Council ‘failed to plan for demand’
Parents whose children missed out on places at their local catchment primary have accused Cardiff Council of failing to plan for demand.
The seven parents have just lost their appeal against Cardiff Council turning down applications for their children to start the reception class at Cyncoed’s sought-after Rhydypenau Primary in September.
They are among hundreds of parents who have appealed against the council’s school application decisions this year.
The parents turned down for Rhydypenau Primary say they paid a premium to live in catchment for the school, rated excellent in four out of five measures by Estyn in March this year.
Dr Monora Meah, said she lives 0.7 miles from the school, a sevenminute walk.
The council says there were 90 applications for 60 places and the last “Qualifying Measurement” to attend was 0.671 miles.
Dr Meah said she and Anor bought their house in the area six years ago because of the school.
Now daughter Lola, four, who attends Rhydypenau Primary nursery, has no place to start school in September after she was turned down for her first, second and third choices.
“Money has not been put in to match demand. We feel we have a right for our children to go to the local catchment school,” said Dr Meah, who works as a GP near Aberdare.
“The council has not prepared for demand in the area. It seems to be only people in the two streets nearest the school and siblings who got in. It is very unsettling not knowing where your child is going to school.
“Many of us moved to this area for the school and paid more for the house and higher council tax.
“When we moved six years ago the top of our list for reasons was the school.”
Lola was also refused a place at her second and third choice, Lakeside Primary (0.9 miles away) and Marlborough Primary (two miles away).
Dr Meah is now waiting to hear if her second round applications to Birchgrove or Howardian primaries have been successful – both are two miles from their home and neither are in catchment.
Meanwhile the couple’s son, Elias, three, has a place at Rhydypenau Primary nursery from September,
“The appeal failed but as a group we felt the panel had already made a decision,” said Dr Meah, a spokesperson for a group of 11 parents, including seven in and four out of catchment, who appealed last week.
She said there were more parents in catchment and refused places but did not appeal.
Behanti Kaur, whose four-year-old son was also turned down for a place despite living in catchment, said: “You pay a premium to be in catchment and should be granted a place. I feel cheated.”
Sarah Merry, the council’s cabinet member for education, said nine pupils in every 10 across Cardiff have been offered a place at their first choice school this year, with more than 95% offered a place at one of their preferred choices.
“I know from personal experience how stressful applying for school can be for parents, and I have every sympathy for those parents applying for a place in the minority of our schools which are oversubscribed, such as Rhydypenau primary.
“Where a school is oversubscribed, the council uses a set system to allocate places.
“Whatever the system used, there will be those that miss out on a place at a school that has had more applications than places available.
“However, it is important to remember that, of the 81 Englishmedium primary schools in Cardiff, 32 have places available.
“We are working with parents that have missed out on securing a place at their preferred schools, to find a suitable alternative.”
Cardiff Council said in a statement that appeals are heard by an independent panel, which is not part of the council and works in strict accordance with the Welsh Government’s School Admissions Appeals Code.
The total number of appeals received by Cardiff Council this year was 118 for secondary and 119 for primary.
Last year 90% of secondary school and 89% of primary school appeals were unsuccessful in the city.