School admission policy discrepancy.

[Sockattack]

End of last term I downloaded the two school admission policies on schools website at my eldest child's school. I was pleased to see a change that siblings had been given higher priority for Sept 2016 intake. I had a child who I'm applying for Sept 2016.

Applications open online today and I read all the accompanying council booklet. The schools own criteria is still published as siblings criteria preference 4. The new document states 2.

Of course I go back to school website and the link says not working on school admissions policy. Grrr! However it's still in my docs.

What would you do. Contact School or council asking for clarification?
Now booklet is out stating criteria can the revised policy I saw even be used?

Sibling criteria will mean my child is most likely to get a place if criteria 2. If 4 well who knows. It could be close!

The official publication by the LA is taken for any admission appeal purpose as being the legally official version of the admission criteria.However if there has been a mistake in the publication then they will correct it.

I think the only sensible way forward is to establish whether the school is maintained school, where the admission authority is the LA or whether it is an academy, foundation or voluntary aided school in which case the admission authority is the school. Having done that ask the admission authority in writing to confirm exactly what there policy is there seems to be this discrepancy

My guess would be is that the school has not updated their web site. Schools are asked to review and revise admission criteria by the LA and, if they change the criteria, there is a cut off date for this to be agreed and put on the LA's web site for when applications open. It could be they have changed the sibling criteria and informed the LA, but I agree you should check with the LA or school as admision says.

Thank you. It's an academy. I'll send an email to school and LA.

The policy was dated May and specifically stated for Sept 16 intake. I was surprised to see siblings prioritised for first time but also a bit pleased as it affects us.

Sounds like they hadn't had a proper consultation and the council pointed that out so they had to retract the website link.

There was definitely no consultation amongst parents. Poor leadership if that's the case.

Hi, is it a catholic school by any chance? I only ask as all of the catholic schools in our area (primary and secondary) have just had a massive overhaul of their criteria and they've all put siblings as first priority after SeN children/Lolked after children from this year onwards.

No it's not a Faith school. Just your average primary that became an academy six months ago.

If she doesn't get it its a massive inconvience and would be disappointing. However we are lucky enough that all but our local school are good schools.
Our local could be a good school with the right leadership ( removed son after a terrible few years). I'm not normally one to overly worry about schools and am normally pragmatic but I'd really like them to be at school together so feel a bit disappointed if the policy I saw has been retracted.

Are any of the experts on appeals willing to discuss this via pm please as there has been identifying developments?

Thanks

Yes, I will be happy to respond to a PM.

Thank you. I'll pm you.