Hi everyone,
I wrote a thread on here last year about my son being allocated a school quite far from our home. My house basically doesn’t have a school catchment as we are a bit out in the sticks but we pass two other primary schools to get to the school we were given and I couldn’t understand why we wasn’t give the nearest to us. I got some brilliant advice (which I followed) and didn’t bother with an appeal, accepted the place and I’m so glad I did as my son is really happy there. It’s a bit of a logistical nightmare getting him to breakfast club and myself to work (dh leaves the house at 6am) but it works. My daughter will be applying for her school place in January. I want her to go to the same school, but I’m worried about her chances as she will be out of catchment. Would anybody be able to give me their thoughts on this? The school is big, 3 form entry so 90 places and two sites, infants and juniors (about 5 mins walk between them). However, it is in a large village (with new houses currently being built next door to the school which worries me).
This is taken from their admissions policy…
The number of places available for admission to the Reception class will be a maximum of 90.
Where there are more applicants than available places, the distance tie break measures from home address to the nearest of the two school sites.
The governing body will not place any restrictions on admissions to the reception class unless the number of children for whom admission is sought exceeds their admission number. By law, no infant class may contain more than thirty children. The Governing Body operates a system of equal preferences under which they consider all preferences equally and the Local Authority notifies parents of the result. In the event that there are more applicants than places, after admitting all children with a statement of educational / Education Health and Care Plan need naming the school, the governing body will allocate places using the criteria below, which are listed in order of priority.
- (a) Children in public care and previously looked after children.
(b) Children with special medical or social circumstances affecting the child where these needs can only be met at this school.
Professional supporting evidence from a professional, e.g. a doctor, psychologist, social worker, is essential if admission is to be made under the criterion for special medical or social circumstances, and such evidence must set out the particular reasons why the school is question is the most suitable school and the difficulties which would be caused if the child had to attend another school.
- Children whose parents live within the ***** estate.
(a) Children who have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and on the date of admission.
Siblings include step, half, foster, adopted brothers and sisters living at the same address. (b) Other children.
- Children whose parents live outside the *** estate
(a) Children who have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and on the date of admission.
Siblings include step, half, foster, adopted brothers and sisters living at the same address. (b) Other children.
Tie break
Where there are more applicants for the available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the school and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer addresses having priority over more distant ones. This address point is within the body of the property and usually located at its centre. Where the cut off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority's system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).
Admissions information:
In 2021 there were 142 applications for 90 places. In 2022 there were 145 applications for 90 places. In 2023 there were 157 applications for 90 places.
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