Sibling rule for admissions

[magdalene]

I know that if your first child is at a school then his/her younger sibling will be given a higher priority in the admission list. Does the same rule apply if a younger sibling has a place at the school and the older sibling is applying for admission to the school?

I think it does, however the sibling rule is not the same in every area.

For example in some schools siblings take priority over local catchment place children (even if the sibling is not local / catchment), however in other areas the priority goes siblings in catchment, then catchment children, then siblings out of catchment.

Not sure whether this is relevant to you though (ie whether you are in catchment or not)

It depends on your LA. Some don't give sibling priority at all. Some only give priority if the child applying has an older sibling at the school, some also give priority for younger siblings. Check the wording in the primary admissions booklet for your LA. If you are unsure, tell us which LA you are talking about and I or one of the other admissions experts will check.

You need to look very carefully at the admission criteria arrangements for the school because quite often it says an "older sibling in the school" rather than a "sibling in the school".
Whilst it might have an influence on where a sibling is on the waiting list for the school as whether you get priority it will have no infuence in terms of an admission appeal, all siblings will be treated as a sibling who has a place at the school - if that makes sense?

Thank you very much to you all. I have checked with my LEA and the rule applies to younger siblings as well so it's worth a try.