Shawlands Academy

[DerbyRacer]

Does anyone know if Shawlands Academy still accept alot of placing requests. My friend has a DC in a catchment primary school but lives out of catchment. Do you think her DC is likely to get a place at Shawlands Academy next year?

[HairyPotter]

@prettybird Can you help with this?

[DerbyRacer]

Thank you hairy

[DerbyRacer]

I should add that my friend is really worried her dc won't get into Shawlands Academy. Dc has been in catchment school since p1. Hoping to get some reassurance that she should get in.

[prettybird]

Missed this

My information is now over a year out as I am no longer involved with the parent council (as ds is now away at Uni), but the bad news is that the school is pretty much at capacity because it is has had so many placing requests.

The good news is that last year (ie 2018 entry) they ended up being able to take all the placing requests in, but I have no idea what happened this year, let alone next year.

I do know that someone planning on moving into the area over the summer was told that an S1 place for the August 2019 entry could only be guaranteed if they found a place to live in catchment.

Sibling requests will have priority - and with so many placing requests over the last few years, there will be lots of siblings.

Blame me for having raved about how good the school is

It used to be that Glasgow would accept pupils from catchment primaries but they did a consultation last year to move fully to catchment areas rather than catchment primaries (determinate versus non-determinate - but don't ask me which way round that means ) and I think the conclusion was that geographical catchment is now absolute (ie catchment primary doesn't help if you live out of catchment). But sometimes they delay implementation of such consultations to reduce the impact on those that would already have been assuming where their child would go.

The only thing I would add is that there are a few primaries (well, at least one: Battlefield) which are dual catchment.

Best thing to do would be to talk to the school direct. They will be straight with you.

[DerbyRacer]

Thank you for all the info prettybird I didn't realise the school was so full. I knew it used to be able to take a large number of placing requests. I really hope that being in the catchment primary will help her. I think she will talk to the school.

[prettybird]

Ds was a placing request himself , along with about 3 or 4 others from his (Bellahouston) non-catchment primary. The following year, about half a class (about a third of the P7s) from there went to Shawlands on placing requests.

Thinking about it, sibling requests were accepted this year - but they have priority after cared-for kids - as my neighbours' ds2 has just started there.

Just for clarity: by "school", I meant Shawlands Academy, not the primary.

[DerbyRacer]

I have just read the council's document about it and it says siblings will get in until 2025 and then next paragraph says any child in catchment primary on placing request will get in until 2025. Paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6. So it looks like she will get in 😊 You were right about them not implementing it fully straight away. Thank you for your help I had forgotten about the delineated thing (if that's the right word).

[DerbyRacer]

Or could she still not get in because the school is too full?

[prettybird]

Delineated is the right word - blame it being late for me using the wrong word last night

Good news that they're delaying implementation.

[DerbyRacer]

Because they get 'priority placing request' so there is no guarantee. But it is hopeful 😊

[prettybird]

It means that she'll be a priority as opposed to one of the "randoms" making placing requests like ds was so it is positive. They can still accept placing requests - just that siblings now take up most of that spare space.

Still worth talking to the school to get a realistic assessment - although they won't be able to make any commitments as it is the council that manages the process.

Iirc, 2 years ago there was initially a waiting list (of non-siblings) but within a month or so, everyone who still wanted to go was able to get in.

[DerbyRacer]

It does sound positive, thank you.

[OtraCosaMariposa]

This is becoming an increasing problem all over the city. Schools are getting full up. New schools which are being built have a lesser capacity than the ones they are replacing. New house building is making the problem worse as all those children have to be accommodated too.

We're in East Dunbartonshire and the schools here have the same issue in that unless you've a sibling already in the school or are incredibly lucky, you're not getting in. So there's a lot of moving around going on as people try to rent/buy in catchment before the January of P7 when they apply for a place.

If things keep going the same way, in 10 years placing requests for many schools will be a thing of the past.

[Fantababy]

Brexit may affect the catchment too. There are many, many Eastern European pupils who may not stay post brexit.

I reiterate what PB said though - most placing requests get in eventually, even if it takes a week or two.

[DerbyRacer]

Thanks Otra and Fanta why is it that things change within the first couple of weeks to allow placing requests in that were previously rejected. Do many kids start and then leave?

[prettybird]

I think fantababy didn't mean the 1st few weeks of school: it's the weeks after the school allocation is announced (at the least, that's the scenario I described). There will be various reasons for this: some of those on the waiting list might decide that they're ok with their catchment school anyway, others might go to private school. Others that were due to go to a school might let it know that they're moving away anyway (in Shawlands case, with many international pupils, there are quite a few like that).

There may be a few extra who get in if there is a waiting list after the summer (because of families moving away) - but I'm not aware to date that there has still been a waiting list at that point.

[DerbyRacer]

Thank you for explaining prettybird that makes sense. I don't think my brain is switched on this morning.

I watched the CBBC TV programme about Shawlands Academy when it was on and it looked like a great school. I hope my friends placing request is successful.

[Fantababy]

The first week or two of school have a number of changes too. Inevitably some pupils on the roll don't turn up and it's discovered that they've gone elsewhere but not told the school. It takes a wee bit of time to confirm this and then to allow the place to be allocated elsewhere.