Panic stations! Is it possible to be declined a place for your child despite being in catchment and having an older sibling at the school?

[handlemecarefully]

It looks like our village school is going to be oversubscribed for September 2008. Dd already attends (currently in Yr 1 will be in Yr 2 in Sept 2008) and I want ds to start Reception there in Sept '08

Is it possible that due to sheer weight of numbers ds may not get in despite us living in catchment (only just!) and having an older sister there?

The prospect of him not getting in is too horrible to contemplate. I couldn't have them attending separate schools (too logistically awkward) so would need to withdraw dd so they could both go to the same one (which would absolutely shatter her - she loves it there and has made lots of friends)

Depends on criteria/admissions although I am sure that having a sibling would make your ds at top of the list for a place. Good luck!

Ask to see the school's oversubscription criteria. Having an older sibling at the school is usually pretty near the top so I don't think you'll have any problem.

The only real danger is if there are so many siblings seeking a place that all the spaces are taken with these - not a very likely scenario.

What are the admissions criteria, have you checked with the school? At our school siblings are first or second on the list, so it would be very very very unlikely that they wouldn't get a place - there would have to be loads of siblings I suppose. hth

yes, BUT it depejds on a few factors

If the school is a Church school or funded outside the LEA in part then the Head may have overall responsiility for admissions 9this was what they refused ds3 on, although we've managed to get them tor everse it- related to his SN)

Have a look at your LEA admissions policy. Theoretically (depending on how your LEa does it) there could be a situation where there are more chidlren with the school named in statements / in care (or whatever is top of the policy at your school- that's the position here) and therefore you would lose out, but it is unlikely

Umm there are quite a lot of siblings actually (doing a mental count now)

I will go ask to see the oversubscription policy though and will have a word with head who I am sure will be able to give me some vague indication

Am getting myself into a right old state

Here the criteria puts 'looked after children/children in care' first, then 'in catchment with siblings'. With a 70 children intake, it's unlikely that an in zoner with a sibling doesn't get in.

There are 56 children who have just gone into the school nursery - the number of those with siblings already in school is seriously freaking out a few of my friends who live out of zone.

In zone I'm sure you'd get in.

In our school you get in if:
You have a sibling there
Are within the catchment area
Any spare places given out

We will always get places as no other school within walking distance.

Our school turned away 40 children this year.

It is a church school...

..and we are not church goers (gulp)

Our local infant school is always oversubscribed - usually around 120 applicants chasing 90 places - and those with siblings already in the school have ALWAYS got in. Even if they were marginally outside the catchment area, because siblings take priority over non-siblings living within catchment.

So don't worry, I am sure you will be fine.

I'm going to the AGM in a week's time and volunteering to join the Friends of the School group though so hopefully a bit of brown nosing will help (she says cynically)

Ok I am slow breathing now (calm down, deep breaths, you are being ridiculous hmc)

in.....and out......in......and out.....

You will be fine, honestly. Your ds will be top of the pile due to the fact he has a sibling there. But in the meantime it won't help to volunteer at the school to get yourself 'known'.

Now, have a cup of tea and remember your breathing!

It all depends how many siblings there are, and how many of whom live closer to the school than you.

So for example, if 30 intake and 24 siblings, then you would def get in as a sibling. If 30 intake and 35 siblings, well then that would depend whether you are closer than 5 other people with siblings already in the school. Although above siblings and proximity in my lea are children in LA care or with special needs. So that would be a consideration too - i.e. 30 places, 24 siblings, 7 children in LA care or with special needs would mean that 1 sibling would not get in. Unlikely though.

Generally it is unusual, I believe, for the number of siblings to outstrip the number of places, although I do know of one school near me that had 30 places and there were 28 siblings last year, so only 2 places for eldest children.

lol thanks hippipotami (and everyone else for being so reassuring)

siblings are 2nd on list as priority.

Dont panic

I think we can take up to around 15 (small village school). So far I have counted 8 siblings that I can think of so even if I have missed a couple hopefully we will be okay

Honestly, am absolutely certain you'll be fine.

Looks like there will be some aggrieved in catchment first attenders though

paprently the Sn named on sattement is a top priority (just checked) and has automatic admission, although same does not apply if school not anmed on statement- however with 15 palces there are hardly likely to be 8 Sn children waiting fro a place.

Whether its a Church school only matters if the school has special admissions rights, or there is a clause in their admission policy regarding Church attendance- whcih will be immediately obvious if you check the LEA's website

Oh well, it happens. You can't really argue with the admissions criteria.
DD didn't get into our nearest school because of catchment area being exceptionally small this year. I can't say that I'm not gutted, and a bit cross sad that people that now live 4 miles away with an older sibling (having moved after getting their eldest in) take precedence over dd, who lives 400m away (300m catchment), them's the rules. And rightly really, I suppose said through gritted teeth.

We got a last minute place at the good school near us, we were told in March that we had basically no chance at all as there were already 2 siblings and two or three other kids ahead of us, so had given up hope.

However we did get a place and we are not very near it - just within catchment I would think - so I hope you do when your time comes.

Siblings are always put first here. (The other school we applied to had 16 sibs this year, only one class intake!)

Sympathies pooka - it must seem really unfair

Bless you HMC.
Logically, it isn't unfair. Why should older children be uprooted if their parents move? And why should people have to do 2 school runs if their children are at separate schools? That would be really unfair in comparison.
[doesn't stop me griping about it though, particularly since ds will be going next september to the pre-school attached to the local school, that dd won't be going to. Eeeek!]
Hey ho, them's the breaks [wry smile]