Advice needed. Just received a letter saying no application has been made for a primary school place but i'v made one

[Yorkstar]

Has this happened to anybody else before? Iv submitted an application online and the current status says that my choice of schools has received it so why this letter to panic me on a weekend when I can't contact anybody to clear it up! The letter says that they received no application from our address. I think I did everything correctly but this is my first ds so the first time through the whole process. I'm very worried as the letter states that as they have no application from us we may miss out on our first choice of school which is out of catchment. Such a blood nightmare

[xsammy1987x]

hi i just recieved a letter this morning saying they have not recived a application for my son.i checked my emails and found i had a confirmation email saying i had applied online.just signed in to check on the council website and the application has gone.i used to be able to view it but no its disappeared.worrying now as cant do anything till monday

[Jenny70]

Tell admissions that is the "unspoken of twin" who you don't plan on educating formally... and for convenience you called him almost exactly the same name as your "loved child".

But seriously, sounds like a stuffup at their end. But as advised, keep records, as this may not the last stuffup that happens in the application process.

But when the offer comes, it should be quite transparent as to why you didn't get a place at the top listed school(s) if the offer is not your #1 choice.

[JenaiMorris]

I would hope that the council will now get up all their data, sort it on postcode and literally read through it to check for doubles. Rubbish in, rubbish out and all that.

They could easily refine this by filtering to those postcodes which appear multiple times. They could do it in an afternoon.

Basically what I'm saying is that clearly they have an issue but it's one that I imagine they'll remedy super fast and certainly well before allocations begin.

[prh47bridge]

Like Tiggytape I hope this is the end of it but bluntly this does not give confidence in the admissions department. As you have already been advised, make sure you print everything and keep records of all contact with the admissions department including names. If it goes to appeal the evidence will be useful.

[Yorkstar]

Thanks for that link notjust interesting reading.

Am now on the wine and choice after a stressful few days :)

[notjustamummythankyou]

Yorkstar - You've probably already seen it, but there's a useful document on York Council's website about how it allocates places in schools. There are also stats for the past three years showing how many pupils were allocated under each of the five criteria and how many appeals were received for every school in York. Take a look here at the Guide for Parents.

[mrz]

All children have a unique admissions number once an application is processed so this type of thing should not happen.

[Yorkstar]

That's useful to know Tiggy about how the allocation system works in regards to letting you know. I thought it would just be a matter of 'you are being allocated ..... school'.
I have documented and sent my email of conversations too this afternoon. Roll on the 16th of April in which no doubt I'll be a nervous wreck in the lead up to

[JenaiMorris]

This is what happens when organisations use names rather than unique IDs such as NHS numbers.

Not terribly helpful for you OP but I just knew that's what it would be - it's a bugbear of mine as someone involved with databases!

It will all be absolutely fine - glad it's being sorted :)

[notjustamummythankyou]

That's interesting - a bit of an admin issue at the LEA then?!

You'll be fine - your application has been in the system all along and was on time. As the closing date was mid January, I'm not sure if they've even started allocating yet. This cock up won't affect you, I'm sure of it.

[Yorkstar]

Also, I got through to the first lady again a second time when I rang back and she let it slip that she had 'quite a few of the same calls this morning' from other families who had received the same letter. Surely something else is going on and they can't have duplicate applicants at all these addresses? Either way a big cock up their end.

I will be wondering though now if I don't get my 1st or 2nd preference it was anything to do with this cock up IYKWIM

[notjustamummythankyou]

That's really good news, yorkstar.

It sounds like there has been a fairly hefty admin error made at some point, but hopefully you feel reassured now. As you say, document everything just in case and I'm certain it'll all be fine.

And breeeaaaathe .

[Yorkstar]

Right am hoping it is finally sorted. For some random reason there is another child whose first name is very simlar to my ds who also has the same surname and exactly the same DOB registered at my home address who they have not received an application from.
Apparently they have now 'found' my application and I have been assured by 3 different people (whose names I have taken) that my ds's application will not treated as a late submission. I have spoken to 3 different women who have all told ne slightly different things so although I am more reassured, I have lost some confidence in the system. I will be taking all advice and documenting everything on an email of my conversations with the relevant staff shortly when dd is asleep. Thank you all so much for your advice. It is much appreciated and kept me from.completely panicking over the last couple of days :)

[notjustamummythankyou]

jenai - I'm in York too and the application summary is a bit rubbish. Just has the child's name, parents name and address and info as above. There isn't a date to show when the application was submitted, but we did get an email confirming they had received the application and that of course would be dated.

[notjustamummythankyou]

Oh yorkstar - what a mess. I'm sure it will be quickly sorted though. Are you able to log into your admissions account and take a printoff or screengrab of your application summary? I looked at mine this morning, and it lists the schools and says 'LEA has received the application' next to each school. Does yours show that?

[JenaiMorris]

You could email them a screenshot, to the ball rolling until you can get to your work email account. Does the application status screen have dates on it?

[Yorkstar]

The email is sent to my work email address which I have got a record of but not printed off as am at home with children as its my day off. I have no printer here but will do it first thing tomorrow and will follow Tiggy's advice too and write up a summary of the conversation and email it to them. I will call again soon if i do not hear in the next hour

[JenaiMorris]

Forward a copy of the email to [email protected] with a description of what's happened.

At least you'll feel like you're doing something while you wait.

[JenaiMorris]

They will probably be very busy, so worry too much that they've not called back yet.

Obviously chase them up in an hour or so. Have you checked on the website to see if there are any named contacts? I suspect the person you spoke to is a junior, generalist admin/reception officer fielding calls on anything from refuse collection to housing benefits, rather than an admissions person.

[jojane]

Print off the screen saying they have received you application and list of schools etc too as well a email confirmation

[Yorkstar]

Thanks for that advice Tiggy I will do that. Still waiting to be called back.