With our local primary school a nine minute walk from our front door, we assumed that was where our daughter Poppy would go. While we'd dutifully filled in three other options on our application, we'd only visited our first choice. That was where we wanted to go.
As the offers rolled in for all Poppy's friends from nursery on the big day, we were convinced hers wouldn't be far behind. Discovering she had a place at a different school was a shock. Immediately, we blamed ourselves for being so naïve.
We weren't upset that Poppy wouldn't be continuing to school with her friends, or that the other school was a car journey rather than a short walk away. We were worried that the school she'd been allocated had a decidedly bad reputation. So, we decided to appeal against the decision.
I spent the following day on the phone. A woman from school admissions explained the appeals process and told me we were automatically on the waiting list for our first choice. I spoke to the local council, other schools, fellow bloggers and parents. I didn't find anyone who had won an appeal that wasn't based on exceptional circumstances.
The assumption we'd made that Poppy would attend the school up the road was rapidly collapsing. Despite this, I decided to persevere; I'd heard enough stories about the school Poppy had been allocated to know I didn't want her to go there.
I requested for Poppy to be put on the waiting list at two other schools and arranged a visit at the school she'd been offered a place. By the end of the day, I was exhausted. When I collected Poppy, her two best friends crowded round to ask why Poppy wouldn't be going to school with them. I didn't know what to say - but thankfully Poppy wasn't within earshot.
Later, we discovered that at our local school, most places had been offered to children up to 0.6km away. We live 0.7km from the school. All 90 of the reception spaces had been offered, with over 70 children on the waiting list.
In advance of our appeal, we had to submit supplementary information supporting our case. This had to focus on why our first choice school was the only one for Poppy, rather than our concerns about the other school not being right. We had a long list of reasons but specifically focused on three areas: location, health and wellbeing, and personal development.
However, when we got to the appeal we were told that any new information included in our written submission was inadmissible – so the details we'd provided about the local school being best for Poppy were discounted. It was clear from the beginning that the appeal was a pointless exercise, but we pushed on regardless and put forward our case.
A week later we were notified we'd been unsuccessful. We remained optimistic as Poppy was still on the waiting list for our first choice and by August 2015 she was fourth place. However we decided to make the best of the situation and give the school she'd been allocated a chance.
Poppy is a bright and sociable child so we hoped she'd settle in. During the weeks that followed it certainly seemed she was doing well and making friends. But the week before parents evening we discovered that wasn't the case. Poppy wasn't doing as she was told, didn't want to listen and was being rude. It was heartbreaking to hear and easy to attribute to her being at the 'wrong' school.
Luckily, the change in Poppy from December to now has been astounding. She's progressing brilliantly with her reading and she's obsessed with writing. I was delighted when I saw what she's been doing at parents evening. It highlighted not just how far she's come but also how brilliant the school is – even if it's not what we initially envisioned. Poppy's teacher and her assistants are fantastic and Poppy loves going to school.
Our story goes to show that you shouldn't make any assumptions about schools – whether that's about getting your first choice or what a school will be like once your child is there. If you don't get the school place you wanted, try not to be disheartened - and perhaps don't bother appealing unless you have an exceptional case!
Thinking of appealing? Read our guide to all you need to know.
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Guest post: "We assumed we'd get our first choice school - we were wrong"
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MumsnetGuestPosts · 15/04/2016 14:35
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