Another Year 1 child added but spaces in another school. help pls

[handprints]

Hi,
my child is in year 1, 1 form entry catholic school. Last year the school were forced to take another child in reception - bringing the number up to 31. (And year 1 and year 2) The borough quoted the Fair Access protocol.

So last week, the children are now in year 1 and another child has been admitted (forced by borough) taking the number to 32.

But,
there is another school withing 2 miles of the childs house that has 5 places in year 1 available.

I phoned and questioned the borough but want to put a proper complaint in. What do I need to say?

I am priviledged and while I have no knowledge of this childs particular needs I have worked in the school and know they do not take just because the child is catholic - as inferred by the borough today.

The borough then said I was mistaken about the other school - I'm not I work there.

Then they are blaming the other school for not keeping them up to date with leavers.

So, how do I form my arguments as I know, 32 in a class is hard when they are 5 - that is why the law was 30.

The school are demanding answers but I am happy, and they want me to, complain too.

Agghhhh. The borough wont support two form entry but do this.
Help please.

HP

If the school aren't happy they should complain and not rely on a parent to do so. I imagine (hope) the LEA will send you away with a flea in your ear.

The LA can't/shouldn't tell you on what grounds extra child was admitted. He might be looked after/SEN etc. Have you approached the school first ?

Vulnerable children may be placed via FAP, and the reasons for doing so should be kept strictly confidential.

If the school are querying the decision, perhaps they could append your comments to their submission? It is possible the school will be told if there is other agency involvement (especially as joining up all those who have contact with a child is in the headlines at the moment), but that sort of information should never reach another parent.

The school have been told the child is being admitted because all local schools are full. Though the head is now complaining too due to the spaces, the school and governors were threatened with the Education Secretary if they appealed.

I have no knowledge about the personal child circumstances ofcourse but if there are it is not the reason the school has been given for admission. The school have asked me to also complain as they can freely tell me they were told to take the children due to no other spaces being available.

Thank you for taking time to answer.

The school have been told the child is being admitted because all local schools are full. Though the head is now complaining too due to the spaces, the school and governors were threatened with the Education Secretary if they appealed. Are you sure you have the full story , the school couldn't tell you any confidential info either even if very pertinent to the issue. Try not fixate on these extra individual children but ask on what basis the ICS can be overridden. There should be a complaints process on their website or in the prospectus

Thank you so much for your further comments.

Yes I will fixate on why ICS was breached when there are available spaces at other schools within a reasonable distance. The person on the phone at the borough tried to imply that the school with places hadn't kept them informed enough that there were spaces. They also said it was unreasonable for them to have to chase the schools to find out if there numbers were accurate.

I will formulate a comment on this, also because other local schools are said to also be forced to take more children for the same reason. I would like to support all childrens education and class size can easily be a factor.

Thank you again.

Also, to reiterate the school are raising these concerns and awaiting a response.

I'm not really sure what you are hoping to achieve by complaining. Do you want the additional child/ren to be moved to another school?

I'm guessing it's unlikely the place will be rescinded now as it would probably be unreasonable for that child at this stage.

Has this child actually started in school? Because if so I don't see what you reasonably expect to achieve? You have additional knowledge due to where you work and of course this situation is wrong and should be avoided BUT there's if there's a child now settling in to a school you surely don't expect them to be placed elsewhere?

x posted saying the same as two other people

The school sound like they are being very unprofessional discussing things with you!

If you are that worried move your child to the school with the five places.

Scarlett, you're a genius!

Let the parents know that the Head is discussing their child's admission with another parent. They will run a mile. I know I would. Very unprofessional.

You do not know that ICS rules have been breached. Going over 30 is not in and of itself a breach of the rules. It depends whether or not the additional children are excepted.

It may be that the LA is being lazy and not checking which schools have places. It may be that schools are pretending they don't have places when they do. But, as others have pointed out, there are many valid reasons these children could have been admitted which the school and LA cannot discuss with you.

Thank you all again.

The child has started and no cannot now been turned away. That would be terrible.

But this can now be stopped happening at the school again if the borough are being lazy it is not right.

I dont want to change my children as I have taken the job to not be at the school they go to.