What takes preference central allocations or waiting list?

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We've been on the waiting list for our local faith School with the hope of getting a year 3 place. It doesnt have an inake at year 3 because its a Primary School. However lots of children leave and go to the local Junior School.
My friend has just been allocated a place at the faith School despite not even being on the waiting list. It.has been centrally allocated.

Can the counci do this? Centrally allocate places ahead of people on the waiting list??

Anybody please help?

Is this for the same year that you want?

Usually the admissions would go by waiting list. There are some exceptions though - a won appeal would result in a place, and it's possible for a child without a school place at all to be placed through something called the FAP which also bypasses the waiting list if there is no other local school with a place. An EHCP which names the school is another way.

Would any of that apply? Is it possible they have won an appeal but feel awkward telling you because you are on the waiting list?

Was she at an infant school so would have no place for year 3 and you're at a school that continues?

They could also be higher up than you in the priority list.
So if they have applied for a place and they live closer to the school than everyone on the list they will get the place regardless of having been on the list
You place on the waiting list changes constantly depending on whether people join the list with higher priority so you need to look at it that they 'joined' the list briefly and were 1st place so for the available place.

Yes she had no place so it was centrally allocated.

We appliedfor a place at the Junior School and got it,but were advised in raiting that to get a place at the faith School.we couldn't centrally apply we had to do an year application and go on waiting list.

My friend defo wasn't on waiting list and not a higher categpry.

They have just centrally allocated places above waiting list people.

Ok maybe its the fair access protocol.

However i was told by the faith School that until they knew how many children were leaving they couldn't allocate waiting list places. So how could they them invoke the FAP?

The school doesnt invoke the FAP, the LEA does when it has a pupil who is hard to place, which could simply mean a new arrival who lives somewhere were no school within a reasonable distance has a space. The council (not the parent) decides which school is best able to admit an extra pupil over numbers.

If you have been offered a place, and haven't it down, it is vanishingly unlikely that the FAP can be used.

The annoying thing is my friend.wanta the Junior School and.we want the faith School.

It is worth ringing though to check that the waiting list has been correctly administered. It is unlikely that there has been a mistake, but worth checking.

The waiting list is still managed in line with the admissions criteria, so if a new child is added to the list who e.g. lives neater to the school, they would go ahead of those already on the list.

Occasionally a school is forced, by the LA, to take a "displaced" child, one who has no school place at all, ahead of those who would rank higher on the list.