Opinions sought on behalf of my stepdaughter who is in a bit of a quandary. My thread title is a bit of a tag line I'm afraid, in reality it's slightly more complicated.
My stepdaughter applied for a place for her DD at a primary school outwith her catchment area. This was for a number of reasons: for one, she plans to move within the next few months (into the area of the primary school to which she applied), but mainly because the area in which they currently live is not great and her DD, who is mixed race, has been subjected to verbal abuse from kids in the local playground when they pass, which they do daily, going to and from the shops etc. SD's DD has been attending nursery in their preferred area - which itself involved quite a hefty commitment to travelling - however SD's application for a place at her preferred school was turned down.
Clearly she's upset that her DD faces starting a primary where she knows no-one (of course all her nursery pals will be going to the other/better primary) and one where there is apparently a rather vocal racist minority (SD did write to the school to complain about the name-calling from the playground but received a very generalised "we take a very serious view etc etc" form letter in response). SD is now wondering whether to actually 'withhold' her DD from starting primary 1 until the local authority agrees to her request for placement in her preferred alternative. I'm here mainly to ask for opinions on this course of action, I don't really know how to advise. And before anyone gets the idea that SD is simply suffering from a misplaced sense of entitlement, she's not, at all - she is actually young and not at all confident, but doesn't want her DD starting her school experience getting singled out for (racial bullying). In addition the plan to move is a serious one, the only reason they haven't done so already is because SD had a baby in March which interrupted their plans for relocation.
Do you think there is actually any hope that SD keeping DD out of school could have an effect on the LEA's decision? Could it actually rebound on her in a bad way? Is there anyone to whom she could/should be appealing further re. school placement?
We are in Scotland, if that makes a difference re. education policy.
Thanks for reading.
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Keeping a child out of school because of not getting a place at first choice primary
12 replies
Tamz77 · 15/08/2009 15:27
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