Error in letter

[Finallyspring]

Hello. Got a letter from our first choice school yesterday saying place not given because we live too far, however the distance given for home to school ( which is correct ) is LESS than the distance for last place offered. There are other categories of priority ( siblings etc) but we were not considered in that category. The distance given for last place offered seems to be much further than in previous years, despite there having been more applications this year, so I guess it is wrong. Do I have to go through an appeals process or is this something that can be sorted out by the school ?

[Etienne]

You need to check that the cut-off distance applies to the category you are in. For example, some authorities might have "Category 2: in catchment" - and if the school would be oversubscribed as a result of category 2 applications alone, the rules might specify that distance has to be applied to category 2 to determine who gets offered a place. If you were in a lower category (e.g. "everyone else"), this cut-off distance wouldn't apply to you, even if you happened to live closer to the school.

It would be best to take this up with the admission authority in the first instance. If the matter can't be resolved to your satisfaction, and you still think they've made a mistake, then you can go to appeal.

[Finallyspring]

Thanks for reply. The school doesn't have a catchment area, therefore no cut off point. They just take on basis of proximity, which can obviously move from year to year. The only other criteria is what ability band you are in. The letter specifies that within her band the last place offered was 1,143 km and we live 1,132km. The letter is not from the local authority, but the school itself.

[Etienne]

They just take on basis of proximity

Can't quite reconcile this with "There are other categories of priority ( siblings etc) but we were not considered in that category".

Just wanted to check that the cut-off distance applies to the category you are in.

Best to take this up with the admission authority ("admission authority" means the school, if it manages its own admissions).

[Finallyspring]

' they just take on the basis of proximity' means there is no catchment area as such so no fixed cut off point apart from the limits or available places. Our category is proximity rather than siblings or in care.

[Finallyspring]

I realise I may not have been very articulate yesterday. I was tired and anxious ! Much clearer head today and have spoken to the school. They say it was a typing error and that the last place offered to a child in my daughter's abilty band was 415 m closer to the school than us, rather than 11 m further from the school ( as was written in the letter ) This does make sense. I have been studying the admissions for the last 6 years as I have an older child and the distance has always been something similar. Given that the number of applications this year was higher than ever it would have been very unlikely that we would have been close enough. However, do you think it is still worth appealing just to make sure that the school hasn't made a mistake ?

[Belinda]

.

[tiredmum]

you can appeal anyhow - an over subscription appeal.

You just need to come up with reasons why this school suits your child - specialisms - transport ease etc
And of course it wound't hurt mentioning the letter at the presentation.

[Finallyspring]

Thanks for the post 'tired mum'. I don't really have the stomach for an appeal on the grounds of my daughter having any particular need for the place. I would just like to know if it is worth appealing on the grounds that the process may not have been administered correctly

[Etienne]

To be honest, unless you were going to do as tiredmum suggests, I think it would be a waste of time.

I agree with Belinda - "Not the sort of typo one would expect in such an important letter" - but they've acknowledged the mistake, confirmed the correct cut-off distance, and there's no evidence the allocations were done incorrectly.