I would be grateful for ideas & information with how to go about appealing for a place at our local primary school for my son.
After moving house over summer, we find ourselves in an interesting situation. After much stress and misinformation, my 4 year old and my 6 year old have gained places at different primary schools. We now live in a dual catchment area; we are in catchment for both schools.
Obviously, the school run is a logistical nightmare (I have 5 children - one at secondary school, 2 in separate primaries, one attending preschool at the same school as my 4 year old and one baby), so I want my children all in the same primary school.
We moved house in the first week of August. Over the summer holiday, we had a real battle to prove our change in address to our local admissions authority. They would accept ONLY a child benefit letter as proof of our children's address, and refused to accept any other form of proof. Eventually, at the end of August, I finally managed to negotiate that they would accept a solicitor's letter of completion and a signed tenancy agreement for our old house as temporary proof of our new address, pending receipt of the CB forms, so that we at least had a fighting chance of gaining school places during the first week of term.
Shortly before the house move, we successfully gained a nursery place for our 3 year old at the local catchment school which actually has a nursery (the other does not).
The authorities told us that there were no spaces in Y2 in either of our catchment schools. We were told there were no spaces in Rec in one of the schools, but there were places in Rec in the other. We were, however, unable to gain places for either child at either school because of the issue over our change of address, so both children were still enrolled at a primary school 10 miles away on the first day of term.
The day before term started, we contacted both head teachers. The local school where our 3yo attends nursery told us they had no places, but to check again on the first day of term just in case somebody didn't turn up. The head teacher of the other school told us she MAY have places for both children, but she would confirm this at the end of the week. On the first day of term, the head of the school where my son goes to nursery told me that somebody had dropped out of reception, and that she would check with school admissions if my 4yo could have the place. This was verified by admissions and so my 4yo started the following day. That Friday, the head of the other school phoned to tell me that there were places for both my 4yo and my 6yo at her school. I initially very apologetically refused the places, as I wanted my 3 children to be together in the same setting, particularly after the upheaval of moving house, away from friends and family to a place where we know no one. I did not think that dropping off and picking up from 2 different primary schools was feasible (particularly with a baby!), so I thought I would home tutor my 6yo until he gained a place at the same school as the other 2. After a few days (and frightening outbursts from a scared, hurt 6yo who did not understand why he was not allowed to go to school), I realised that home tutoring would not suit my usually happy, sociable child, and took up the school place I'd declined at the other primary. School admissions assured me that this would not affect my appeal.
And now to the appeal.
Both schools have a PAN of 25. There are currently 28 in the Y2 class we are appealing to get my 6yo in. There are 30 in my 4yo's reception class.
The authority argues that the school classrooms and building are not big enough to admit my 6yo, he would contribute to overcrowding and it would compromise the education of the other children. There are 7 classes and 7 teachers. We have details of overall space and classroom sizes. The school completed alterations over the summer to expand the classroom which was an issue, and have applied for the PAN to be increased to 28. Unofficially, I know the head wants it to be 30, and is in favour of my son gaining a place in y2, but is not allowed to support our case.
The authority has stated that we declined places at my 6yo's school before we took the place in rec at the other school and we have sibling preference only because of this (I do not like how this makes us appear dishonest). It also argues that an error was made in admitting our 4yo, that there are spaces at my 6yo's school. They also think there is a preschool there (which there isn't). They said the fact that my 6yo has a place at the other school wouldn't affect our appeal, yet they are using it to argue against allocating a place in y2 at the school we are appealing for!
I'd be very grateful for any useful input please.