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Original poster

House move during school allocations

43 replies

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 10:16

Hiya,
Looking for some advice, this is the first time I’ve ever posted so please bear with me. This is long but I’ll try to be brief.

My DS has been attending full time nursery in a school setting since September last year. He loves it, however it is two areas away from where we lived and took a thirty minute commute to and from the school. We always knew attending the nursery had no sway on the reception school admittance so here’s where the issues lie.

DH and I thought it was in DS best interest to move closer to his school and apply for his school place starting in September. We got our move date for late February which of course was way past the reception deadline. So, I had applied for three schools from our previous address placing his nursery school as 1st preference writing underneath that we would be living close by.
By moving house we are now closer to his school (5 minute drive) but we are on the border of the council boundary and so now are a different council borough.
Last Tuesday on decision day he was given 2nd preference school which is a great school, however we are now a thirty minute commute there and thirty minute back from that school. The nursery/school he is currently attending has him 18th on the waiting list, the LA stating distance is the reason not to be admitted but he’s closer to this school than the one he’s been allocated!!
I have had to call both city and shire councils who are just passing me from pillar to post. Because I live in the shire borough but it’s a city council school so we are kind of in a limbo really.
The decision was made from our new address too so I still don’t really understand how my ds has been allocated to the school furthest away.

I think I’m going to appeal this decision but don’t know if I have a strong enough case. Any advice would be appreciated. It’s very complicated so I do hope it makes sense. I’m just really annoyed that by moving closer to his school we are having to drive back to our old neighborhood for his new reception place. It’s so frustrating and I feel like we’ve let our ds down.

Advise welcome please. What would you do?

OP posts:

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PatriciaHolm · 23/04/2024 12:52

It sounds as if they have made the decision based on your old address, which would be expected given your late move - most LAs wouldn't accept a change of address that late. Do you have it in writing that they would accept the new address for the first round of allocations?

What may have happened is that the original allocation was done on the old address, but the new address is the one being used now for waiting lists and whoever you spoke to wasn't an admissions expert - this happens all the time. I think you need to be absolutely sure which address has been used and that the new one is being used now.

In terms of appeal, if it's an infant class size appeal (30 children per teacher in yr r, 1 or 2) then it will be very difficult to win unless the LA have made an error.

LIZS · 23/04/2024 13:07

There os no point appealing as the system would have allocated based upon your address in January, so no mistake was made and if school is full it will be an Infant Class Size restriction. You need to ensure the wl is now ranked based on your new address. Also go on wl for any nearer schools than a 30 minute commute.

Original poster

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 13:10

Thanks for your reply @PatriciaHolm
It has been quite a tricky one. As we have moved to a different council borough by 0.1m, we are houses away from the previous council. I have contacted both LA’s and they both have told me the admission has been from our new address which is so confusing to me seeing as the school he’s been allocated is further away from my 1st preference. I also had to send proof of my address change and the council I live in now were the ones who sent me the admissions letter.

This is my first time dealing with applying for schools so completely new to this. It is a headache for sure.

OP posts:

LIZS · 23/04/2024 13:17

If you ask fir the distance used and the distance of last child admitted it should be clear which they have applied.

Original poster

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 13:52

Thanks @LIZS
thank you for your replies. It’s very helpful.
I was told last week that we are 1.4 miles from the school and last on the waiting list due to this. Last child admitted was 0.9
I believe that was what I was told last week.
If only we had our house move beginning of January eh?! So frustrating.

OP posts:

PatriciaHolm · 23/04/2024 13:52

LIZS · 23/04/2024 13:17

If you ask fir the distance used and the distance of last child admitted it should be clear which they have applied.

Yes, ask for this - have you got your letter from the LA with the application result? This would normally have your distance on it and often that of the last child admitted. If not, ask for it.

PatriciaHolm · 23/04/2024 13:59

Ah - so you are quite a distance from the school you want still. Is the 1.4 miles correct to your new address? It sounds like all is correct then. They used your new address but more applicants lived closer.

