Does the sibling rule apply even if the sibling is in year 5 or 6?

[Dodo76]

If I applied for a reception place for a 4 year old who had a sibling in year 5 or 6, would they still be able to rely on the sibling policy for a priority place? The school currently gives priority to siblings but if the sibling is in year 6 at the time we apply then they will have left by the time the youngest child starts school, which surely isn't the point. Does anyone know the usual rules on this?

Our LEA's admissions booklet says that for sibling priority to apply, an older sibling has to be at the school when the younger one starts.

So if DC2 is starting reception as DC1 starts Y6 (i.e. DC1 is in Y5 when DC2 applies) then DC2 gets sibling priority.

If DC2 is starting reception as DC1 starts Y7 (i.e. DC1 is in Y6 when DC2 applies), then no sibling priority, as DC1 will be starting in a different (senior) school as DC2 starts in the primary school.

Worthwhile double checking the criteria where you live though. Ours is available via the county council website.

IME, the sibling has to be there when the younger child starts, but I would certainly bow to Tiggytape's superior knowledge

same at our school - sibling has to be physically present at the school when the younger one starts.

however if this is not the case it is worth putting in the special considerations bit reasons (practical, social etc..) why you need this school as i have seen it make a difference. HTH.

My DCs primary gives priority to anyone who has a sibling at the school when they apply. So even year 6 counts.

My DCs primary is a split infant and junior school on the same site, but as they are 2 separate schools only children with a sibling in year 1 going into year 2 max get priority as siblings going to year 3 are going to a different school.

Which LA? Does school have own admissions policy? In Manchester the LA States Yr6 sibling doesn't count

As Tiggytape says, check the specific school - there's a primary school near us which was opened a few years ago as part of the Academy Trust of an existing secondary school, and its admissions policy gives priority to children who "have a sibling living at the same address who already attends the School (in any Key Stage, i.e. EYFS2 (Reception year) – KS5) by the deadline for applications or who has attended the School in the past, for at least one full academic year". For all other schools in the borough, the sibling has to be at the school at the time the younger one starts (though linked primary and junior schools are regarded as one school for this purpose)

You need to look very carefully at the detail in the notes that will be attached the admission criteria. It can vary and actually more and more schools are moving to in school on the last date of the on-time applications. The other point, which does not apply here, is that you need to know whether it is any sibling or only elder siblings that give this priority.

Admission - could you clarify your last comment, does it only apply when you are applying for an older child when there is a younger sibling at the school?

Admission is referring to the fact that some schools only give priority if the child has an older sibling at the school. So if you are applying for a place in Reception and there is a sibling in Y4 you would get priority. However, if you were applying for a place in Y4 and there is a sibling in Reception you would not get priority.

Thank you prh - I wasn't aware that there might be a distinction between the two situations