St George’s High School

[LonMy]

Hi, I’m really worried as my youngest wasn’t offered a Year 7 place at St George’s Maida Vale , even though his brother is already there. The same thing happened before but my eldest got in later. We’re both working, so managing two different schools will be very difficult, and the school offered isn’t suitable for him. Do you think I should appeal?

Hi @LonMy sorry to hear.
A)There are some great experts on here who are far better qualified to advise you on this, but I would say if you think there has been a mistake in the application of the school’s admissions, particularly in regards to sibling policy, and if you think that if it wasn’t for that mistake your son would have got into the school, then absolutely you should appeal. You don’t have anything to lose. But I would act quickly because the appeal deadlines are fast approaching and there is quite a bit of work to do in terms of gathering any evidence and writing your appeal letter so you would need to act ASAP.

B) I would suggest you also change the subject line of your post so that it is clear that it is about appeals, that way the really helpful experts on this platform will know what this post is about and will be able to give you some good advice. As it is now it’s just a very vague post which is probably why you haven’t had any replies.

Good luck.

As @Putneyparent says, if the admission criteria has siblings as a priority and a mistake has been made in your case, then you have a case for appeal.

If there is no sibling priority in the criteria and your concern is the logistics of two children in different schools, that’s not grounds for appeal, because secondary age children are expected to travel independently.

Why is the school offered unsuitable in your opinion?

@Putneyparent

Thank you for your reply. I submitted the appeal today, as you suggested. I understand that I won’t lose anything by trying, even if it’s not successful, at least I made the effort.
I have attached their criteria, although we are not Catholic.
I wasn’t able to change the title, but I will try again.
Thanks again.

@Buscobel

Thank you for your reply. I have attached the criteria.
The school that was offered to me was not one of the six choices I selected. It is also considered one of the worst schools in the area. Even my son’s primary school teacher advised me not to accept it, as they believe it would negatively affect his development.

https://www.stgeorgesrc.org/Admissions/Admissions/#gswModal1

Assuming that this is the correct school (Lanark Rd W9?), there is no mention of a sibling criterion. Which criterion do you believe your DS should have been ranked under?

According to the LA website, the cut-off on national offer day was within criterion 5.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/how-places-were-offered-at-bi-borough-secondary-schools-2-march-2026.pdf

@LonMy Good that you got the appeal in. As a faith school, not meeting the faith criteria is a challenge, but hopefully you can show why this school is the best fit for your child.
Best of luck.

Are you on the waiting lists for other schools that you did list as a preference? If you refuse the place you have been offered, the LA has no further obligation to find a school for your child, so even if you don’t want the offered school, accept it and stay on waiting lists for schools you’d be happy with.

Hi ,
We had the same thing happen to us !
my eldest daughter goes to All Saints and my youngest never got a place . She actually got a place at St George’s.
However, she has now been offered a place at All Saints as she was 1st on the waiting list.
St George’s definitely now have a spare place !!

@JaneyG82 Thank you, you gave me some hope. Could you please check your PM

Just PM you back .

It may be that you have a good position on the waiting list (you mentioned not being Catholic, I assume you are also not a practising Christian of another denomination since that is the last category they have currently offered places to). The waiting list is likely to move a lot I would think. But there are also lots of other schools in the area which are likely to have places or short waiting lists (UCL, Harris SJW, St Augustine's, Westminster Academy, Marylebone Boys to name just a few) so if you prefer any of those to the offered school you can ask for a place at one of those schools in the meantime while you sit it out on the waiting lists for your preferences.