Admissions consultation

[sunflowerdaisyrose]

A local secondary school has just done an admissions consultation for a very significant change to their policy (church school). Everyone I know disagrees with at least part of it (including the church). Do consultations ever change the output or is the consultation really just a formality?

Yes, consultations don't always get turned into policy.
There was one near us about changing admission zones (that matter round here) that got the MP involved. It was scrapped.

@CatOnTheChair oh thanks, I thought it was probably a done deal but maybe they will listen and change it slightly. 🤞

also worth checking with your local authority - we have objected to some consultations and carry some weight - they may be opposed too

OP, people may disagree with the policy, but is it compliant with the National Admissions Code, including the clause about being "fair and reasonable"? Your concerns will have more weight if you can reference the code and say why you think there is a breach. As in any consultation, the numbers of objectors are not so relevant as the strength of their arguments.

A school near us has an admissions policy that was unusual, so very controversial when it was first announced. Someone launched an online campaign against it, including some misinformation and template text for people to object, and so the school got hundreds of objections. But their arguments were emotive and not based on evidence, so the school stuck to its guns. The policy was later referred to the Schools Adjudicator by an objector, but the objection was dismissed because the school was able to show the policy was fair and reasonable.

@emphatic I'd say it's not fair or reasonable, but they obviously feel it is.

I've already sent my response as that needed to be in end of last year and they're publishing the final admissions policy this month. Will have to wait and see and keep our fingers crossed it's toned down a little.

I recently moved house after Oct 22. I applied for my daughter's high school in oct 22. School admission team is saying as I moved after form submission date they used my old address? She will start high school in Sep 23. I dont feel this is right. Please advise and how can I proceed with appeal.i really want them to use new address.

@Easyme You really need to start your own thread.

Broadly speaking within each LA there is a cut off date for taking a new address, and also using a new address can turn your application into a late application and so considered after all on time ones.

At this point for any waiting lists they should use the new address. You need to check they are now doing this.

If you want to claim error in them not using new address for the initial round you will need to show you moved and informed them before the address change cut off date.

Thanks for you advice. sorry. I am new here so I thought I have started new thread.

normally if you move after the closing date they will have to continue using the address you applied from as that was your address on the closing date for applications. The application will then be updated and processed from the new address after 1 March. If you have moved to a new area altogether the new authority will take it over - or if they prefer you can make a new late application.

The final admissions policy has been published now and it is toned down considerably from the consultation so it seems the responses were taken into consideration and I am relieved!