Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

Sibling Admission Appeal for Reception sept 2018

65 replies

MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 10:54

As I write this I am heartbroken for my son who is 4, he has not been offered a place at the Catholic Academy 5 mins walk away, that my 5year old daughter attends in Reception. They both attended Nursery there and are very close in age, 12 months apart and friendship. We are Christian and but because my daughter got a place last year with no problem, we assumed as a sibling he would be fine. He has been offered a school 6.3miles away. The rose their bikes to school today and I am in tears knowing that this may not happen in September.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 11:37

When I first read it. I assume ALL siblings were given priority, the more I look at it, the more I understand that is not the case Sad

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 24/05/2018 11:40

Sorry to make things worse, but given your low category and that late applications have not yet been added to the waiting list, I'd expect your child's place on the waiting list to be lower than it is now. Are you on the waiting list for other schools too?

You're not going to win an appeal on the information given. You need to start making a realistic plan for September.

Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 11:41

Some mums told me a couple of years ago Catholic siblings didn't get in and no appeals were upheld. They have since changed the policy to this one. Have I got any chance? He's going to think he's done something wrong

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 24/05/2018 11:42

Oh dear Sad

It sounds as if you may have to start gently preparing your children for the fact that DS may not follow his sister, at least to start with.

Was your allocated school on your preferences list ? (or did you only list one school?). If not, then get your name down for any other schools you think would be better than the one allocated, and maybe start thinking now how you will do the logistics.

Ubercornsdiscoball · 24/05/2018 11:42

Could you move your older child to the same school as your younger one has been offered? At least then they would be in the same place.

I realise that wouldn’t be an ideal situation but just a thought

steppemum · 24/05/2018 11:46

sorry this hasn't worked out for you OP.

Look at other school options now.
Any other local schools? can you get on their waiting list?
Waiting lists do move, you will need to make a decision about whether or not he can stay out of school for a few months while you wait for it to move. He doesn't need to be in until he is 5.

Accept your place at the offered school in the meantime, otherwise the LEA won't help, once you have turned down a school place.

Phone LEA and talk to admissions, explain that he has been offered 6 miles away, ask about school transport (should be free as this is what he has been offered) and ask about other places/school nearby and can they help.

Get on the waiting list of every school you are allowed to.

good luck

Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 11:57

I am on waiting lists. Really upset as last year dd was offered 2 places! As county and city both offered, I had to choose and no regret it! The other school has a 60 PAN and taken non catholics this year also Sad so much regrets, I thought I made the right choice, but it hasn’t worked out.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 12:00

@Uber I am reluctantly considering it. Or homeschooling both as it was something I originally wanted to do. So many decisions. I had to regather myself this morning and put things into perspective, they are safe, healthy, have food, water, shelter. Smile

OP posts:
JoffreyMonfrere · 24/05/2018 12:05

Given the criteria, it seems very surprising that your DC1 got a place

Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 12:12

The intake seems to go up and down each year so16/17 was a high catholic intake, 17/18 low intake and this year high intake again.

OP posts:
JoffreyMonfrere · 24/05/2018 12:32

It's a rather family-unfriendly admissions policy

Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 12:47

@JoffreyMonfrere only if your not Catholic, I understand the school was set up to serve their Catholic children. it is a lovely, small school. They both really enjoy going to school, lots of friends, very happy, my daughter was even Mary in the Nativity.

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 24/05/2018 12:49

I don't think it is all that unfair / unusual, despite having sympathy for OP.

Lots of places have e.g. Out of catchment siblings behind in catchment non-siblings. If you choose to go out of catchment then that is the risk you take.

In this case the OP has applied to a faith school whilst not being 'of faith'. She sadly just didn't realise how lucky they had been to get a place for the DD last year.

applesandpears56 · 24/05/2018 12:56

Yes you must understood the admissions policy when you applied.

So there can be no appeal as the admissions policy was applied correctly

If you are second you stand a really good chance of getting in.

