Placing requests

How we respond

As a result of COVID-19, we have changed how we respond to placing requests:

• Our response deadline for requests submitted before 15 March 2020 for the coming school year starting August 2020 has been extended from 30 April to 31 May 2020.

• For placing requests received in relation to a current school year, the deadline is extended from two to three months.

Timescales for appeals

The regulations change the timescales for appeals:

• The deadline for holding any other type of placing request appeal received is extended from two to four months. If a placing request appeal has not been heard four months after receipt, it will be considered to be refused.

• You will be notified of the appeal committee decision within 14 days, otherwise the appeal will be deemed to be refused and our decision considered upheld. This deadline has been extended to 28 days.

• For appeals received up until now the Committee had five working days to send out an acknowledgement of the appeal and notify education of the receipt of an appeal. This has now been extended to 28 days.

We will advertise our arrangements for placing requests in December each year.

There are good educational reasons for trying to ensure that the transfer or admission of a school takes place at the start of a school session. Other than those who are moving home to a new area, parents are advised to time any placing requests so that they take effect from the beginning of the new school session.

Every effort will be made to try and meet parental wishes, but it is not always possible to grant every placing request to a particular school.

Once a pupil has reached the school leaving age the pupil, not the pupil's parents, may choose which school to attend. If the pupil wants to change schools, they should complete a placing request application form.