Confused re Primary School place stuff - we heard today and we didnt' get in - can you help?

[woodforthetrees]

We heard about schools today. Our catchment school is oversubscribed and dd didn't get in. I found out when calling the council though that we are first on the wait list.

What I seemed to understand is that current wait the list is now "frozen" for a couple of weeks so they then see who accepts and perhaps rejects and if by chance someone didn't accept then we are first to get offered.

I know for certain of an applicant who is refusing the place offered as they are moving abroad (but didn't know that they were when they applied)and they have said that they will reject in the time scale.

So is it right that if during the acceptance period a place came up (ie someone not wanting a place) that we'd be offered first if we are on the list?.

After that time if no places come up or if it's after that two week period we presumably stay on the list the list then gets opened up and we fall into line with any late applicants. If therefore someone came into the catchment who had criteria higher than ours (for eg they live nearer and/or with siblings) we go down the list?

Do I have this right? I'm told that at this time there are no late applications for this school but that of course can change.

I'm hoping the lady I in question will respond quickly on behalf of her DS so that we might have a chance !

[admission]

The answer is that all LAs will have a period when the initial allocations will have gone out and they will be getting back confirmations and rejections. Some LAs will fill during this period, others do not - bit of a grey area that. Checking in the primary admission booklet for the LA may tell you the answer as to whether they do. On the specified date for returns the LA will review if there are now any available places. If there are they will put everybody who applied for a place at the school in admission criteria order again (including late applications) and then fill up available places.

You therefore might be 1 on the waiting list now, but someone might apply in the period of getting returns who has a higher criteria and they will then leapfrog you in the waiting list.

The best thing you can do is ask the lady concerned to tell you when she has rejected the place and then email the council saying you know that there is spare place and can you confirm that your child has the place

[woodforthetrees]

thanks very much - I've spoken to her and I think she's going to do it asap - she had a horrible time waiting with her son last year so knows what it's like to have to wait. As at Friday we aren't aware of any late applications so the sooner it's done then the better !

[woodforthetrees]

PS - I was told that the list is frozen for the next two weeks and if a place came up they'd phone me - I think they freeze the list for a couple of weeks and re-allocate any refusals on the current list and then the list is re-opened after the couple of weeks for anyone who has accepted but then later gives up their place if that makes sense

[3point14]

From reading many council's policies on this, as I will be applying later this year for my daughter's enrolment in September 2011, there seem to be very specific dates and they are prevented from doing anything until those dates come around. They are, in my experience, always posted on the relevant council's website.

If you are first on the waiting list then presumably you are just too far away to have been confirmed initially (if the criterion is distance) but you are right that if someone who only applied today was neared than you, then they would leap frog you into first place in the waiting list.

I do not think anyone can confirm any position until certain pre published dates. I would check your LA's website.

[woodforthetrees]

Our council allocate the people who applied on time but just failed to get in (like us oversubscribed but in catchment) and are on the waiting list during the time period during which people are obliged to accept/reject.

So we were on the waiting list - at position 1 - someone we know has now rejected within the allotted period and we have been allocated that place.

At the end of that period, the list is then opened up to late applications who can be added to that list. At that time, had we remained on the list and someone arrived in catchment closer to the school then we would have been pushed down the list.

I don't think our website made this clear when I checked it last week - you need to ask them how they allocate during the time when places are accepted/rejected. Most sites tell you when late apps are considered but don't necessarily make it clear what happens to places becoming available before that time.

[admission]

Woodforthetrees,
This is a very good point and is well worth asking at appeal. How many places were rejected and when were they rejected. Then ask how many changes there have been on the waiting lists in the same time period. That might then get a bit complicated if they do not tally! Obviously if you are 35th on the list then it makes no odds but if you are 1 to 3 on the list and then 3 join the list as late applicants / waiting list parents tehnexactly when they join the list and where they join the list becomes crucial.

[3point14]

Yes, a very good point woodforthetrees.

I thought it very unfair for latecomers to arrive 30 seconds before closure of late applications and usurp someone who applied in time but initially missed out by having a lower door number than her neighbour (I have seen this criterion).

Looking at my prospective local authority, Surrey and 2010 admissions.

Letters / emails informing parents of the outcome of their application on Fri/Sat 26th/27th February.

Parents can make contact regarding waiting lists from 14th April.

Late applications will be notified by the end of April of their allocation.

In Surrey's case, you would need to know what was happening between 27th February and 14th April.