School Waiting lists Twins

[Rosegingerpeaches]

So unfortunately my twins didn't receive places at any of their 3 preference schools, even our first choice which was within our catchment area. We have been offered places at a school further away that I would rather they didn't go to for various reasons.

I don't think we currently have grounds to appeal but have applied to the wait lists, which we seem fairly close to the top of. However one school have advised that if the do have a place available for one of them they won't take both. My understanding is that twins and multiples fall under the excepted children category, which means they are allowed to increase school class size to accommodate both of them.

I know if one of them got in and the other didn't, then we would have grounds to appeal. However, not sure how this applies if they get a place via the wait list. Does anyone have experience of this? Obviously will call the admission office again, but they are reluctant to speak to anyone until all places have been accepted or declined.

I believe that both are accepted if they are a tie breaker for the initial application but not from a waiting list.

It's my understanding that twins count as one child, so both should be admitted if a place becomes available.

If they took one the other can be admitted on appeal as an excepted child. Chances are they will get in from wl before then anyway.

They don't count as one child. I had this waiting for secondary school places. They were both allocated a school i disliked and went onto the waiting list of the preferred school.

There was a lot of movement between March and Sept and one was offered a place in mid June, the other a couple of weeks later. They were obviously next to each other on the waiting list.

You must accept the place they've been given for now though.

Secondary is different, as there is no class size legislation to take account of, so schools can choose how to treat children of multiple births.

With regards to infant class size, the other twin can be treated as an exceptional child as soon as one gets in as a non-excepted child. However, the code does not say the admissions authority has to do this, just that it can. It would be a pretty clear appeal to win though, as it would not be an ICS appeal.

The admissions code is not explicit about how children of multiple births should be treated if it is not ICS, but the spirit of the code, given the above, would be to admit them together.

in many cases it is better for twins to go to separate schools

Separate classes maybe, but separate schools?

That would cause unnecessary logistical difficulties, plus parents would be forever comparing the experience in one school directly with another and feel one twin had got the better/worse deal.

Some cases, maybe, but many?

ok. maybe I phrased that wrong, I mean it isn't necessarily a bad thing, and sometimes is for the best. They dont have to go to the same school

Well they don't have to but logistically it would be a hell of a lot easier especially at Ptimary age.

That's your opinion, which differs to research and guidance from the Twins Trust. I think OP wants advice about admission policies and procedures, rather than opinions on whether to split twins or not (who all have their own relationship and personality so shouldn't be treated the same regardless).

So as school application time is rolling around again, I thought I would update the post incase anyone with twins finds themselves in the same position as us this year. The boys started the school year at the school they had been orginally allocated, but within 4 weeks a place became available at their 2nd choice school. Because one place was available they had to accept both children.

So I can confirm that the twin exception rule still applies to the wait lists. Funnily enough they have just been offered a place at their 1st choice school today. However we are very happy with the school they are now at, so will be leaving them where they are. Hopefully this information helps anyone who may be in the same position in future.