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Primary education

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Original poster

How long do in-year admissions take?

25 replies

GenericHamster · 03/12/2018 18:37

Generally or anecdotally, in your experience.

This is a school where you apply via the council site rather than direct. We're in Hertfordshire and they say it's approx ten days.

We have a few reasons for moving which I won't go into here as it's a bit outing but nothing to affect the application. We already live in the town and there are no other factors that would put us ahead if there were multiple applications - ie it would end up being decided on distance.

My son is year 4, so I'm hoping it's a year with fewer people looking for spaces than say reception. There is only one space so I'm a bit nervous as to whether anyone else will apply.

I also have a four-year-old daughter, so I need to know where my son will end up before we do her reception application so I can get her in on sibling rule if we get a place. Should be fine if they reply in the ten working days as we have until mid-Jan, but if we don't get into this one we want to apply to our second choice (which makes you do it directly so I can't do it at the same time in case they reply too soon). Bit nervewracking!

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Original poster

GenericHamster · 03/12/2018 18:55

Oooh I meant to ask something else.

It says you will get a place if there is a space, unless there are others applying, in which case it's decided by normal admissions code.

But what does 'others applying' mean, what are the timelines for considering you on your own vs with others. Ie I got my application in today. If someone else applies on Friday, will they judge us together, or will I go first? What if they apply next week?

I've had an email to say the in year team has downloaded my application (ie they've received all three parts - application, proof of residence, info form from current school).

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theworldistoosmall · 03/12/2018 18:56

Depends on if there is space in the school selected.
Others include looked after children for example.

Original poster

GenericHamster · 03/12/2018 18:59

There's one space. I know that looked after children will go ahead first.

Was just wondering if anyone's been through it - and how long it took to get a decision?

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HexagonalBattenburg · 03/12/2018 19:14

Trying to remember- ours was done right at the end of the academic year (like a week and a half maximum of term left) and I think it got confirmed just after the school holidays had started - so probably about 3 weeks maximum. Like you - we knew there was 1 space available and we were just waiting in the hope that no one jumped in ahead of us in the grand list of priorities before it got allocated to us... it didn't and it all worked out brilliantly.

grumpymummy72 · 03/12/2018 20:36

We did an in year transfer in Hertfordshire over the summer hols just gone. Took 2 weeks and that involved the school officially approving it as well as the council. Started on day 2 of the new school.

Original poster

GenericHamster · 03/12/2018 21:31

Thanks both. Must admit part of me is hoping that it will be quicker than advertised as will be feeling tense until they get in touch!

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admission · 03/12/2018 22:30

The whole sequence of events is dictated by timelines. If you applied to the council then they should contact the school and they confirm there is a place available. If there is a space available then my immediate reaction is that there cannot be anybody else after the place otherwise it would already be allocated, so the place is yours. The issue comes if the school / LA receives two applications within a very short period of time. The perceived view is that the place goes to the person who applies first but if the two are received on the same day then most LAs will then revert to allocating the place to the person who is highest on the admission criteria.
If you are not successful then you need to ask the question of the LA as to exactly how the place was agreed and when the other application was received as that will be important at an appeal for another place. As a year 4 pupil there is a greater chance of appealing and getting a place but that is not likely to happen before the cut-off date for your younger child to be an on-time application.

Original poster

GenericHamster · 03/12/2018 22:38

Thank you, that's very helpful. They did confirm on the phone today that there was a space so unless anyone else happens to be applying this close to the end of term/moving into the area, maybe I do have a chance.

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ICantFindAFreeNickName2 · 03/12/2018 22:44

I thougt schools were meant to respond with an offer or rejection within 5 working school days, but that might just be my lea. I would have thought that schools would try to process asap so that everything is in place ready for a Jan start before the Christmas mayhem towards the end of term.

Original poster

GenericHamster · 04/12/2018 20:28

I think mine says 10 days but up to 15 which could be as late as Dec 21 - am crossing fingers it will be quicker

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Original poster

GenericHamster · 05/12/2018 09:51

The schools vacancy site for my area now says there is no vacancy left in yr 4. Could it be they are processing us now, or that it's gone to someone else? Obviously I know no one here will know, but any insight into what's more likely?

