Place withdrawn due to map error

[ChunkyButFunky87]

I'm so annoyed.

My daughter got offered our first choice primary on 16th April. Based on the fact it was catchment (we moved 3 years ago to be in this catchment ready) good reputation and only 0.3 miles from us so can walk etc,

Today they've withdrawn saying there's been an error with the catchment map and someone has complained leading them to relook. I know that at least 3 others on the road have also been withdrawn.

The map has been on the council and school website since we moved - we checked at the time. If was also there when school applications opened last year, I checked again - were on it.

We got the letter yesterday and now they've still left it there on a link saying "look here" but have now added an amended map further down.

I've since found out they apparently changed the catchment over a year ago but left this incorrect information showing. I'm so cross. They have had every chance to correct it but now have messed up our plans.

I've appealed but don't hold out much hope, I just don't feel we should be penalised for their blatant error

There is already a long thread on mn about a primary place being withdrawn. Search for it as much of the advice will be applicable to you. Including how long they can wait before withdrawing the place. Over a certain amount of days they can't take the place away. That might help you.

Unfortunately catchment areas change every year where I am in London so you're never absolutely guaranteed to be in the catchment area of a particular school.

Which I wouldn't mind, my issue here is they've changed it and not notified anyone or updated the maps. For at least the last year, leaving people to falsely apply still with the information they still had live on their website yesterday when we got the letter. The amended map only went on late yesterday

Have you been offered another school you are happy with?

I’m confused about catchment areas, none of ours here in Bristol have a catchment it’s just who’s closest. 0.3 miles seems very close!

That is shoddy. Presumably it has impacted your ability to apply for other places?

You’ve got the best possible chance at appeal. There was an error by the council in leaving up incorrect catchment maps & from what I’ve read on other threads, the council have to inform you within so many days of an error - I think literally about 5 days so you are well outside this & have good grounds to appeal.

Hopefully an Appeals expert will be here soon, but in the meantime...
Write down the timeline. What date did they withdraw your place?
Have they offered you a place at your catchment school. Or any school.
Was there a consultation at any point about catchment areas?
Where abouts are you? (Couñcil area)

(How many children were affected by the error, and how many places overall?)

They have offered us another place 0.98 miles away but the reality is I have a newborn due soon, it says 30 min walk on googlemap - for a 4 year old this is not going to happen so I'm likely to be walking an hour and half out the house each way to get her there and she'll be knackered before she even starts.

It's a nice school just not a good location and is right on the main road in a heavily congested area

That seems very unfair - I hope you succeed in the appeal

@TeachesOfPeaches

Unfortunately catchment areas change every year where I am in London so you're never absolutely guaranteed to be in the catchment area of a particular school.

Thus is not true.

Firstly, most of London does not have catchments at all (it's just done by distance),

Secondly, the catchment map which is published at the time of the applications is as much part of the entrance criteria as the written description. Parents need to be be able to rely on what the terms 'in catchment' and 'non catchment' mean when deciding.

Thirdly, catchments can be changed only after public consultation, which has to be concluded in time for the accurate map to be published alongside the rest of the criteria

(In those places which have catchments, they do not change annually that wherever they are. That's more a description if the actual admission footprint based on greatest distance offered)

The council has made a major error if they published the wrong map.

They cannot remove offers from those affected if too much time has passed. But they are also having to deal with the appeals from these who would have received a place if the error had not been made (winnable by parents, even under ICS)

@prh47bridge -@admissions since the change to the Code, what is the passage of time that is generally held to be reasonable for withdrawing offers made in error

@ChunkyButFunky87

They have offered us another place 0.98 miles away but the reality is I have a newborn due soon, it says 30 min walk on googlemap - for a 4 year old this is not going to happen so I'm likely to be walking an hour and half out the house each way to get her there and she'll be knackered before she even starts.

It's a nice school just not a good location and is right on the main road in a heavily congested area

The solution here is baby in sling, 4 year old on scooter

Sadly not for us, my daughter is slower on a scooter than on foot. I also don't baby wear, never felt comfortable with it, had a friend fall and seriously hurt their baby, just not for us unfortunately. I'd purchased a carry cot specifically so he could be comfortable on the journey we originally intended and I'm sure he still will be, it's my daughter I'm concerned about in that respect

Council error, they can’t take your place away!

