Priority admission-moral dilemma

[Bundlesofchocforme]

I’m rapidly approaching the deadline for submitting DD’s junior school application. For various reasons, her infant school hasn’t really been great and I would like to move her to a different school for juniors than the school most children move on to. The dilemma that I have is that dd has priority admission so she is guaranteed a place at the oversubscribed school I would like to send her to, but their feeder infant school is also full and oversubscribed. I’m worried that dd getting a place will mean that a child already in the infant school will miss out and be moved away from friends. What would you do?

Apply to the school and think no more of it. I'd say it would be very unusual for not even one child to leave between infant's and juniors so you're more than likely worrying about nothing. But even if no one does leave that's not something you need to feel guilty about.

It isn’t unusual for children to not progress to linked junior school, either because families align moves to that point or move to private

Also, it’s a lot easier for classes to take additional children from Y3 onwards. Likelihood is that there will just be a class of 31 rather than not allow a child to progress to linked junior school

Don’t worry about that. Infant school class sizes are capped at 30. These caps are lifted for junior and seniors so it is normal to have classes of say 31/32 where they have taken on additional children.

If your daughter has a geniune priority admission than no decent person would hold this against you. Every parent who had that opportunity would do the same. But also don't assume she is taking someone's place. You will be surprised how many people choose this chance to move houses/areas/want to move schools themselves. Some schools also have extra class places in the move between infant / junior. ie our infant class of 28 but junior class of 30.

I’m at the other side here, in that this happened to a child in my eldest DS’s class when they applied and moved to the junior school. Someone new allied, higher up the admissions criteria, pupil who had been in the infant school was bumped out.

The admission criteria has now been changed so that top of the criteria is “attended x infant school”.

It caused ructions at the time though.

Saying that, it’s the risk you take when you apply to a school that’s not a through primary school and you need to reapply for the junior school. And you need to do what’s best for your child.

@SportsMother

I would apply to the correct school for my daughter and let other parents worry about themselves.

Absolutely this.

You have priority admission for a reason.

There will be a reason they are in the top criteria. Apply to the school best for her and don’t worry about others. Sometimes you need to put your family first

@SportsMother

I would apply to the correct school for my daughter and let other parents worry about themselves.

This. You do what's right for your family.

Apply! If she has priority then don’t feel bad using it. The other people will have to get over it and they should all know that the junior is oversubscribed anyway.
I say this as someone who was fully expecting - and told to expect - to get one child into a great school and I know that other families gamed the selection process and my child didn’t get in. Gutting, but that’s how it goes.
Do the best for your daughter.

Apply to the school that best meets the needs of your child.

they should all know that the junior is oversubscribed anyway.

Well they will know that, but as they’ve spent 3 years at the infant school they’re also probably expecting that the application to the junior school to be an administrative formality.

Your DD has priority status for a reason. No reason to feel guilty about using it.

Your child has priority for a reason, my son has priority so I know he will get into any school I apply for, it would be stupid if I then applied for a school I didn’t want him to attend.

There might beall sorts of reasons that children don't get in, or other children do. House moves for example.

If she’s entitled to priority admission that’s for a reason.

It would be morally wrong not to do the best you can do for your child.

@PotteringAlong

I’m at the other side here, in that this happened to a child in my eldest DS’s class when they applied and moved to the junior school. Someone new allied, higher up the admissions criteria, pupil who had been in the infant school was bumped out.

The admission criteria has now been changed so that top of the criteria is “attended x infant school”.

It caused ructions at the time though.

Saying that, it’s the risk you take when you apply to a school that’s not a through primary school and you need to reapply for the junior school. And you need to do what’s best for your child.

No school can remove the top priority of children who are or have been ‘Looked After’. Children in care, adoptees etc. They can set their own admissions criteria for other pupils.

www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/admissions-criteria

And although it’s done via a different route children with an EHCP also get priority if that school is named in their plan

Your only responsibility is to champion the best interests of your child. Other people have the responsibility, power and resources to work out the wider consequences. Don't try to pre-empt that process. There may not even be a problem if one familiy needs to move for theit own reasons, and as pp say, the infant restrictions to 30 places stops at y3 anyhow.

Thank you, I have had some really great advice on here. DD is very vulnerable and I will champion her best interests, I was getting caught up in the fairness of it for others but if life was fair she wouldn’t be in the situation that she is now. Thank so much

Every child in an oversubscribed school is taking a place that another child could have. Crack on with your application.

Class sizes can expand over 30 at year 3 so unlikely you would deny someone a place, especially as others might make a reverse choice, move or go private.

Glad you've decided to apply!

You not applying wouldn't guarantee a 'more deserving' child would get the place, DD is vulnerable, it's not her fault good schools are over subscribed.

I hope when she 'goes up' she likes her new school & settles well

You are over thinking this, apply for a place at the school which you think will be most suitable for your daughter. The fact that the infant school is oversubscribed is not an issue for you, it is an issue for the schools involved.
One word of caution, please just check that your preferred status does apply to the school you want your daughter to go to as well as the one that most of the pupils go to.

I wouldn't feel guilty but do think through whether it's likely to solve the issue you have with the school. Grass isn't always greener. Plus if it's a separate junior school at current school it might be better