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HexagonalBattenburg · 05/12/2018 10:30

Honestly don't overthink it - it's harder said than done, but it's just a case of waiting till you find out. Yes I remember doing my absolute head in when I knew they'd sent me a letter but the letter had been sent 2nd class pigeon post by a geriatric pigeon and took fucking ages to get here!

Ironically there were later about 3 bloody places in the year group we fretted over endlessly - not a consequence of anything to do with the school but a rival local academy chain expanding very aggressively and poaching kids left right and centre and having their parents slag us off on social media etc.

Odds are you're in the system and being processed for the place.

Original poster

GenericHamster · 05/12/2018 10:45

Thank you - I will say one of my absolute best skills is overthinking. I can't seem to turn my brain off.

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mrsoutnumbered · 05/12/2018 14:13

I did an in year application in Hertfordshire back in May. They said 10 days and is was pretty much bang on 10 days when I got the letter from them.

As soon as you get the letter confirming your place you can call the school to arrange a start date.

One thing I would also say us don't trust the live space availability thingy they have on their website! It told me there were no spaces in my preferred school, but when I talked to the head she said they had spaces!!

Original poster

GenericHamster · 05/12/2018 15:37

Thanks! I visited the school with a space today (reception tour for my daughter) and the teacher said she hadn't been emailed about any new offers yet which was another interesting data point (she only gets an email as the LEA are about to offer). She was v helpful and the school was great so fingers crossed.

I did ring all the other good schools in the area to check their spaces I must admit!

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mrsoutnumbered · 05/12/2018 16:09

Is the school an academy? They seem to take longer too. My child in infant school got the offer 2 weeks before my other child in an academy run junior school. I had to keep pestering admissions to get it done.

Charmatt · 05/12/2018 16:30

Hi - our agreement with the LA is that we will respond within 5 working days to tell them if we have a space. They send out offers by 2nd post.

Our schools turn around in 48 hours at the most - it is not in our interests to hold a space and we don't view it as in the parents' interest not to be found a space quickly if we don't have one.

We are an academy trust.

Original poster

GenericHamster · 05/12/2018 18:17

Not an academy so admissions are totally done by LA. I think the academies where people apply directly respond more quickly in this area.

The reason I'm being a bit ridiculous over this is that at the current school there's quite a bad situation with a lotttt of teachers leaving, after a teacher problem last year, and therefore there could be parents of 60 kids in the same year potentially thinking 'hmm do I need to move'. But hopefully it's just me that is this crazy and everyone else is giving the issue time to work out :)

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BareBelliedSneetch · 05/12/2018 18:22

Took under a week in herts for us. It was really fast.

eddiemairswife · 05/12/2018 18:31

Quite often people the school tell parents there is a space, because a child has left , but don't always realise that the space must be filled from the waiting list(if there is one).

Original poster

GenericHamster · 06/12/2018 09:26

I've just realised, to my shame, that I've become one of those people on the conception board who are asking anonymous posters whether they are pregnant or not when all they can possibly do is wait to find out.

Rule for the next week: Relax.

Ahem.

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mrsoutnumbered · 06/12/2018 12:11

Don't worry, I did the same thing when I was waiting for my admissions letter!

Original poster

GenericHamster · 07/12/2018 14:33

We got the place! So I thought I would update for anyone else who inevitably ends up doing searches for the same thing on Mumsnet one day.

I applied online for the new school by Friday night last week. On Monday I persuaded the current school to fill in the form they have to do. Midweek the 'space' disappeared off the council website. Today they told the new school - and because I'd been on a tour this week (technically for reception age daughter) they knew I was interested and gave me a call. It will probably be a day or two before I get the letter.

So seems like it's a minimum of a week here for the LA to offer a place.

Phew!

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mrsoutnumbered · 07/12/2018 20:47

That's great news, and a weight off your mind I bet!

HexagonalBattenburg · 08/12/2018 13:10

Fantastic!

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