Admissions Question

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

Aided School Admissions and appeal.

We are considering a very small church aided school which has a PAN of 10 each year.

There are 3 classes arranged as follows:
YR and 1
Y2 and Y3
Y4,5,6

So 20 per class in years R/1 and 2/3.

I asked the head today what would happen if DS1 got a place but 2 years later Ds2 didn't. She said that as an aided school they did their own appeals and have taken 11 or 12 pupils some years, however this year 1 sibling didn't get a place dispite numbers in class 4,5,6 being well below 30. This seems very unfair and the parents took the older child out as a result.

The head said they judge each situation differently, but it is a very well to do tiny school and I wouldn't like to think this had anything to do with who they like to let in and who they wouldn't!

How does this work??

They are responsible for their own appeals but the appeal panel should still be independent. Given the way classes are organised appeals will not be heard under infant class size rules. It is therefore up to the appeal panel to decide if the prejudice to the child through not being admitted outweighs the prejudice to the school through being forced to take an additional child.

Having a sibling already at the school may move you up the waiting list but it is not usually a strong case for appeal. However, pointing at the fact that they have been two over PAN in some previous years without any problems would help. If your younger son didn't get a place you would need to find additional reasons why this is the right school for him to bolster your appeal.