Primary School offered, not possible, how likely would an appeal be successful.

[LeeandEmma88]

Hello all,

We have read this forum many times but our situation has led to us feeling the need to create an account for advice.

This isn't the typical "We didn't get our preferred school, but it is a good school so can I appeal" post, so please bear with me whilst we explain.

My family has lived in the area of our preferred primary school now for 10 years, with us being located here for 5. The reason we moved to the area was solely for this primary school. We have had our Son's name on the school list since 2013 when he was approximately 10 months old, he is now 3 years and 8 months old and will be starting school this September 2016.

My wife and I work full time jobs and these jobs are unfortunately located out of the area, my wife working 1 hour from home and myself working 30 minutes away.
We also have a 9 month old baby who will be starting daycare in September of this year. This leads us to a bit of an issue, in regards to dropping off children.

It would not be possible for my wife to drop off our baby at daycare, our son at school and then travel to work. she has tried to go part time and drop morning hours but to drop off both and get to work is just too much, leaving her approx an hour late each day.
It is not possible for myself to drop hours as I am a manager at work and have several employees under my sole responsibility. I have to be at work when they are so to say.

This means we need assistance, which comes from my Mother. She is retired but does not drive, she lives on the same road as us meaning both the preferred school and our house are walking distance (she actually has to pass our house to get to the school).

Now we haven't been offered a place at either of our 2 local and preferred schools, which in normal circumstances I would just put it down to over-subscription and learn to live with it. But since January 2016 when the application process was closed my Father has taken ill in health meaning he requires full care which is provided by my Mother.

My wife's employer has agreed to shorten her hours on 2 days meaning she can drop off and collect (based on the thought we would have gotten our preferred school) leaving my Mother to drop off and collect the remaining 3 days of the school week. Now my mother doesn't drive as mentioned earlier so needs a school in walking distance (she cannot leave my Father for a length of time) this leaves two schools, both which were on our application. The 1st choice is 0.3 miles and takes 6 minutes to walk, the 2nd choice we had is 0.6 miles and takes 15 minutes to walk, now the offered choice which we didn't even know existed is 1.8 miles away and takes 45 minutes to walk (these times are one-way not round trips). The choice given would take 4 hours walking time per day to drop off and collect for my Mother, this is not even a possibility due to my Father's health.

We know the preferred school has 30 placements up for grabs and half of these have been filled with siblings, this leaves around 15 places to fill with other criteria. We live 0.3 miles away and can walk to the school within 6 minutes, not many people at all live closer than us, the reason we chose this address. Where do you lot think we would stand with an appeal taking all of the above into consideration?

We would be taking all my Father's medical history to any appeal, along with work contracts to show hours etc as we really feel we should have been offered a place at one of the 2 schools. We also have to take into account though, that the local council do not know of my Father's ill health as it has all happened 'after' the application process. We honestly thought luck would be well within our side as we live so close to the school (we can just about see it from our house) but this isn't the case obviously.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

You are stating the obvious there veryproudvolleyballmum, but I was looking for helpful answers. I am aware that the likelihood of my son getting in this year is around 0.01%, but to get him in as soon as possible I would like an idea of which direction I should be heading.

Right, so if you haven't attended fortnightly for a year, that's an issue. Although...it might be tempting to argue that if you'd known the criteria was to do so, you would have done so. Kind of breaks 'the spirit of the law' but it's well known that people attend church to get their kids into school.

You could
1/ accept current school and look for childminder who can take care of baby and does school drop offs and pick ups. Most start 7.30-8am.

Go on waiting list - or make a separate application (you need to check) - for your school of choice.

2/ if he's not 4 yet, delay? Start attending church now every week for next year and qualify under that criteria next year.

Your best bet is accept allocated school, then attend church weekly for the next year. Unfortunately, you'll only get into category 4 for year 2, because until you have a year of fortnightly attendance, the vicar can't sign the form. That means you'll remain category 7 until then.

The only thing you can do is go on the waiting list. I don't think there will be a reapplication next year - the class will already be full. Whilst it loses you nothing to go through appeal you need to prepare a plan for the new school, be that childminder or taxi.

My second choice was Prestolee Primary School which is not a church school. There are alot of housing estates closer than us though.

www.theguardian.com/education/2015/sep/08/parents-of-summer-born-children-get-right-to-delay-start-of-school

Why can't he just keep the child in nursery for another year under the new summer born delay rule? And apply for reception next year? He also wouldn't need to jump through the hoops for the baby if the first child gets in, as there will be a sibling already at school.

There is a footbridge, the walking distance for us is one of the closest streets as we live opposite the footbridge and park which leads onto the school.

If I go to the school tomorrow with baptism certificate etc can they tell me where I would place on the waiting list or is this something the LEA can do only?

I would do anything to get my son into this school be it now or joining the waiting list as it is an outstanding school and so close to us.

Best option is to accept your allocated place, make sure you're actually in the Parish from the Map the school is using, go to Church every week until at least the baby gets a place and then reapply as soon as possible for your DS.

For drop offs, you can see if the offered school has breakfast club/after school club or if there's a neighbour near you that has DC's at the school and can kindly add your DS on their school run. Hire a CM for drop offs/ Pick ups or get a taxi every morning and see if you can get a cheaper rate for weekly bookings.

My son was born on 9th August, would I be able to apply for reception next year?

I would start attending church weekly.

That way, you'll get bumped up the admissions criteria and therefore higher up the waiting list, once you've met the minimum time requirements.