Quick advice appreciated- moving related

[ILovemyCatsSoSoMuch]

Hi I’d appreciate any quick advice.

We are moving in half term. An hour away. Year 6 and year 5. When I asked in summer our second closest school to new house had spaces, but obviously I was aware that could change.

Put application in for new school as soon as we exchanged. Admissions office called today and all the nearest schools are full for year 6 (about 8 of them they’ve tried).

Admissions office suggested we have a look and see what other schools further away we might consider.

How much are we entitled to push them making a place in one of the closer schools? They can go over 30 in a class can’t they, if there’s good reason? But there must be a limit to class numbers. I really want this sorted before half term.

All the other schools are at least 3 miles away. Several are 10 mins away in car per google but roads are very busy so I’d say 20 mins each way. 50 mins round trip by the time parked and waited. I wouldn’t mind if it was 20 mins walk each way as at least I’m in control of the journey.

Problems with further away schools are:

1. Year 6 child unlikely to make friends who will go with him into secondary school. That was one of the big benefits of moving now. The further away schools are in catchment of different secondaries.

1. Time - we work full time, mostly from home, we’re unlikely to find childcare at this point in school year, a quick 30 mins to go and pick up and come home is fine, an hour not possible. Obviously that’s not the admissions office’s concern.

1. The schools further away are a real mixture of good and not very good results, and includes one that is teeny tiny which I’m really not keen on. Can’t go and see them so can’t judge any other way!

Any help on what I’m allowed to push with admissions office is much appreciated.

They have to offer you somewhere. So it sounds like that will be a school 3+ miles away. This would trigger free school transport in some areas (which would take away your travel logistics problem).

You can appeal for any school you want. As Year 6, it's not subject to a maximum of 30 in the class, so you need to argue that your child's "need" to go to that school is greater to the disadvantage to the school in admitting over numbers. None of your points are reasons why you should be given a particular school - you need to look at something more specific to the school e.g. the school has many sports teams and your child has a specific aptitude for sports.

Thanks. I don’t think primaries distinguish themselves too much, and my children have nothing to distinguish them in any case! So appealing on something specific to the school is out.

The admissions office cannot just make a place available if the school is over PAN (full) no matter how much you may push. They can only do that if no schools within a reasonable distance at all have a place.

You need to accept a place further away and then put in an appeal for the one/ ones you want straight away. That's the only way.

You may well succeed but you need to jump through that hoop and you need to think of some better reasons as your current ones are not persuasive. You need to show there is more detriment to your child by not being let in than to the school by letting them.

If there are a few acceptable choose one where Y6 is not already at 32+. It's very doubtful a class of 34/35 would be allowed unless your reasons were very good.

I does sound like a faff with a school further away but it would only be for about 30 weeks. So I’d try for a school close by but it won’t be the end of the world if they’re full.

@JoJoSM2

I does sound like a faff with a school further away but it would only be for about 30 weeks. So I’d try for a school close by but it won’t be the end of the world if they’re full.

I would put up with faff (for nearly 2 years for younger child) but it’s a shame they then won’t know anyone in secondary - I know that’s the case for plenty of children but it would have minimised the disruption caused by changing schools.

I was so pleased with myself for moving in time for secondary application!

Just to give an update - we’re all sorted, Admissions asked our closest school to take a 31st child, on the basis that the local schools are all full, and they agreed. Really happy with the school we’ve got, and no need for any appeals!

Excellent!

That's great news!

Great!