Given the school you have was your second choice, it look like it was less in demand so you got it even given the distance. So the school you want was full with nearer children, so you got the further one because it was on your list.

Original poster

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 14:19

@PatriciaHolm the letter I received just states the school he was accepted in to and then information on waiting lists and appealing. It does not really give me any more information other than that.

OP posts:

Original poster

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 14:23

@PatriciaHolm
Yes, from the new address.
That makes sense to me now. He is on the waiting list and luckily the school he has been given is a very good Catholic school so I know he’ll thrive. It’s just gutting knowing we’ve moved addresses to somewhat benefit him and in actuality just caused more grief for ourselves. He’s also got to restart building friendships and familiarising himself with a whole new school and rules. I know children are very resilient so he’ll be fine but it still feels so sad for him.

OP posts:

OpusGiemuJavlo · 23/04/2024 14:33

The fact that your allocated school is further away is irrelevant - what is relevant is that you live further away than the 30/60/90 children who have been offered a place at your furst choice school.

A 5 minute drive away is still a long way. Most of the children admitted will live within a 10 minute walk to the school for most popular primary schools.

Male sure your place 18th on the waiting list is based on your new address not the old one.

Don't bother appealing unless you have stronger grounds than are in your op.

Stay on the waiting list. Places can come up even 3 weeks into the start of the September term, or even later.

If there are any other acceptable schools closer to you than the allocated school gwt on their waiting lists too.

viques · 23/04/2024 14:34

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 13:52

If the last child offered a place was .9 and your new house is 1.4 it seems unlikely that you would have been offered a place anyway, whichever address they used. All you can do now is put his name down on closer schools if you think the journey is going to be an issue, but do make sure you accept the current offer so at least you know there is a secure place for him in September.

Original poster

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 17:43

Thanks so much for all your advice and knowledge. It’s very much appreciated.
I am quite clueless with all this.
Fortunately for us, the school he has been allocated is a fantastic school, just didn’t fancy the 30 minute commute again but it seems that that is just going to be the case.

Everything happens for a reason so remaining positive on all this.

Thanks again for all your replies 😊

OP posts:

Autumn1990 · 23/04/2024 18:07

Check the scho transport policy. In the LEA I’m in if your catchment school is your first choice and you get the next nearest school they will provide transport. Almost all schools are a few miles apart

BoleynMemories13 · 24/04/2024 06:42

The decision had to be made on your address when you applied, your intention to move was, unfortunately for you, not relevant at that point of time. They have to treat everyone equally by going off current address at the time of application.

Even if it was done on your new address, it's very possible to miss out on distance and yet be allocated somewhere further away, if more children who lived closer to the 1st preference school or met other criteria (sibling links etc) applied than there were places available. It would have been done on your old address though.

I'm sorry but you definitely won't win the appeal. However, I would check if 18th on the waiting list is based on old address or new. Sounds like it could be old to me. As far as admissions know, until you update them, you still live at your old address. A little note on the form is unlikely to have been picked up (especially as home moves fall through all the time and they currently have no evidence you now live 5 minutes away). You need to update them. Likelihood is he will move rapidly up the waiting list.

In the meantime, you don't have to accept the allocated place if it's now too far away to realistically get to. You can make a new application to schools more local to your new address and you'll be allocated the nearest one with space during the second round of allocations in May (which is for or people who missed the deadline, have moved since the deadline, like yourselves, or are not satisfied with where they were originally allocated).

Appeals only work if you can prove the admissions criteria hasn't been applied correctly. That isn't the case here as you didn't live where you currently do when the application was made. Priority had to go to children who lived closer at the time of application.

I would definitely check on that waiting list position based on your new address though. You have to update them officially. They can't assume, based on a footnote on the form, that you definitely do now only live 5 minutes away. For all they know it could have fallen through or still be pending. An official change of address should hopefully shoot him right up the waiting list.

BoleynMemories13 · 24/04/2024 06:45

Sorry I read your 5 minutes away as a 5 minute walk. A 5 minute drive from an oversubscribed school is way too far to get in. Most children who applied will live a 5 minute walk away.

