Romesh Ranganathan - School Places & Entitlement

My siblings & I went to different secondaries but we travelled independently

How are parents expected to ensure all dc are at school on time?

secondary dc normally travel alone.

Different secondary schools can work for some people. But lots of people for very practical reasons would like their children at the same school, and I really don't think that's unreasonable.

Do we actually know that he did move house before his older children got admitted to the school? Or is this just rumour and speculation? Finally, as I said he is highlighting a real problem for many families.

Would have thought his kids were educated privately?

It does seem very unreasonable however to be offered none of your 4 choices!

Not if he picked 4 choices that he is unlikely to get into...

No idea what it is really like. Except my kids are at different schools. (The eldest’s school is selective so no sibling priority at all). We cope fine.

If he cared that much about his kids being at the same school all he had to do was not move house.

no need to drop secondary age pupils tho

lengthy!

Some schools prioritise dc in catchment though so it's really important to read admissions criteria & tbf they aren't that worst.

If he did move out of catchment though, then that's his own fault.

If that issue needs highlighting then yes, that's a good thing. (I agree with that policy though)

It’s clear in the first few lines of the article that it’s secondary school.

There was a farmer on here last year in a very similar situation. However, he hadn’t moved house and his wife even taught at the school his eldest was at. He was absolutely crucified on here for asking advice on how to change

I wonder if you would feel the same if you had more then one.. I would bet not!

He moved out of catchment. It is unreasonable , absolutely unreasonable, to expect your children to still take priority over children who live in catchment, siblings or no siblings. Otherwise, the wealthy would game more of the system then they already are!

Agree on that. But it is an issue that needs highlighting in my opinion.

Sounds as tho he didn't read MN and put a banker on his list!

Not all secondaries have siblings as a criterion anyway as there is no logistical need for sibs to go to the same secondary and in fact I know a number who don’t.

This is odd: He said it was not feasible for them to accept the allocated place because they would be unable to get their children to different schools so far apart each day.

Who does he have to get them to school? Can they not find their own way? I assume the older ones are at least 13 and maybe older. Get on a bus!

My sympathy is deeply limited tbh.

ETA: I see PPs have sympathy for him but we don’t know where the schools were he listed. If he did indeed list his closest schools after then it does seem unfair tbh

What he said was pretty clear, how can he drop kids in 2 different places at the same time. He also selected other schools as alternatives and didn’t get them either. How are parents expected to ensure all dc are at school on time? I had a similar situation 2 different schools allocated (house move) 2 miles apart and they had the cheek to say couldn’t I ask my mum (who lived 299 miles away and worked!!!)

As someone with an only child I don’t agree with my child being pushed out for children of parents who have chosen to move away from area just because the have siblings.

In his case they probably can afford move again, if it is true that they moved since the other children went through the process....but if this case has highlight this issue then good - as many people who also have had similar experiences can't always just afford to up and move house! It is a real issue for some families.

When I saw this, it made me like him less. He's trying to get special treatment 😄

How do you explain that there are news and media articles all the time about this subject showing mr and mrs average?
Callers to the Vine show referenced above werent all famous people were they?

I also wouldnt have thought he is a 'multi millionaire' as referenced above. And even if he is, he is a tax payer, parent, member of society with the same problems that people have with their kids schooling.

It's totally fine him complaining as indeed people on Mumsnet do.
But if they end up suddenly finding a place for him, because he is famous, then that would not be great.

If he's struggling with getting his kids to different schools maybe he can move the older ones to where the youngest is. Probably disruptive. Or alternatively don't move when your kids are at secondary school, at least not without checking the admissions policy.

Loads of schools round here have removed sibling priority to stop the multitude of parents who would move/rent near the good school for a year, get the first kid in. Move to a nicer part of the county 15/20 miles away and then send the next 2 kids there as well. The schools rightly came to the conclusion that priority should be for the kids who live closest.

@DeafLeppard I think the admissions criteria changed between his second child starting at the school and his third applying - that’s why he’s annoyed about it. If you already have two children at a school and the second got a place even after you’d moved I think most people would presume the criteria would be the same for the third. Maybe there was a consultation and maybe they misunderstood the changes but there isn’t anything he can do about so it’s not unreasonable to be frustrated by the circumstances. Even if they’d read the rules before applying they’d still be frustrated by the situation and I don’t think it’s entitlement.

Anyone would be struggling with multiple kids in different schools the solution could be to move your kids to a new school if you want to move out of catchment. As I see it, the school situation should be part of the decision to move, if having all your kids at a specific school is crucial then you stay put or find another house in the same area, you can’t have it both ways.