I had put only one grammar school and one comprehensive school in my son's CAF. As my son could not qualify for the grammar school, he has been offered the comprehensive school as his second choice. When I spoke to the CSSE, they informed me that my son could have got other grammar schools if I had put these schools in the original CAF at a higher preference position than the comprehensive school. I sent a new preference list to my Essex LEA through e-mail by adding two more grammar schools with the original preference. On 22 March I received the rejection letter from the Essex LEA.
When I spoke to a lady at the admissions, I was told that they have put the name of my son at a lower priority waiting list. This list will be used only when the waiting list of on time applications is exhausted. This makes my son at the bottom of the waiting list as we changed the preference and it has been treated as a second application. They also mentioned that School Admissions Code does not apply in this case as it is a second application.
I have posted this message in a separate thread "Essex waiting list criteria" and I was suggested by user "Admissions" that I should write to Essex LEA to get in writing what criteria they have used to put my son in the waiting list. This I have done both through e-mail and post; I am still waiting for their response.
I have recently appealed to the School Adjudicator (last week). But as I was not expert in any of these matters, I have not added any documents other than stating the fact. I don't know if the adjudicator will take any step or not. I need your help to support me if you can to appeal or add documents to the adjudicator. Will it be possible for you prh47bridge to help me as well?
If you look at their booklet at page 13 "Further applications made after 1 March 2011" ....
They are wrong to prioritise the waiting list on the basis of the date when it was applied.
Today I have found this information. The School Admissions Regulations 2008 (Statutory Instruments 2008 No. 3090, Education, England) interprets applications into three different types (i) application made in the course of a normal admission round (ii) late application and (iii) in-year application.
Following clarification is given about interpretation of a late application at page 2 of The School Admissions Regulations 2008 in Interpretation at section 3. ?(3)
For the purpose of these Regulations an application is a late application if?
(a) it is for the admission of a child to a relevant age group;
(b) it is submitted before the first day of the first school term of the admission year; and
(c) a determination relating to the application is not made by an authority on or before the offer date
As per this definition, my application with revised preferences is a late application as it was submitted on 10th March 2011 and the determination relating to my application was not made before the offer date. This should be treated the same way as other late applications. It should also be noted that no limit is imposed on the number of applications can be made during late application period, it is only restricted by the closing date before the first day of the first school term of the admission year.
I have not written the above Regulation bit to the Adjudicator. Do you think this information will be useful and I will be able to add them now?