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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Anyone else bricking not getting a place at the right school?

44 replies

ButterfliesAreWeird · 14/12/2017 23:16

I just completed the application form and I'm already bricking him not getting in to the first choice. I'm so worried he won't get any of his choices and end up at the sink school or end up at the choice that's nearly 2 hours away. I wish I lived in a better school area. Tell me I'm not the only one?

OP posts:

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Lifechallenges · 14/12/2017 23:47

2 hours away? Why on earth would that be a choice (sorry!).
Every reception parent in over subscribed area feels the same unless you now you are very very likely to get a place at first preference.
At the end of the day, the vast majority of schools are fine and the vas majority of DC have a good time at school

ButterfliesAreWeird · 15/12/2017 00:02

Where I live that is one of the "local" choices. The second choice is 1½, first is ½ an hour. The only one closer is the sink school and 4 private schools 🙃 the sink school has the lowest test scores and Ofsted ratings of the county!

OP posts:

user789653241 · 15/12/2017 07:15

Worst school when we applied for ds's primary is now best school in the area, with all the results well above average. Most popular(my ds') is below average now.
School change over time.

RedSkyAtNight · 15/12/2017 07:58

I think it's a shame that you're calling a primary school a "sink school". Is it really that bad? What's the source of your information'?

I don't think you should be bricking yourself because essentially all you do at school choosing time is (on limited information) pick School A over School B. You have absolutely no idea how your child will fare or develop until they get there, and no idea whether they would actually have done better at another school. Your child is 3/4 - this one thing will really not affect the rest of their life!

BarbarianMum · 15/12/2017 08:42

Have you any idea how likely he is to get into your first choice? Do you know what admissions category you're in and how it's decided (distance etc)? Were other children in this category admitted last year?

Feeling like this is very common but its hard to advise without knowing whether he's in with a good chance or whether (no offence) they were just "pie in the sky" applications.

Ginmummy1 · 15/12/2017 09:18

This:

BarbarianMum: "Have you any idea how likely he is to get into your first choice? Do you know what admissions category you're in and how it's decided (distance etc)? Were other children in this category admitted last year?"

You need a 'banker' as one of your three choices, unless you are genuinely prepared to be sent to any school your LA determines.

Would you prefer for your son to go to the local 'sink' school (dreadful term for reasons already explained by PPs) or one that is two hours' drive away (or even further)?

8 hours in the car every school day for seven years? Really??

If the other 'local' school is not a 'banker', it sounds like you'd be best off putting the 'sink' school down as your third choice.

TeenTimesTwo · 15/12/2017 10:06

Can you clarify this?

Are you saying that you only have 3 state schools within a 2 hour distance? I find this frankly incredible, but I guess you could live out in the sticks somewhere.

Do you understand how admissions work?

I'm struggling why you would put down a school that is 2 hours away. That would like me in Southampton putting down a school in London!

Surely there are some nearer schools??

sirfredfredgeorge · 15/12/2017 11:02

I find this frankly incredible, but I guess you could live out in the sticks somewhere.

Then there wouldn't be 4 private schools though... it does sound extremely odd.

user789653241 · 15/12/2017 11:14

Tbh, I didn't even look at school results. I just went for the closest. I
knew a lot people went on to the waiting list and moved to our school from what they thought was a bad school back then. I'm sure they are regretting now.

ButterfliesAreWeird · 15/12/2017 11:49

Walk not drive. You can't really have a car around here and it's like an official sink school. Most of the time they are just trying to teach them to speak English

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BarbarianMum · 15/12/2017 12:21

Ok, so what are the chances of him being admitted to the schools you've applied for?

Hersetta427 · 15/12/2017 12:52

So you can't really have a car (so London or another city centre??) but one of your choices is 2 hrs walk away? Sorry but that sounds like you just wasted a choice - how many other schools were there nearer to where you live but you didn't list?

I agree you need to investigate what your chances are of securing the school you want - the local authority should be able to tell you the last distance offered for a place in previous years and if you are well outside this distance yours chances of a place could be remote.

Do lots of research and be realistic - your preferred school may not be even a tiny bit likely so you need to make sensible choices for the other places - not waste one on a school 2 hrs away.

RedSkyAtNight · 15/12/2017 13:50

... also assuming that this is London or another big city - research schools on public transport routes. I agree with others it simply isn't practical to have your child walk 4 hours a day, and really no point listing that school as a choice.

user789653241 · 15/12/2017 13:58

So it's a sink school because of children with EAL?

mrsmayitstimetogo · 15/12/2017 14:18

Where are you? you surely can't be in a big city, if you've only got 3 schools within a 6 mile radius...
I think that I would certainly be concerned if my local school was one of the 130 in the country that have never got to 'good' over the last 10 years, and I would try to make sure my children didn't go there.
Most schools round us have more than 50% non-English speakers - the average is about 65%. It's completely fine. I'd worry much more about churn, both of children and teachers.

MiaowTheCat · 15/12/2017 14:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarthasHarbour · 15/12/2017 14:43

First of all it is a preference not a choice. Ultimately it is up to the LA.

Where do you live where you can't drive or use public transport?

'Sink school' is dreadful terminology, made worse by your attitude to EAL. You may want to rethink that.

ButterfliesAreWeird · 15/12/2017 14:52

No it's a sink school because it's a sink school ...

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TeenTimesTwo · 15/12/2017 15:04

Butterflies Believe it or not, but people are trying to help you here. it is fine, you don't have to give more information, but given that you appear worried, it may actually help you to provide a bit more information. In that way people with knowledge and experience could advise you in case you are about to make a serious mistake with your application.

If you, for example could list your local state schools: e.g.
School A, 2 miles, out of catchment, last year would have got in
School B, 0.1 mile, in catchment, last year would have got in but it is dire, special measures for 5 years
School C, 6 miles, out of catchment, last year would not have got in by 3 miles, outstanding

Then say I have put down C, F, G we would be able to give you more help.

idontlikealdi · 15/12/2017 15:28

This 2 hour away school - is there no public transport? I can’t imagine where that is unless it’s the Hebrides or somewhere as remote.

Do you meet the criteria for School 1?

ButterfliesAreWeird · 15/12/2017 15:33

They are all in the catchment area, all at capacity, but the second choice might get an expansion, but the for choice is closer and better

OP posts:

Caulk · 15/12/2017 15:36

I’ve worked in a lot of schools with high EAL. There has always been a lot of support, and issues are picked up very quickly.

Apart from the two hour bullshit, it sounds like you’re somewhere like Edgbaston - edge of the city centre, lots of independent schools but also a transient population so the schools always have a lot of new pupils.

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TeenTimesTwo · 15/12/2017 15:45

So do you qualify for all of them in terms of distance and other criteria? Even the one 'two hours' away? As in would you have got in the last few years?

You obviously can't go to a school 2 hours away. No one would put their 4/5 year old through that. It would be terrible. So either don't put it down, or use a faster mode of transport. A sink school would be preferable, and then 'home school' for the extra 3 hours your child wouldn't be travelling.

myrtleWilson · 15/12/2017 15:45

But what category do you fit in terms of admission criteria for your preferred choices?

Caulk · 15/12/2017 15:59

Which will offer the best support for your son? Does either School offer a specific SALT base?

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