I'm sure there will be lots of these posts today! We just found out that DS has a place at his second choice school (which we will accept). We were, however, astonished not to get an offer for his first choice.
His first choice school is a Catholic primary school and DS is Catholic (all forms done by the priest and handed in on time in person). The school is linked to the church he goes to. There are c.40 places a year and for the last few years, there have been c.10 places for Catholic siblings, c.20 places for practicing Catholics in the diocese (the group we fall into) and the other 10 have gone to other Christian denominations.
That's been the latter for many years and we would have comfortably got in. We'd also been told that the school had less applications this year as many EU families had left the area and gone home.
In and of itself, I'm not sure that would be grounds for appeal but a couple of weeks ago, we had a letter from the school offering DS a place for the nursery school attached to it in Sept 2023 (ie not reception). We emailed them to clarify but never got a response as to why we'd been offered this when we'd applied for a Reception place through the system. We had, however, included within our supplement information a letter saying that we were/are considering deferring as DS is an August baby however we'd make the decision one places had been allocated and that we were applying for Reception entry - this is what we were told to do by our local council (and if we decide to defer, DS will stay at his current different nursery).
It seems to me like they've messed up somewhere. Does anyone else agree? I just can't see that they will have had 40 applications that rank above us given we're in one of the highest categories.
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Does this sound like the school messed up?
mynameiscalypso · 17/04/2023 18:01
mynameiscalypso · 17/04/2023 20:25
The guidance from our LA says that you apply as normal and then defer when you have a place. So I don't know if we'd get a chance to apply again for Reception as he's technically aged out of the application system so we'd have to do an in year application. I agree it sounds like the school could have assigned him to the wrong age group but we didn't go through the nursery application process (which is a different process) so it's all very odd.
BendingSpoons · 17/04/2023 20:19
It does sound like the school have categorised him as the year below based on you saying you might defer. Out of interest, if you do defer, would you keep your place or have to reapply?
prh47bridge · 18/04/2023 13:16
If the admission authority makes a mistake (which it sounds like they have admitted), they are supposed to correct it without needing an appeal. They are offering to do so if you want the Reception place you should have been offered.
Coldilox · 18/04/2023 12:52
Just so you are aware, if you decide to delay reception until next September, you will have to apply again. Schools cannot hold a place open for the next academic year.
Just wanted to let you know in case they don’t make it clear - wouldn’t want you to end up with no reception place next year if you decide that’s the route you want to go down.
prh47bridge · 18/04/2023 08:08
They are not allowed to do that. Applications must be prioritised purely on the school's oversubscription criteria.
If OP deferred entry until later in the year, the place would be held open. If OP defers entry for a full year, she will have to reapply.
BendingSpoons · 17/04/2023 20:19
It does sound like the school have categorised him as the year below based on you saying you might defer. Out of interest, if you do defer, would you keep your place or have to reapply?
BendingSpoons · 17/04/2023 20:19
It does sound like the school have categorised him as the year below based on you saying you might defer. Out of interest, if you do defer, would you keep your place or have to reapply?
mynameiscalypso · 17/04/2023 18:01
I'm sure there will be lots of these posts today! We just found out that DS has a place at his second choice school (which we will accept). We were, however, astonished not to get an offer for his first choice.
His first choice school is a Catholic primary school and DS is Catholic (all forms done by the priest and handed in on time in person). The school is linked to the church he goes to. There are c.40 places a year and for the last few years, there have been c.10 places for Catholic siblings, c.20 places for practicing Catholics in the diocese (the group we fall into) and the other 10 have gone to other Christian denominations.
That's been the latter for many years and we would have comfortably got in. We'd also been told that the school had less applications this year as many EU families had left the area and gone home.
In and of itself, I'm not sure that would be grounds for appeal but a couple of weeks ago, we had a letter from the school offering DS a place for the nursery school attached to it in Sept 2023 (ie not reception). We emailed them to clarify but never got a response as to why we'd been offered this when we'd applied for a Reception place through the system. We had, however, included within our supplement information a letter saying that we were/are considering deferring as DS is an August baby however we'd make the decision one places had been allocated and that we were applying for Reception entry - this is what we were told to do by our local council (and if we decide to defer, DS will stay at his current different nursery).
It seems to me like they've messed up somewhere. Does anyone else agree? I just can't see that they will have had 40 applications that rank above us given we're in one of the highest categories.
Radiodread · 18/04/2023 07:30
I think it's possible there has been a mistake. Did your DH definitel6 submit the supplememtary applicstjon forms??
mynameiscalypso · 18/04/2023 07:06
Absolutely - children in care or adopted are top of the list (but only if they're Catholic ). Even with those + siblings, I can't believe that there are 40 Catholic children of reception age living less than 200m from the school (which is what we live)
LolaSmiles · 18/04/2023 06:41
If there was a bulge year in terms of siblings that could take up more places.
Equally towards the top of most admissions policies are places for children in care, children who have been in care, and children with exceptional medical or special needs requiring a named school.
Kittybelle123 · 18/04/2023 07:29
It would be interesting to know which borough; even with a low birth year you may find people looking ahead for Secondary who suddenly "find" or "remember" their faith and their sons end up in Cardinal Vaughan / the Oratory / Gunnersbury.
Then school could have read the letter and offered a nursery place based on that without any correlation to what the LEA have done. It would be interesting to know.
One thing to keep in mind is the transient nature of the London population - there so many shifts that even if your DS has missed out on the Catholic allocation for now a space may become available relatively quickly.
mynameiscalypso · 18/04/2023 07:07
Thanks @Elsie20, we're in a different LA but that's really interesting and supports the theory that it's a low birth rate year!
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lilao · 17/04/2023 23:40
Is this for Oratory school?
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