Sibling Policy?

[Piratemum123]

Does anyone know how "strong" a sibling admissions policy is?

My partner's son is enrolled into a school and is due to start in Sept this year. Both my partner and his son's mother have now moved out of the area (my partner into a different county and her into a different borough). They have another son. Would he get into the same school under the siblings policy. From what we have read up now they have moved out of borough then the answer seems to be no but no definitive. If not then one of them would have to apply when the time comes for a school near their new addresses for the youngest. Meaning two children different schools up to 40min drive away :(

Going to call local authority education dept over next few days too.

Thanks. PM

Some schools will admit as criteria 2 (Siblings), some will be more specific, and out of catchment siblings will end up being criteria 4, so it really depends on the individual school.

Can I ask why they don't change the older DC's school? If it is because there are no spaces locally to them, they should get him put on the waiting lists for the closer schools, and if he doesn't get a place before his younger sibling starts school, in most places he will then jump to the top of the waiting list due to sibling priority (though a few schools do specify that only younger siblings get priority on the waiting list, but that isn't common.)

Also, if they wait until the older DC starts school, and then apply to their local LEA for an in-year transfer, the new LEA will have to find him a space at a closer school than the one he is due to start at, though it may be at a not-so-good school that is undersubscribed.

I am assuming that your partner's Ex moved house after school applications, but before his start date?

Hi. Thank you. Yes. Applications were made last year from their former family home where my partner was still living. He and I have moved over half hour drive in one direction and she has moved in the opposite direction. If he tries to apply for a place at a local school she will probably get a court order to stop him as it would be about a 55 min drive each way for her but he is worried about next Sept and having two kids at different schools in different boroughs. It not like they can apply to a school half way as of course it has to be done from the home address (new one) and the catchment areas are so small.

He is calling the local admissions dept today. Thanks for your help.

This is all about where this child is living and who they are living with. Firstly are the two siblings living together because if they are not they do not count as siblings under the normal definition used by LAs.
Assuming they are living together the address that counts is the address where they are living the majority of the school week, which from the posts would appear to be the mother.
Then as others have said it will depend on the wording of the admission criteria. On many criteria because there is a sibling in the family at the school and continuing at the school, they will receive that sibling priority. However does the sibling priority come before catchment children or after it. If it is after it there is a distinct possibility they will not get a place as they will live to far away out of the catchment.
A careful study of the admission criteria is needed,along with an agreement between the two parties as to what is best for the children not the parents.

Definitely something you need to check. In our LA, out of catchment siblings are only placed if there is space after catchment children have a place. Then it will be the siblings closest to the school.