In year transfer - I think the council messed up

[CommanderShepard]

Backstory: applied for reception in 2016, got third preference, have since moved to catchment area of second choice school. DD has just finished reception. Have been on continued interest lists for first and second schools during this time.

Council CI lists closed on 30th June so as instructed I put in my in year transfer request on 7th June for catchment school. Heard nothing, chased repeatedly and have found out today that the admissions officer has been off sick and his team got confused by my application (they didn't make the "start date" clear so I put ASAP and they now tell me I should have put September) so it hasn't been processed at all. In that time a place has been given to a child I know is in a lower category than DD (sibling out of catchment Vs DD who is in catchment).

The council have made no attempt to contact me to clear up confusion. They are now saying they will process the application "ASAP" but the PAN is 30 in a very oversubscribed area. In light of this is there any point in my appealing?

Yes. You have an argument that they have failed to administer the admission arrangements correctly in that they did not process your application and, as a result, your daughter has missed out on a place. The appeal panel may not agree but it is certainly worth trying.

Thanks prh47bridge. They've basically admitted fault in the email and blamed a temp (well and me for not being psychic) so hopefully we'll get somewhere.

One thing I was surprised by was they basically said they were processing people who already lived in the area over those moving in (but who have contracts exchanged etc). Is that even allowed? I know that in June we were first on the CI list but if someone moved into the area and had a stronger claim they'd be ahead of us.

Without knowing exactly what they are doing it is impossible to be sure but my immediate reaction is no, they can't do that. If someone moving into the area misses out on a place because their application hasn't been processed they potentially have a good case for appeal.