Chances of getting into Fulford year 10 in September??

[horseygin]

Hi, we are moving back down to the York area in july as we lived in n yorks for many years. I know Fulford is always oversubscribed but I would really like my 13 year old DD to get into yr 10 . The school tell me they cant comment on places and tell me to ring the council... who tell me all year groups are full. Does anybody know what the likely outcome will be if we move into catchment and appeal, if there are no places? We are also wanting a 6th form place for our older DD , who should qualify with her grades ok. Any thoughts gratefully received!!

[horseygin]

Just bumping this up in the hope that somebody in the school might know if all the classes in the yr9 are at maximum? If we live in dunnington where else could they send us??

[MirandaWest]

I'd imagine that Fulford is full. In Dunnington you're actually closer to Archbishop Holgates which I believe is a very good school although I don't know how full it is. They've fairly recently started having a sixth form and I know some people from Dunnington go there although almost all do go to Fulford.

Not sure whether Huntington has any space or not. Suppose Joseph Rowntree might have some spaces although both there and Huntington would be a bit more tricky to get to.

Have the council said what would happen if there aren't any places at Fulford?

[horseygin]

No Miranda, they rather unhelpfully wont make any comment other than the usual " we will offer your child a place at a school within 20 days of your application". We really want to get into fulford, and will almost certainly get a 6th form place for our 16 year old. It just leaves us trying to second guess what the council will do which isnt at all satisfactory. if we move to dunnington then dont get a place at fulford nobody will tell us where they will be sent. Huntington will be a nightmare to get to from dunnington, with the traffic. Id also rather they went to the same school for obvious reasons.

[MirandaWest]

Huntington is a bit of a pain to get to from Dunnington although there are back roads which make it easier. Probably wouldn't be any school bus service though I suppose. Did your younger DD start secondary school in 2011? Am trying to work out how full different schools were at year 7 for her year although obviously things could well have changed since but to give an idea of where there might be places.

I am in Dunnington but my DC are both at primary school so not that much use for knowing about current year 9 places. I suppose also places now don't mean there would be places then but having an idea where they might go would help you and is frustrating the council can't let you know.

[horseygin]

Hi, I know the council can't tell me if anything will change over the next few months... but they could tell me what the situation is now... and what will happen if I go ahead with appealing. We are moving down at the end of july so will not have been in a local school previously . I just thought that if people had appealed and lost... and been sent to some of the less desirable schools instead, then we would move into the catchment area of a different school instead.

[janeyjampot]

Is it worth asking Fulford how many are in each year group at present? If Yr9 isn't the largest that might indicate that you could appeal successfully, as they can accommodate larger numbers in other years IYSWIM.

[horseygin]

Thanks- but I tried that - they merely direct you back to the council ! Who say that ALL the year groups are presently full.Thats why Im reluctant to believe them, as from experience children are always being moved... one in every year group maybe once or twice a year? I need somebody with children in year 9 who can tell me if all the classes are exactly the same size. Then I might be convinced.

[janeyjampot]

Hmm. If you appeal you get the numbers in each year group in the information pack. Is there nothing on the council website? At the very least you should be able to find out how many appeals there were each year and how many were successful...

Given that there are lots of good schools in York I wonder if the way to do this might be to see which ones are not suitable and avoid living near those rather than trying to live near a good one!

[janeyjampot]

Ok. If you download the Guide for Parents from the Council's website, it says that there are 213 children were admitted to yr 7 this year, 212 last year, and 209 in 2011.

[horseygin]

Wow thanks, I didnt know you could find this out online.
So there is some leeway then, by the look of it?

[janeyjampot]

There's loads of information about catchment areas, appeals and numbers admitted in the Guide, which you can download here:

www.york.gov.uk/info/200325/school_admissions/803/guide_for_parents_and_guide_to_school_catchment_areas

It looks as if there are more children in the current years 7 and 8 than in year 9 (which is the one you want, I think). However, PAN (which is the maximum admission number) is 208, so the extras either don't count towards PAN (this might mean they have statements which name the school, I think) or they got in on appeal. The Guide for Parents tells you how many successful appeals there were each year.

Because the PAN is 208 the Council will say that the school is full until it drops to 207. However, if you could argue at appeal that they managed perfectly well with 212, it would diminish their argument that they could not admit your DD. Does that make sense? You still have to appeal because the school is full once the 208 figure is reached.

[janeyjampot]

PS If you do decide to appeal, post for help here because there are experts who will help you to construct your case.

[horseygin]

Thats great news... it doesnt look impossible then! Thanks... Ill be back...