Confused re: admissions waiting lists/appeals

[OhWhatAPalaver]

We are moving to Stretford in Manchester and most of the local schools are pretty good but over-subscribed. However there is one that is not so good and typically has a massive catchment area... Dd is due to start reception in September so will be classed as a late application. What I am confused and concerned about is if she ends up being put in the rubbish school (that is further away but we would still be just about in the catchment area) will we have to appeal just for her to be placed on the waiting list for the good school right next to us? Or are waiting lists and appeals two different things? Both the schools come under Trafford council. Thanks in advance.

They are different things. You can ask to be put on the waiting list and you will be, no problems, once you have an address. The waiting list will be ordered in the same priority that admissions are (so being on it longer confers no benefit.)

Appeals are different; here you are essentially saying I want to skip the waiting list, give me a place now! If class sizes are 30 in reception though, you stand very little chance of winning I'm afraid.

Right, I see... I'm not really sure how we would fare on a waiting list, distance would be our main reason I guess, along with a couple of her friends will be going there. Although I spoke to Trafford admissions and they said they do see some movements on the waiting list so who knows! It's a gamble. It's frustrating as if the property we want to move to was two streets to the left we wouldn't even be in the catchment for the other school :/

Catchments are largely irrelevant for waiting lists, as as friends at the school etc; do you mean appeal? I'm afraid for a class size appeal (if there are 30 in reception) then no, distance and friends aren't relevant at all. Appeals can only be won if the admissions authority had made a mistake or admissions criteria were unlawful, or the decision to admit was so perverse so rational person would make it.

The waiting list will purely be ranked on how you meet the admissions criteria, so for most it will be ordered on distance from school.

Oh right, maybe we will stand a chance with waiting list then as we will be really close by to the good school.

I don't think we will have any grounds for appeal so that's probably best left alone!

Just get on waiting lists for any school you fancy as soon as you have proof of address. There is always quite a lot of movement round SManc and Trafford. Look at schools in Chorlton too and around there. There are some excellent schools around - inc in WRange etc

AIUI to some extent the time on waiting list does matter as if a place comes up and you are closest etc then you'd get it, rather than all the places being handed out in order of priority the day before school starts?

We we will be moving in the next month so we will be applying before places have even been allocated. Hopefully we will get in the nearest school but if not I want to be prepared!

But catchment will come into it - priority on wait list will include in catchment children within Trafford LA and within specific boundary above those outside catchment?

Thanks so much for the replies and advice, it's a bit of a minefield it seems! We will just have to get on as many waiting lists as poss and hope for the best I think!

The specific area may well have movement - Stretford is on the border of Trafford and Manchester. This is where a Trafford DC in catchment would be higher than a Manchester DC out of - even if they were closer..
The population can be quite transient due to high numbers working at the two local universities, teaching hospitals etc. people also move out to leafier areas for the super selective grammars. I do know loads of people in that whole area and all are happy enough with whatever school they are at.

Hi Inky, do you know anyone at Gorse Hill primary? That's the one I've heard not so good things about that I'm concerned dd might get put in...

Not specifically but it's rated as good all round? Not heard that it's awful either. The local area is less affluent than other near by areas so that may effect its reputation? I'd go and have a good look round. Ask about how many move onto Stretford Grammar too.

I know people at Seymour, StJohn, Oswald Rd, Chorlton Pk, St Margaret's, St Mary's etc
Worse case, start there and move to a school you prefer when you can?

Thanks :) yep that's looking like the plan right now!

We're planning to keep DS in nursery for half a term if we don't have the place we want by September. Presumably your DC will go to nursery when you first move, could that be an option rather than two moves?

Hmm that's not a bad idea... She's already in a really good nursery at the moment but it's not particularly close to where we're moving to. We were considering a move to a nursery nearer the new house but didn't want to have lots of upheaval all at once so not really sure what to do.