Question Author
This is the email I sent to the council development dept:
I have today been advised by the founder of the ................. School, Mr............, that planning permission has not been granted for the School and that the next set of planning negotiations will now take place in August 2014. As you will be aware this will result in my child, plus a further 80 to 90 children, losing a school place that had been accepted and confirmed through the Admissions process on 16 April.
I am extremely upset and angry with this decision. I also imagine that all other affected parents, carers and families are too. I have contacted the School Admissions team at Croydon Council who have advised that all the other schools I preferenced on the admissions form are completely full. I applied for and was given a place for my child at the .............. School. Under what circumstances is it ever correct to offer these school places and have them accepted whilst all the while Croydon Council would have been aware that planning permission had not been given? This is a totally unprofessional and shows the lack of forethought and consideration amongst the echelons of the Croydon Schools Admissions Team and the Planning Permissions Team.
Croydon Council along with many other councils in London and around the country have a shortage of school places and it is imperative that any request for a new school which has been given the go ahead by the DofE to open be granted planning permission.
I am now faced with the prospect of my child not having admission to a school of my choice and that the council will have to find him a place at any school with a vacancy. This is completely unacceptable. I will not have my child go to just any school of the council’s choosing. That is the whole purpose of the admissions system. If a school place is allocated which is not of my liking, I will place my son into private education and I will be advising the private school that Croydon Council are liable for his school fees.
Why was the ............School entered onto the list of schools for admissions when you clearly knew that planning permission would not be given. Is there no communication between Education and Planning Permission for an educational establishment?This has been a complete waste of time and effort, not to mention the anxiety with the waiting of the results and now the added stress of not having a school place for my child.
I will be contacting my MP. Croydon Council Planning Permissions Team have placed myself and a lot of parents in a very difficult position. To be awarded a place and then have it taken away due to this is completely unacceptable and shows a complete lack of care and consideration.
I look forward to a prompt response.