Hayesbrook School, which over recent years has offered places to all families who have appealed after following the rules, has short circuited the process this year and has written to parents stating that they are "accepting all appellants without prejudice". In this case it merely cuts through the appeals process, although those on the waiting list who had not appealed may have been excluded, and should now put in a late appeal.
Westlands School, who offered places to everyone on the waiting list in March last year outside the rules, are reported to have done the same for 2012 entry, They may have left out children from Sittingbourne Community College, with whom they are federated, as they seek to maintain numbers there. If so this would certainly break additional rules, and parents who go to appeal, if turned down, would have a good case to follow the complaints procedure.
What we are seeing here is freedom of choice taken to its logical extent, as popular schools expand, and others (some perhaps deservedly so, but others who are doing a good job, often not having been provided with the modern facilities their competiors enjoy) wither away until they are no longer viable. One can only specualte what will happen to those unpopular schools in expensive new buildings, who come at the bottom of the pile.