Less than 1 mile to school isn’t far. You could use a bike/scooter/pram buggy board to get there m. I’d be pretty isolated if my 4/5 year old couldn’t cover less than a mile comfortably. I understand why you’re annoyed, and definitely appeal, but you’re not guaranteed to win so I would start preparing for how you’re going to get to the other school.

That's really annoying - what's happening to those withdrawn places? Were children who live closer refused a place?! Definitely appeal.

In the meantine, you've got 4 months to train your daughter either on foot or scooter etc. It might not sound long, but people train for marathons in that time. Im currently doing the same with my daughter.

A bit obvious, but any bus routes you could take? A buggy board sounds like a really good idea, also.

@ChunkyButFunky87

Sadly not for us, my daughter is slower on a scooter than on foot. I also don't baby wear, never felt comfortable with it, had a friend fall and seriously hurt their baby, just not for us unfortunately. I'd purchased a carry cot specifically so he could be comfortable on the journey we originally intended and I'm sure he still will be, it's my daughter I'm concerned about in that respect

Buggy board on the pram?

There’s someone on MN called admissions who seems to really know their shit! I would try and ask them!

@ChunkyButFunky87

They have offered us another place 0.98 miles away but the reality is I have a newborn due soon, it says 30 min walk on googlemap - for a 4 year old this is not going to happen so I'm likely to be walking an hour and half out the house each way to get her there and she'll be knackered before she even starts.

It's a nice school just not a good location and is right on the main road in a heavily congested area

The solution here is a car.

A car to travel 0.98 miles?

I'm pretty certain that @prh47bridge and @admission will say it is far too late for them to withdraw the offer.
The parent who complained may also get in on appeal, but they shouldn't be withdrawing your place.

You have presumably already accepted.
They cant withdraw 3 weeks later because they have found out they made a mistake.

I agree with Teen. I hope one of the admissions experts comes along soon to give you an informed view, but you'll see from other threads that places cannot be withdrawn after a certain time has passed.

I'm assuming that, although the map was incorrect, the description of the catchment area in the admissions information was correct? Otherwise they would have to apply the information as stated.

But I will add to others that just under a mile (20 minutes walk; ignore Googlemaps unless you are climbing a huge hill in the middle) shouldn't be an issue for a healthy 4 year old. We're in an area with split infants/juniors and loads of the Reception children have to walk to the junior school and back to the infants for a round trip of 1.5-2 miles.

@TheChineseChicken

A car to travel 0.98 miles?

Okay, Chicken. Maybe you can explain it. Here in the US, at least in my state, state schools must provide bus transportation to any student living more that one-half mile from their assigned school. And if the walk route crosses a railroad track or a four-lane street then there must be bus service. This, "strap your baby to your back, put a leash on your two-year-old and walk your five-year-old the 8 miles to school" - is beyond comprehension. At most, we step out to our front porch and watch our child walk a maximum of 500 yards to the bus stop. If a child has a physical handicap, the bus stop would be re-set no further than 50 feet from the front door. I know everyone will say "Americans are lazy" and "Buses pollute" but it also makes it possible for children to attend schools 15 miles away and their parents still hold down full-time jobs. I won't even mention that most of the private nurseries and daycares have buses that do pickups and or returns for children ages 2-5.

I think you have at least two good grounds for appeal.

Firstly, the admission authority is required to administer its published admission arrangements. From what you say, both the council and the school have published the "incorrect" map. Even if there is a "correct" description of the catchment area elsewhere, I would argue that this map is clearly part of their published admission arrangements and will be relied on by parents choosing their preferences. Changing it several weeks after offers and withdrawing an offer that was correctly made on the basis of the published map is unacceptable. Make sure you get a screenshot of both maps as this will be important evidence for the appeal.

Secondly, as others have said, it is now too late to withdraw an offer. Precedents suggest that an offer made in error must be withdrawn within 3 days of being made. After that, the offer stands. It is true that the precedents are over a decade old and the Admissions Code has changed since then, but the changes to the relevant paragraph are relatively minor and do not, in my view, give any reason to believe that the precedents no longer apply.

You are right. You should not be penalised for their error. I would expect a properly trained appeal panel to agree.

Does this school's published information on admissions include a written description of the catchment or does it simply refer parents to the map? If it does include a written description, does that match the "incorrect" map or the "correct" map? If you are unsure, I will be happy to take a look if you PM me the name of the school and LA involved.