Go to the school far away and stay on the waiting list. You might need to wait until term has started but you will get a place eventually.

applesandpears56 · 24/05/2018 12:58

Pls agreed you took a big risk with your applications- you should have researched the admissions policy and had a back up school you wanted and would get in to listed second. It sounds like you didn’t put any other choices at all?!

Still you can’t go back and change things. Just stay on waiting list now and vow to read paperwork a bit closer in future!

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 24/05/2018 13:05

Clearly your first child only got a place because the year was undersubscribed. Baffled that anybody accepts a school place when there are younger siblings coming up without checking the admissions policy. It's a Catholic school.
Why do you feel your non Catholic child should be ranked above Catholic children just because their sibling got a place a year ago? Confused
Their admissions policy is perfectly standard.

Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 13:20

@Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar My daughter was my first child, I'm new to this. I was glad that she got into the school. I thought that mumsnet was I place I could seek advice, and a friendly, helpful environment. I'm sorry to 'baffle' you.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 13:24

I applied for 5 schools, the one offered being my fifth. The only school that I wanted was my first choice and no other school would really work logistically. I don't want to separate them, to have to consider my options.

OP posts:
steppemum · 24/05/2018 13:28

Usually schools are quite frank about how waiting lists move, or if not the school, the LEA, do try and talk to someone. Obviously no guarantees, but they may say - Oh yes there is usually plenty of movement, versus, Oh no, very static, once full rare to get a place come up.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 24/05/2018 13:29

When does he turn 5? Could he stay in the nursery there until either a place comes up or he reaches statutory school age?

TeenTimesTwo · 24/05/2018 13:39

So strategy:

  1. accept the offered school if you haven't already done so
  2. make sure you are on the waiting list for other schools, consider also putting your DD down on the waiting lists too, or at least seeing whether any of the other schools currently have spaces in her year. Don't move her though.
  3. when will your DS turn 5? If not until after Jan then he doesn't need to start until January and if not until after Easter not until Easter. So you could keep him at home until then if needed.
  4. you say no other schools work logistically, but needs must. So investigate before/after school care at all possible primaries. Or local childminders who might do a drop off/pick up for one of the children. Your current school may be willing to be flexible to help you. though as stated by PP as allocated school is over 3 miles away they should provide transport but there are some rules on this regarding having put nearer schools on your form so I'm not sure about this.
  5. you need to talk up school to your DC, even if you are disappointed.
  6. unless of course you are realistically going to be able to homeschool for possibly the whole of KS1. But even then, don't turn down schools until you have really thought it through, including how you will offer the socialisation needed too.

Try to keep hopeful. A lot can change in the next 3 months.

Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 13:42

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay He’s 5 in January. How would he feel seeing his friends in Reception (which is next door) Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
MoJoMum2 · 24/05/2018 13:47

@TeenTimesTwo thank you for you helpful adviceSmile I have not looked into the transport for my son. They have a school bus for juniors, but not infants, so need to research how other students get there. I’m so up and down. Sometimes it feels like it will all work out and others it seems it’s all a mess.

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 24/05/2018 13:53

Their admissions policy is perfectly standard.

Having sat on appeals panels for some years, I have never seen a sibling priority phrased in the way it has been here. It's usually written as a separate category, and I'd guess they've done it this way because there are so many categories for the different faith requirements. So whilst there's nothing unlawful about the clause, it's not perfectly standard and I can understand how it could be misread.

OP whilst it's not going to help your appeal, you would be helping others if you asked the school to better phrase the sibling priority in future. What they've said is not wrong, but it's not as clear as it could be.

TeenTimesTwo · 24/05/2018 13:55

I can see it is upsetting.
But as he isn't 5 until Jan you have 7 months before anything critical has to be done.
The important thing is you stay calm and positive for the DC.

Calmly write yourself a list of things to find out / do.
Number 1 - get onto waiting lists
Number 2 - find out transport situation. are you eligible for free transport due to distance - how is this done and this this acceptable to you. If not, what other options are there.
Number 3 - before / after school care options at one or other school

Do you drive?