Why do most secondary comprehensives still have a siblings policy?

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Any thoughts?

That's unusual lancelottie - most still have siblings above distance.

36 hours ago I didn't like the sibling rule, but now DC1 has place at fantastic school that 'guarantees' place to siblings I like it a lot!

I have 3 dcs at 3 different schools, and it really isn't a problem. ds is in Yr11 now and I've never had a clash of Parents evenings - it would be statistically unlikely, wouldn't it ? Especially as different year groups tend to have them at different times of year.
I mean, on a purely selfish basis, I hope they keep the sibling rule at least until after next year's admissions, when dd2 will follow her sister, as opposed to us having to keep fingers crossed for distance , but objectively there is absolutely no reason why this should be so. At Primary, yes, becuse parents have to get them there, but at secondary they get themselves there, and sleep through look after themselves on training days etc., so it's not really an issue.

"However in an area where sibling priority is the norm, it is clearly disciminatory (and has been proven so) for that priority to exclude siblings where the first place has been given due to SEN rather than the usual distance criteria."

But in an area where 50% of the schools are single sex then sibling priority actually is not the norm (if you have mixed sex children). If it is so very important to keep siblings together at school then why have single sex schools at all?

Blu - you know my area, just anecdotally let me tell you about another friend of my dd who has got in to Habs (totally totally out of catchment) because her elder brother is in the Upper Sixth there. I mean aibu to be a bit about that? They will be at the same school for precisely 1 year!

Bibs, it must be really annoying if you feel that your child can't get in because of the high number of siblings (sounds to be loads at K this year), but if your DD gets a place at C in the next rounds, I bet you would be keen to take it at least partly because of the sibling policy?

Only because its the way the system works. I'd much rather my dc went there because it is their closest co-ed non-faith comprehensive school. Scrapping the siblings thing would at least stop all the renting to get a place that goes on there. I'm happy my dd is going to the girls school, really, but ds is not an all boys type of boy!

no siblings policy would not stop all the 'renting to get a place' as ..

1. you can just rent for a few years in order to get the last child in
2. it doesn't hinder one child families.

i'd consider doing it myself if absolutely necessary.

having a sibling at the same school is an emotional support for kids as well as a convenience for parents.

Thank God they do. That's my feeling. Thank God they do.