Secondary Admissions - Is there Anything Else I can do? (LONG)

[GirlInASwirl]

We sit just inside the border for Authority 1 -

In Authority 1 - There have been a massive call for educational improvement and this led to schools being closed/amalgamated/converted to academy status and so forth. My opinion is that change has been too rapid and funding too sparse - and as a result almost all of the authority's schools have been recently inspected as 'inadequate'. Furthermore, they are taking two failing schools and joining them together in the hope that shared resources will improve things (?)

In Authority 2 - We have schools that are generally of 'Good' or 'Outstanding' OFSTED class. They have stable environments and buildings are being updated and refurbished rather than knocked down/moved to another site. Some of these schools are ranked very highly nationally.

So we have been trying to liaise with both authorities to try and get a good school for my DS.

In authority 1 - we were first offered the school that was amalgamating with another poor school (unknown future/still building site and neither school is happy), then secondly the school which we were campaigning against in our appeals (won't cater for son's medical needs, bullies going there, under special measures).

In authority 2 - have undergone two appeals for schools. First appeal was unsuccessful (but a complaint has been raised about the conduct of the appeal) and the second appeal we are waiting to hear about. It's a very anxious time!

I have e-mailed authority 2 and asked them what is available if appeal 2 is unsuccessful and they have given the names of two other schools which are prohibitively far away (not that accessible by public transport and we have no car).

Is there anything else I can do/should be asking for to try to get a good deal for my ds?

[HPparent]

It is not what you want to hear but I think you have to take a pragmatic approach. It is near the end of term, just take the place at the best of the worst option and stay on the waiting list for the others.

[GirlInASwirl]

It may not be what I want to hear HP - but you are very possibly correct. I think I am having a hard time accepting that there is nothing much left to do. I'm a born fighter and this has been a focus for a few months now. I will keep liaising with the authorities so if something does become availble quick changes can be made. I am also looking into home educating (I have a BA QTS qualification). Like you say its about trying to find the best option out of what is left now. Thank you for being frank.

[mumoftwo127]

Northwood college vs Royal Masonic: We are relocating to London; and at this stage these are the only 2 schools which are offering admissions to our dd; Northwood college has a better academic repute, but we really like the overall feel at Royal Masonic. Is there any mum our there who can provide insider info about the kind of options academically bright kids from Royal Masonic get from here and how many get into to top universities from here?

[mumoftwo127]

Hi Tiggytape,
Thanks, Looks like I posted it on this thread by mistake, shall start a new one.