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.

The fact that the new school has been authorised to open in temporary accommodation should indicate the pupil forecasts in the local area support an additional school.

Do take time to review the 24/25 admissions policy of all the schools in your area, even the ones you aren’t currently considering. Policies change and seemingly subtle differences can make a big difference.

Use all your preferences on the application and ensure you submit by deadline, but personally I wouldn’t submit too early just in case new information is available, such as the publication of a new Ofsted inspection late in the Autumn term.

As @TeenDivided highlights, you would be well advised to consider each school on its merits, instead of ruling out schools on whether they are VC, VA, community, a SAT or part of a MAT. Try to visit the schools and hear from the head and governors, watch their videos, look on their websites and read the newsletters as well as examining reports and reviewing data.

We don’t want the risk that twins will be split up and put in separate classes (and that’s a concern with the school that blends ks1 children) which is one reason we don’t want a large, or very small, intake school. They are very close (though you’d be surprised at that the way they fight sometimes) and would hate to be apart - they don’t even like being in different activity groups at preschool.

There is only 1 religious primary school round here and the trust it is a part of has a blanket policy on refusing CSA starts for summer born children (which is illegal as they should be decided on a case by case basis) in fact, all the MATs seem to have the same blanket policy and make it very difficult for parents to get reception start for summer born children at CSA.

With a single form entry twins are forced to stay together up to y6, even if they have got heartily sick of each other.
With a 2 form entry school there would be the option to start together and then split, dependent on their policy of when/whether they mix up classes. Some mix up by policy regularly, and some much less.
I think it can be hard looking for a school for 3yos and needing it to still work when they are 10.

Are you wanting your summer borns to defer a whole year or just start at Easter? I think starting at Easter could put them at a disadvantage, whereas deferring a whole year and starting as the oldest in the class could be beneficial.

I know parents of twins who actively wanted them split up! Plus chose a 2 form entry school to facilitate it over the 1 form entry school. The idea being they make their own friends and acquire their own identities. They are not just called “the twins”. That seemed sensible to me. How are they going to learn to be apart? Surely that’s what they need to learn to prepare for life? Hopefully they don’t dress identically too!

They are delaying by a full year and starting the September after their 5th birthday - they will be 4 in a month’s time and don’t have a school place for this September anywhere as it was never our intention to send them this young (they were premature and should have been in the year lower if born on time). They will potentially only be oldest by 9 days!!

I would never disadvantage a child by not sending them for 2/3 of the year then expecting them to settle in and catch up with the rest of the year in 1 term.

Like you knowing parents who actively want them split up, I’m one who actively wants mine kept together hence looking at a smaller single class entry school. They often are called ‘the twins’ - by lots of people.

Why should they have learn to be apart?

They only dress identically if that’s what comes out of the drawer in the morning - or if they ask for the same tops. In fact, it’s mostly other people who buy them identical clothes - because that’s what people seem to do with twins!!

Are they going to the same clubs, same parties, same play dates? What about secondary school? Same class there? I’m surprised you think Dc not being called by their names is ok. It sounds like they won’t be treated as individuals, which is a shame. Plus I assume they have been bought the same clothes. Are they going to the same university? What would they be like if they had to separate? Would that be traumatic? Now or in the future?

Have you requested to defer a year, normally need to do that and you can't submit electronic applications as wont allow due to date of birth. There may come a time when they hate being in the same class, spending 24/7 together is tiring - a 2 form entry that will keep them together in the early years is a good compromise as allows for natural development. One of mine got so frustrated getting called by their twins name during year 6, after 7 years in the same classroom.

Yes I have followed the council’s instructions; they will send me out paper applications when the time comes. I have written confirmation from the school of reception start at CSA as required. I have been certain of CSA start since they arrived prematurely putting them in the academic year above that they should have been in, so I’ve read the summer born guidance inside out.

They look nothing alike so rarely get called each others names - only as often as any other same sex siblings do!! In fact, DH and I are probably the worst for saying one’s name when we mean the other!!

They don’t go to any clubs, never been invited to a party or on a play date so it’s never come up before!! In the future, they’ll be addressed as they happen.

Secondary school we will address when the time comes but, given thats 7 years away, who knows what our circumstances will be then.

As I said in a previous reply to you, they only wear identical clothes when they come out of the drawer that way and, most of the time, it’s other people who buy them matching outfits. I tend to buy a couple of multipacks of tops/trousers and they share them.

Who knows if they’ll even want to go to university or out to work from the first opportunity they get, as with the comment about secondary school, that’s not my concern when they’re only 3 years old!!

Glad you are on the paper form (plan not to know on offer day as they will send by post, unless progressive and have a system to email paper applicants).

I was sure I would defer mine but didn't, similar to you early and born end of August- still not sure what was right.

Remember that your family situation could change before then. Having a confirmed school place, even if it is not the one you want , doesn’t commit to you taking up that place - you can turn it down at any point right up to the starting date - but if for any reason you decided that you needed a place you would have one. For the sake of writing the names of a couple of schools on the application form it is worth it as insurance.