Induction day-school has forgotten my daughters existence!

[user1468352691]

My DD had a terrible induction day. Her primary school class walked up to the high school, lined up in the playground then the form tutors came out and took the children who were going to be in their class. DD was excited as we had been told that she'd be in the same form as all of her friends, but then the form tutor didn't have her name on his list, and neither did any of the other form tutors.

Someone at the school made a terrible cock-up and even though we had it confirmed many times that my daughter had a place at the school, the school apparently have no record of it, despite the fact the school emailed us themselves in June.

She was then sent to sit in a year 8 class (the school couldn't find anywhere else to put her for the day) , she said these year 8's would ask her who she was and taunt her. After sitting in her first class with these year 8's, no staff came to collect her so she had to walk around the school in tears trying to find the main reception area. Then, for the rest of the day she was sat in reception doing text book work because none of the staff knew what to do with her. The primary school grouped back up and walked back down, it wasn't until I went to pick her up when I found out, as her teacher wanted to "have a word" with me. I'm absolutely fuming. DD started crying in the car on the way back so I made her some hot chocolate, we had a cuddle and I told her we'd sort it but I don't know what to do. I'm having doubts about sending her to this school after this.

[PotteringAlong]

That's ridiculous - why didn't they just bung her in the induction class and deal with it later?!

[user1468352691]

@PotteringAlong That's what I thought! There were 6 induction classes but none of them took my daughter on for the day as there was "no space". I can't see how letting my daughter come and sit in a class with people her own age would do any harm, but apparently it will disrupt the other children

[HSMMaCM]

That is terrible. She should have been added to one of the classes while they sorted it out. Poor thing.

[admission]

So the first question must be did you get the offer of a place on the 1st March and did you accept the place. I guess from your post that this was not the case and you got a place offer sometime after that.
If you have then confirmed acceptance then I cannot understand how the high school can manage to get it so wrong. Surely somebody could have spent 30 minutes sorting out exactly what the situation was and actually to put her in with year 8s just makes me so angry that they could be so crassly stupid about what is probably one of the most important days of your daughter's life. They could just put her in one of the groups for the day. Complete lack of common sense and management capability.
Also was there not somebody from the primary school at the high school who could also take some responsibility to sort this out.

[user1468352691]

@admission There was a lot of upheaval in our lives at that time, we were living in a different LA and then after I got divorced we ended up moving and so subsequently decided that the school DD was originally going to go to was too far. We eventually got her in at this one (or so I thought .

Schools are so obsessed about making a good impression to the new year 7's so I'm surprised they had the nerve to treat DD like they did.

[Lilly948204]

Just curious, why do you think schools are "so obsessed about making a good impression to the new year 7's?"

[Lilly948204]

I mean what gives you this impression (ps the way they behaved was ridiculous)

[wizzywig]

Lily i think education is like a business. They want to prove that they are worth applying for.

[leccybill]

Can't believe this happened.

I used to be responsible for Y6 transition. A year group of 210 and I remember counting and counting to check I had 210 every time, when I was planning the new form groups.

I can't think of any staff member, admin SLT or teacher, who would suggest putting her in with Y8.

If she was left to roam the school, there is a clear safeguarding issue and you need to raise this.

I hope she feels better after such a bad day.

[user1468352691]

@lilly948204

My wording came across slightly wrong, but of course they do want to come across as good, so they try very hard with the new year 7's. The schools around here do anyway. This school was in special measures a few years ago and has been desperately trying to improve since then. There is also an "outstanding" ofsted rated school nearby that I couldn't get DD into, from what I've heard from some people, it seems like there is a big rivalry with the two schools.

[Wolfiefan]

Have the school confirmed she has a place? If all induction classes were too full to add her to then surely Y7 will be full in September?

[Lilly948204]

It's very like a business, I know I'm a teacher, I just thought that was a strange attitude of the OP. We certainly aren't trying to impress year 7s on transition day, it is about them getting used to the school expectations and environment, not being impressed. Maybe on open evening yes, but not transition day.

The school was disgraceful in their behaviour, I would have just put her in with one of the year 7 groups and sorted it out later - or even better called the OP during the day to try and sort the confusion.

[user1468352691]

@Wolfiefan

I honestly have no idea what is going to happen in September. I'm going to ring the school tomorrow. Several people told me that if my daughter ends up without a school place because of this then I have very good grounds to appeal a place, but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. I just want it sorted.

[Wolfiefan]

Your poor child. Yes call the school ASAP. So stressful.

[Arkwright]

That is awful, your poor Dd. If you can I would go to the school in the morning.

[BerriesandLeaves]

What did the email you got from them in June say? Have you had any paperwork from them? Your poor dd.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Are you sure you confirmed to offer of a place in June? What does the email say? Check your sent box.

[BusyNothings]

That's absolutely disgusting. Serious grounds to challenge the high school here. Firstly why couldn't she be fitted in with her peers is rubbish. I work in a college and we've just had our new student day for nearly 2000 kids and we managed to fit in any late comers or issues for a primary school aged kid to go through that is awful no excuse. Also definitely serious safeguarding issues with her being left to wander and then work in reception.

If the school isn't tripping over themselves tomorrow I'd be taking it further.

Hope your little girl is okay and it hasn't put her off high school

[bloodyteenagers]

What did the email exactly say?
Have you had paperwork through your door? Your child needs to bring this letter and x,y and z with them.

[lougle]

"Someone at the school made a terrible cock-up and even though we had it confirmed many times that my daughter had a place at the school, the school apparently have no record of it, despite the fact the school emailed us themselves in June....@admission There was a lot of upheaval in our lives at that time, we were living in a different LA and then after I got divorced we ended up moving and so subsequently decided that the school DD was originally going to go to was too far. We eventually got her in at this one (or so I thought"

So did you accept the place that was offered, formally? Because you have to accept the place for it to be confirmed.

[MustStopAndThinkBeforePosting]

If all the induction classes were full it sounds very much as if the place your DD was offered has been filled by a different child. It may take a while to sort this out. I hope your DD is OK that sounds like a miserable day.

[BerriesandLeaves]

I hope you get a place on the waiting list as it does sound as if your dd doesn't actually have a place there at the moment.

[BoGrainger]

I don't understand why they didn't get someone from the primary school to come and get her if they weren't prepared to help sensibly

[BackforGood]

This just sounds highly unlikely all round.
If a child turned up without a place (or so it appeared from school records) then the options would be

1. Keep her with her friends whilst someone from the office tried to contact you or schools admissions to try to establish why she was there
   
2. Take her to the office to do the same
   
3. If I've read it right you say they took them up altogether fro Primary school ? In which case the teacher from Primary would also have dealt with it.
   
   I just find it very difficult to believe what has been reported to you - it makes no sense at all.

[leccybill]

I thought it sounded unlikely. Thrown in with Yr 8, given textbook to work from.in reception, left to roam the site- there's just no way any of this could have happened.

If the primary teacher was on site, they'd have been the first to know and take action. Then, they'd have phoned you.