Revealed: Admissions criteria deciding primary school places
PARENTS across Wales have been left in limbo, missing out on their preferred primary schools.
Some have been denied a place at their first, second and third choice schools – leaving many facing a much longer journey to get their children into class.
But the grounds on which youngsters have been left off council lists has left several parents scratching their heads, following reports of children in catchment missing out on school places.
Others have criticised admissions officers for denying children a place in their sibling’s school.
To try to make sense of the situation, we looked at the admissions criteria used by Cardiff council, Wales’ biggest local authority, for pupils starting school in September 2016.
Parents have the right to express a school preference, which will be considered and complied with wherever possible.
But some schools have more requests for places than there are places available, meaning parents are not guaranteed to get their children into their chosen school.
Where a school is oversubscribed, preferences will still be considered but the priorities set by the council will be applied.
In deciding which children to admit to a school, Cardiff council applies the criteria set out below in the order of priority shown (1. being the highest priority) and examines the merits of each case by considering any mitigating factors 1. Children who are looked after by the local authority or previously looked after children. 2. Children allocated nursery funding by multi-agency panels on the basis of their significant and/or complex needs. 3. (a) When an older sibling was directed by the council to an alternative school because the alternative school was previously the catchment area school, the council will admit younger siblings to the alternative school if the parent desires. (b) When an older sibling was directed by the council to an alternative school because no places were available at the catchment area school, if the parent desires, the council will admit younger siblings to the alternative school. 4. Pupils who are permanently resident within the defined catchment area of the school on the published closing date for receipt of preference forms. 5. Pupils that the council adjudge to have compelling medical or social grounds for admission to a specified school.
Written recommendations from a medical consultant or a social worker will be required giving detailed reasons for the pupil’s admission to a particular school. 6. Pupils who have a brother and/or sister of statutory school age who will be on register at the school when they are admitted.
In considering siblings, first priority will be given to applications from multiple birth siblings. 7. Children living nearest the school as measured by the shortest practicable walking route.
Cardiff council uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to calculate home to school distances in miles to the nearest two decimal places.
The shortest walking route is cal- culated using Ordnance Survey (OS) customised route data from an applicant’s home address to the nearest open school gate. 8. The council gives priority to children living furthest away from their alternative school offered by the authority as measured by the shortest practicable walking route as a tie break. 9. Pupils whose premature admission to the school has been approved by the council.