you have to come on an official visit'.

Poor you, the school does sound rather defensive WMMC. I know it can be difficult to get through to some HT on the phone, but have you tried emailing your questions to the head teacher? Maybe couched in terms of "I really don't want to waste your valuable time, but I would appreciate an emailed reply or telephone call to answer the following questions."
Good luck. If it is the school you have been allocated a place at, don't get fobbed off and explain you need to make the decision whether to accept their place offer or not.

I agrre that you need to find a way to the head directly. They should be able to show you around, perhaps not next week because of SAT's but beyond that they are just being difficult.