Catchment area

[LovedFedAndNoonesDead]

When will I be able to see what the catchment area is for this years admissions (September 2023 start)? Am interested in knowing where we would be in regards to distance from school if it happened to be oversubscribed for place next year as we don’t meet any other admissions criteria.

I can see where our address is for the school
on the Locrating UK website and we’re in the second ‘band’ area out from the school but I’m not sure which year this relates to.

I’ve got a bit wobbly as I found out this week that 3 families didn’t get in to the school this year when the school is usually undersubscribed - it’s in a village location and is one of 9 primary schools in the area including a town and surrounding villages; but it’s possibly been caused by an issue with delays to opening a new 60 pupil intake school that has now had to be demolished due to buildings not meeting specifications or building regs. Preschool head thinks more families have opted for the smaller schools this year after the problems with new school - which is apparently due to be open next April.

I just want to be as prepared as possible before we apply in September.

You should be able to see that on your local county council website now I think as places were allocated a few months ago.

I know I looked at the stats for DD's secondary school as had been told that not all catchment children were offered a place, so it should be the same for primary?

Your local authority will often have a document with how places were allocated for each school in previous years, including last criteria reached and distance. It may be up already. Of course there may be some movement after allocation day as well.

Catchment areas dont usually change.
Do you mean last admitted distance? That should be on the council website at some point before admissions close for next entry.
If it's the school you want, put it first choice. You won't affect the chances of getting a different school by putting it further down the list.

You do need to be clear if there are defined catchment areas ornot where you are (look at the admissions information, on the LEA website). If there are defined catchments then it's not necessarily the case that the closer you live to the school, the more likely you are to get in.

Does anyone know what the document detailing last distance admitted in each category would be called? I’m trying to find the one for Essex but can’t see it anywhere.

There is no standard name for this. Some LAs don't publish this information at all.

@iwasthewalrus this seems to be what you're after www.essex.gov.uk/sites/default/files/migrationdata/files/assets.ctfassets.net/knkzaf64jx5x/5PpjGMrEl0gWAtabQzWxqQ/e47d693f44284a5f298019f0c38c4197/PrimaryAdmissionsBrochureWestWeb24.01.23.pdf but it doesn't give the distance - I started a thread on this previously and the consensus was that LAs don't have to publish this info and therefore some do and some don't - but you can get the info if you request it.

This was my thread: Do all local authorities publish admissions allocation data or do you sometimes have to request it? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/4787312-do-all-local-authorities-publish-admissions-allocation-data-or-do-you-sometimes-have-to-request-it

The council website mentions ‘designated areas’ for all schools in the county then goes on to say “otherwise known as catchment areas” but I know people who’s kids go to schools outside that - with so many primary schools available to us it’s hard to choose. I think probably the information I want is the last admitted distance but, having looked on the council website, all I get for admissions data is how to apply for schools and admission criteria not data.

It's called "allocation profile" on our council site (but suspect this isn't universal).

If you know your designated school it sounds like you're probably likely to get int there, but you're correct that you need to see details of other children that got in to other schools to see if you are likely to get in elsewhere (here it would be basically nowhere apart from very unpopular schools). I know it's not accurate information, but does local grapevine not give you any hints?

@LovedFedAndNoonesDead if you share la I'm happy to help you look - it's often very hidden away but often (although not always) there

Thank you. It’s Cornwall council

Unfortunately the school we want them to go to isn’t our designated area school but is a lovely village school and people from our estate have got their kids in historically so I want to see if that’s likely to still be the case. Although I know it has no bearing on the process, they are at the preschool which is in the village and is closely aligned with (but not part of) the school, it has no nursery so most children who go to the preschool go on to the primary.

It’s also the only school we’ve approached about CSA start in Reception (and they’ve given their agreement). Plus it’s also one of just 2 schools that aren’t part of academy trusts (very difficult to find in Cornwall as nearly all schools are part of MATs).

