Coleridge - Desperation of some parents

[Lumboo]

Read yesterday about a woman who pretended to be another parent and called the school to say she wanted to be taken off the waiting list. She did this so her child could move up the waiting list. The victim only realised what had happened when she called to see how the waiting list was going, and now the police are involved.

I wrote about wanting my son to go to this school about a month ago because I liked it, but after reading that, I don't know why but it totally put me off.

I mean it is a good school, but so are a lot of schools in Crouch End, and it made me feel so sad that someone would not only fake identity but do this in order to deny another child from getting a place so blantantly. Although faking an address, or pretending you and your partner have split up, or renting a place for a few months is also in effect denying a genuine child a place, for some reason this upset me as it was more direct.

PS. I don't mean to come across as 'butter wouldn't melt' etc, but this story did make me feel sad, for both sets of parents, and I just wanted to share it.

[sereka]

What is this admissions system coming to eh?
There must be a way the system can change.

I would be put off as well from the school

[mrsbaldwin]

I read the story in the Evening Standard yesterday - link below.

www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23854546-mother-faked-identity-in-bid-to-cheat-girl-of-schoo l-place.do

Outrageous!

Police are involved, I see.

So at the one end, in LB Haringey (where I live) police are called to playground fights. At the other extreme they're called in to police jealous parents. Is that full circle, or what?

[creditcrunched]

It would put me off the area as we'll - if I werent already. I live fairly near but try to avoid it especially at weekends when all the oneupmanship between families is paraded around the highstreet.
Coleridge is a decent school but there are plenty of others that are just as good or better

[lalalonglegs]

Suspect it has more to do with some feud between the two parents concerned than the excellence or otherwise of school. The caller must be loopy but is a brilliant story for our times.

[BetsyBoop]

Ah all becomes clear...I was thinking that the The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was a bit advanced for primary level when I saw the title, so no wonder parents were desperate!

[spixblue]

Cor! That is incredible. Values? Schmalues. What next? Will parents start stealing the identity of toddlers in choice catchment areas?
I think it's time to abolish the OFSTED rating standards. Sure the schools should be inspected to check they're safe, hygenic and well staffed then leave it at that. Enough of this 'outstanding' nonsense. My dd goes to a school rated outstanding, and the headteacher seems to want to mention the fact with every fart she issues in the newsletter. Meh.

[nlondondad]

What this does is illustrate the enormous levels of anxiety that have been created around the whole topic of admissions. Its made worse in this case (Crouch End) because there does seem to have been a shortage of places this year. So the parent who forged the email address - it was email and not a phone call - may have been offered a place at a school some distance away, and in their distress gone a bit nuts.

It also illustrates the way in which parents compete.

However it further illustrates what I believe to be a fallacy. The notion that there is such a thing as a "good school"
There is only a school which is good for your child. And children differ. also, all other things being the same, a primary school close to where you live is a good thing.

There IS such a thing as a bad school - altho' I would comment that setting your child to a school the year AFTER it has been put into special measures could be a really smart move. Lots of extra resources and help... - a bad school doesnt function for anyone. But a "good" school, by which we mean well regarded and sought after may not suit everyone. I have known it happen.

[jennycomelately]

You are so right nlondondad - I took my children out of this 'outstanding' school as they were so unhappy there. Their next school suited them much better.

[Lumboo]

nlondondad I totally agree, and that's why I do feel bad for both sets of parents, as someone has to feel desperate to go through such lengths.

I know I felt bad a few weeks ago myself as we are 0.2 miles out of their "catchment", and the LA said our closest school would be Rokesley (which, whilst a great school, is not right for our son) and Campsbourne, which is not an option as it is so far from work for us.

Luckily for us we have the option of the private school he attends now, so Coleridge is a second choice option, but if not I would be feeling just as desperate, as you said, you know what is right for your child, even if it may not be the one strictly closest to you.

[Malaleuca]

When did things start getting like this? I used to live around there before I had children so maybe I just did not move in the right circles to be aware of the terror of having a child allocated to the wrong school.

I do seem to remember there were many nice schools around that area.

We had 'educational/social priority' schools in those distant days in the time of the ILEA. Families moving children for anything except moving house were unusual.

Are there really such huge differences among schools serving a similar social class and delivering a similar sort of curriculum? Is it possible to predict which teacher your child will get if you move schools?

If you can keep a watchful eye on the reading,writing and maths, I would think there are far greater things to worry about!

[AllSortedNow]

It was me! It's all sorted and my dd now has a place at the school. Hurray!
Don't be put off Coleridge though, because I have a sneaking suspicion that the person who did this thought that my dd was on the waiting list for another school.

[Lumboo]

Glad your dd has a place now :-)

Out of curiosity, how far away from the school do you live to have had to have gone on the waiting list? Still trying to figure out whether it is worth me applying.

The school is great, but I don't think practical for me, as even with their After School club, (which is not guaranteed) I think it might be a bit impossible logisically for me to get to/from work.

[AllSortedNow]

I was 0.41, and would normally have got in, it's just an especially high level of siblings this year

[Lumboo]

OK, so 0.667 is still too far, but who knows, during a normal year we may not be too far out (waiting list wise)

Thanks, and good luck for your DD in September!

[Elizabeth123]

Half the intake for Sept are siblings and given it is 4 form entry thats a lot of sibs. But never fear there is a lot of movement - over 10% in reception in 2008-9 for eg. It is a great school though - the noxious N London mum brigade are in all the local schools not just Coleridge - but they all stick together so if you aren't one it is easy to avoid them.