Moving to new area

[biscuit76]

This is a tad complication but could do with some advice.

We are moving from abroad to Cornwall.
We applied to three schools
We have been already told what school we have got because we are out of area so unlike Cornwall parents we didn't have to wait until end of April.
We have been allocated our 3rd choice but we didn't realise that it was so far/no public transport links from the area we are planning to live in and I don't drive.
We have been told the 1st choice has always been undersubscribed but this year there were 2 more people putting it down. The PAN is 25. As a whole the school is considerably below its full capacity.
Once we move to Cornwall we will be literally yards from the first choice school .

So am I right in accepting the third choice but going on the waiting list for the first choice. Can I appeal the decision based on the fact that in two weeks time we will be living in the village where the school is and the PAN is below 30. Can I go on the waiting list for schools that we didn't pick but are easier to get to than the third choice?

I'd have a chat with the County Council LEA, someone will be able to advise on your options.

You should be able to go on the waiting list for as many schools as you like, and accept or decline should a place become available - it worked for us when we moved midway through the school year (having originally been allocated a distant primary school) so I would definitely recommend that.

Appeals can work too - I know a couple of people it's worked for. When we were drafting ours THIS was really useful - especially the download document at the right of the page. The advice of what would your child gain from going to xx school was something I hadn't thought of including but was a good way of approaching the appeal statement.

Always worth asking. Hope it goes well.

The PAN is the maximum level of pupils in any one year group that has to be admitted to the school in a normal year of entry. I am assuming that your child will be starting in September. With a PAN of 25, the LA will admit to that number and no more. Any numbers over and above that number would normally be admitted under appeal.
So you are right to accept the school offered but go on the waiting list for the preferred school and also ask to appeal the situation. With an admission number of 25, any appeal will probably not be an infant class size appeal and therefore you have a better chance of getting a place at the school. You should appeal on the basis that it is the local school, you live very close by and that your child needs to form a new friendship group having moved from abroad, which would be aided greatly by being able to go to the local village school.
You can ask to go on any school admission waiting list that you feel is appropriate.

Thanks - that is very helpful and makes us hopeful that an appeal may be successful and therefore worth doing.