Admissions experts, this way please! Question about distances

[Primafacie]

I wonder if anyone can help me? The council is planning to expand our nearest primary for September 2013, which is when DD will be going to reception.

The proposed expansion will result in a new (additional) school gate and school entrance. Having studied the planning application, I think this new school gate will be closer to the centre of our property than the existing gate.

Does anyone know if the council must take the new gate into account when measuring distances for YR places next year? And how do they do that if the school is still being built when the council processes applications? Would they simply build the new gate into their existing distance measurement software?

(In case anyone wonders why this matters, the school had 20 applications per place this year and a catchment of 200 metres, so every inch matters!).

We are in Merton by the way.

TIA

Our council use the entrance gate that is nearest to the child's home, in a straight line.

Hi Primafacie

I believe the rule is that if it is a proper gate, with a signpost on it for the school, with the Head's name on it, then it counts. Certainly this is what happens with Wimbledon Chase, which has a side gate on the Chase as well as the main gate. Therefore the Council must measure the distance from either gate for the applications (I assume)

Taken from the Merton admissions brochure:

It should be noted that the computerised system,
which uses Ordnance Survey Maps, measures from
a start point plotted within the centre of the property
at which the applicant lives to the appropriate
school gate and calculates this measurement.
Where a school has more than one entrance gate,
the one closest to the applicant?s home will be
used for this purpose.

As Merton measure to the gate nearest your home they must measure to the new gate unless they change their admission arrangements for next year.

I would ask the question in writing of the council now, copied to your local councillor, so that they cannot wriggle later. My immediate reaction is that the LA will only use the gate if it exists in use on the date of allocation. It is also rather weak in its description on how it is being measured, is that the mid point of the gate or where the hinges are, or where the latch of the gate is. Those different points are going to be at least a metre apart, which could be crucial.
I also have to say that accepting there are two gates to the school is a recipe for argument.
The other gem in this year's admission criteria is "Where computerised maps are unavailable the same procedure is followed but measurements are undertaken using A-Z maps and a map distance measurement wheel." Love to know how they do that in a straight line from the house to the school gate.

Thanks everyone, I will wait to see if the planning application is succesful and if sio, I will ask the council to clarify the position on the new gate.