Starting Reception Class (cornwall.gov.uk)

This gives you a good idea; it shows how many places were allocated overall vs PAN. Contrary to most others places I know, a large number of these schools didn't offer to PAN, meaning everyone who wanted a place there got one. Not all schools mind, check yours, but a significant amount of them. Some of those schools must be tiny, and running on thruppence ha'penny!

Thanks that helps with last years figures. I just know they were oversubscribed this year so I’m hoping the publish this year’s figures at some point

In the end I contacted the council and the furthest distance from school of the last place allocated for September was 2.32 miles. According to the database they use we live 2.55 miles from the school so wouldn’t have got in this year but they also said other years we would have got in as they have been undersubscribed.

Birth rate, families moving in and out, new housing, rules like sibling priority and looked after children and parental preferences all make a difference to distance admitted. That is why the distance changes and no previous year can really be applied to your year. Just make sure you put down a school you will get into. If you don’t, you could be allocated one you don’t want miles away if your local one fills up. Which it might in future.

We don’t want them to go to any other local school especially the nearest one. I would prefer to home educate them if they didn’t get into this particular school.

As I said in my original post, this year has been an anomaly with regards to it being oversubscribed because of a new school not opening (in fact, the buildings had to be demolished as they didn’t meet building regs) properly last year and so parents have applied to other schools rather than that one and risk being in various temporary buildings.

You do not know if the new school will make a difference . The data means the Dc live nearer than you. Who says these parents will want the new school next year? You don’t want it. I am just saying there are variables every year. Why would you not use the new school? It must be quite close.

Use all the places on the list and don't list your closest then, but make sure at least 1 is very likely to have space. Never ever only put 1 choice, they will give you the closest one with spaces left after everyone else if you don't get in.

The new school is the other side of the town we live in and, is actually probably the same distance for us to get to but, having to go through town, will take longer than getting to the village school which is just over 5 minutes away on country lanes. They’re 2 years late opening on site, currently educated off site in temporary buildings and have had their new buildings razed to the ground; they are intended to be a 60 pupil intake compared to the village school which is 30 pupils and an established school with known Ofsted ratings and a strong community ethos - why would I want to send my children there?

Plus, and for us the biggest negative, it’s a multi academy trust school and we have no intention of sending our twins to a school run by an academy while there are alternatives available.

I don’t intend to put any academy trust schools, which leaves us 2 schools one of which has a pan of 15 and blends reception to year 2 in each class. If they don’t get into the school we will be naming, I will home educate them rather than send them to any other local school

That is your prerogative of course, but possibly somewhat short sighted?

Ruling out all academy trust schools - why? The 'business' model for a school does not need to impact the quality of schooling. You need to judge each school on its own merit.

How long are you willing to home educate for? Years? What if your child wants to go to school?

It seems a bit like putting politics before education.

I agree. It’s odd. If everyone feels like this, the 30 place school will be out of reach again! Academy schools here are often run by the church! Parents actually like them. Also there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a 60 place school. Teachers might swap around and have complimentary skills. More DC to be friends with and often better sport, music and drama.

DH used to work for an academy trust - he hated that they make education a business decision. That league tables are the be all and end all of it.

Yes I would be willing to home educate for years - there are hundreds of families in Cornwall who do and a strong home education network for getting kids together with their home ed peers. We would have to have a discussion as a couple if the twins wanted to go to school down the line but would still only look at non academy schools if that happened.

Nothing political about it, I don’t get involved in politics in any way (switch off when people start talking about it).

But you are tarring all academy trusts with the same brush as the one your DH worked for, (and assuming all other school models to be better)?

All schools have to balance budgets. Being in an MAT can bring economies of scale.

DDs' secondary converted whilst eldest was there. In terms of ethos and teaching we saw no negatives.

It might not be Political, but it isn't an education based decision. It is a bit like saying 'I worked for a Ltd company once and the HR was awful, so I'll never work for a Ltd company again'.

But I'm probably derailing. Your children, your choice.