Can Heads have any say over who gets in the School?

[AmyL88]

Basically that?! Do headteachers of Academies have a say in who gets into the school? I am talking Primary? Or is it all down to the LA?

They can set the admissions criteria as they wish, but they must then follow their published criteria.

I don't think they can as far as I know, my DD was in a class of 36 as council kept letting people in on appeal etc and the head couldn't do anything about it! That was a church academy.

hmm ok, I was hoping it would sway in my favour but guess not. This school admissions process is so stressful!

Academies set their own admissions criteria but have specific rules they must adhere to about being fair, non discriminatory etc.

With LA run schools during the usual admissions process they don't.
Outside the admissions time such as midterm transfers etc they can offer a place of they think they can fit the child in. Also some schools allow teachers children a guaranteed place.

No, the published admissions criteria have to be followed to the letter.

I guess if someone went to appeal they could choose to not put any arguments forward as to why it would be detrimental to the school to admit the child.

So the school sees the appeals?

My dd3s admission to a school
Went to an appeal panel as they were oversubscribed school. We were invited, along with the head of the school and a member of the council and her doctor for a short meeting which was awkward but fair. The head said she sympathised but the classes were full.
this was a mid-term entry into year 2 though, not a reception one. And we were appealing on medical grounds. We won our appeal so it was worth doing

AmyL88 The appeals processes are all slightly different in each LA area.
In my area the LEA hold appeals days for each individual school.

A panel of 3 independent people listen to each appeal.

If a school has 20 appeals the head from that school will stand in front of the panel and all 20 parents appealing a place and will say why they cannot take any more students.

Each individual parent will then be asked to state why their child should have been offered a place at that school and to produce any accompanying documents.

The head will listen and can comment on each case should they wish to. The panel will then consider each case individually and the Head and parents are written to with the outcome.

I assume you are considering an appeal. On what grounds will you be appealing? Theres very specific rules for primary schools and its difficult to win an appeal in my LEA area for primary places.

Wow thanks for all the info. I am in 2 minds whether to appeal or not, part of me thinks there isn't much point. I am currently 8th on the waiting list (hmm)

I believe it costs the school to fight an appeal maybe for the legality side but not the parents

Also there are a lot of classes which have more that 30 regardless of the rule (there was talk of over turning it but think it got scrapped) as some children are considered 'exempt' from the class size - maybe due to medical need, being in LA care, traveller children

In an over subscription appeal the school will put forward the case against the appeals - showing how they will be prejudiced by going over PAN. The appellant will their case as to why their child must go to that school. Tge independent panel will decide on the outcome.

It's nothing to do with the head - they can't decide to admit Flossie because Mrs Smith has offered to run the after school art club for instance.

Why do you think you have a case, OP?Normally you won't win a reception place unless a mistake has been made by the school or admissions authority, regardless of who you know at the school.

An appeal does cost money. The parent appealing does not pay personally to appeal but they do cost money.