It sounds like you have no chance I'm afraid. It's utterly pointless appealing. You need to start looking elsewhere.

Overthebow · 24/04/2024 06:47

It’ll be because you’re in a different council area, even by 0.1m means you will be out f catchment for the school you wanted. The criteria often is children in catchment first then out of catchment done by distance. If you wanted to move closer to get him in you really needed to have moved within the catchment area, not a different council.

KatieKat88 · 24/04/2024 06:49

Are there any other schools closer to your new address? Get on the waiting list for them so you have less of a commute, also stay on the waiting list for your preferred school and see what comes up. Do check your place on the waiting list is based on your new address. Keep your allocated school as a back up for now.

PotatoPudding · 24/04/2024 06:49

It sounds like you have been allocated a school based on catchment rather than distance.

Original poster

SuperrrMellll · 24/04/2024 10:28

Thank you all for your messages.
Much appreciated.
I had to prove my change of address to both councils. When we moved we didn’t actually know until sorting council tax out that we were a different borough.
I will call today and ask about his waiting list placement.
As I’ve said in previous replies, we are lucky that the school he’s been allocated is a fabulous school and he will thrive there so I think it’s a case of it is what it is now. Still can’t help feel mummy guilt for him though unfortunately.
Thanks again everyone

OP posts:

Flumpsareyummy · 27/04/2024 16:51

SuperrrMellll · 23/04/2024 13:52

If your new address is 1.4 miles away from the school and the final person offered a place is 0.9 miles away you wouldn’t have got in even if you’d been at the new address for the entire time.

to win an appeal you have to prove that the criteria has been applied unfairly and incorrectly but based on what you said here it hasn’t

Baba197 · 27/04/2024 18:18

1.4 miles is still quite a distance from a catchment school and likely several
others live closer sadly. Even if you were living there when applied you would prob still be on the waiting list, if it’s a good school and doesn’t have a big intake especially. There’s always a chance of a last min place being offered but don’t place all your hopes on it

Kathryn1983 · 27/04/2024 19:05

This happened to us too
school allocations are all done the same
of a school is undersubscribed then all applicants are accepted
if oversubscribed they allocate by

those in care
free school meals
distance as the crow flies from door to door school to primary address- that will be the address you had at the start of the application not where you are moving too!

if your child doesn't get into first choice school they are then assessed again against the criteria for the next school on their list

perhaps school 2 is further away but as far as the school application process goes it's one you've already decided you'd be happy with else why include it in the list?

You can appeal the decision and you can ask to be put on the wait list for the first school and be willing to move him if you get a slot

PatriciaHolm · 27/04/2024 19:19

"This happened to us too
school allocations are all done the same "

I'm sorry, but that's not the case at all.

Whilst children currently/historically in care have to be the first category, after that, it can be a wide variety of options. Applicants should always read the criteria closely as they can vary widely - some use fixed catchment, some distance by straight line, some closest driving distance: some prioritise siblings, some don't.
It varies!

Free school meals are rarely a category, tbh.

Bubnbutton · 27/04/2024 19:59

Is it not on school spaces regardless than distance? I appreciate what you are saying but had there been space, would you have got in regardless of where you live?

Sorry to jump on the thread, I need to apply for next year and really want my child to go to a school that is ten minutes away from us. We pass 2 village schools to get there. Ive been assured they are always undersubscribed and it would be fine, we’ll get in but i’m still terrified if we don't. Can they stop us going there purely because we live so far away or is it, if theres space you can go there?

BendingSpoons · 27/04/2024 20:08

Bubnbutton · 27/04/2024 19:59

Is it not on school spaces regardless than distance? I appreciate what you are saying but had there been space, would you have got in regardless of where you live?

If there is a space, they will give it to you even if you live hundreds of miles away at the time of application. They definitely won't say 'you can't have a space at this school because you live nearer to schools X and Y'.

@SuperrrMellll can you go on the waiting list of any other schools near your home address? It's great you have been given a good school, but that's a massive commute to do for 7 years unless you plan to move back.

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