Marylebone boys

[hoxtonbabe]

A couple years ago MB was on the up and coming “one to watch list”, lots of parents singing it’s praises, however this year they did not fill their spaces which has made me wonder if things aren’t as rosy as before as I would have thought they would be heavily oversubscribed.

[JC4PMPLZ]

How do you know the places were unfilled?

[Zinnia]

From Westminster's data, I presume. It is surprising. Did they not get into trouble over their admissions criteria a while back?

[JC4PMPLZ]

they wanted to expand numbers, didn't they this year? Wonder if they expanded too far. Westminster ac too popular? Harris Academy SJW slurped up numbers. Not many in my DCs class put it down, as far as I know, which surprised me.

[JC4PMPLZ]

It appears of this sad list....as does my offer....boo hoo.

www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/vacancies_and_short_waiting_lists_-_01.03.2019.pdf

[Zinnia]

Oh that is a sad list... really not sure it's helpful of Westminster to put it online, it's like attaching a big red flag to all those schools.

[JC4PMPLZ]

yes, that is what I thought! The schools no-one wants........

[rightreckoner]

Hmmm. There was talk of behaviour problems and hoping for a new start on the new site. Shame if that’s not happening.

[hoxtonbabe]

Hmmm. I did wonder if it was down to behaviour issues. I found out by calling and asking the admissions dept, I didn’t even realise that list existed. I’m also surprised they have all those schools listed for all to see. As already said, the schools no one wants

[Paddington68]

Could it simply be that it has moved to Paddington?

[Zinnia]

IIRC the admissions criteria always allowed for the move (ie distance wasn't measured from school buildings) and prioritised kids from Westminster primaries (which is surprising as that's the same policy as was ruled illegal when Camden tried it about 15 years ago but Marylebone is an academy so imagine different rules apply). The part of their admissions policy that was challenged related to the distance criteria I think... will see if I can find it!

[Zinnia]

Here it is. MBS is a free school of course, not an academy. They did get in trouble for using all Westminster primaries as "feeder schools" and for how they administered the banding test.

After the adjudication the changed the admissions to 50% feeder schools/ 50% distance (after siblings etc). So maybe it's places available in particular bands?

[Paddington68]

From reading their admissions policy, they do band tests to ensure the school is inclusive. The adjudication seems to make their policy clearer. The complaint was by a member of the public, who clearly didn't understand why they use Marylebone Town Hall as the point to measure distance from.
Number of school children are changing as the threat of the B word looms. If you like the school go there if you don't don't. Simple.

[rightreckoner]

I think this has been a bulge year though?

I hope it’s more your earlier point - that they’ve moved to a bigger site but are still new there.