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Original poster

Does it severely annoy you if a state school in your locality is seen as THE one to get in to, ergo if your dc aren't there then they aren't the lucky ones?

34 replies

Mintyy · 26/09/2013 20:13

It really does me! And my year 8 dd. And my ds who will soon be going through secondary allocation.

It fucks me right off like not many things fuck me off!

Thank goodness I don't live in a grammar area, I think I would be going nuts.

OP posts:
TheArticFunky · 26/09/2013 21:12

We don't have that issue with secondary schools because there's only one but there is a lot of snobbery concerning primary schools. The school that everyone wants to go to has actually gone downhill and is probably the worst school in the locality (although it's still ok) however people are basing their decisions on a very out of date Ofsted report.

lborolass · 26/09/2013 21:07

I wasn't meaning to suggest that I wish any ill on the "good" school, just saying that the perceived pecking order can change over time and sometimes very quickly.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/09/2013 20:58

Things can change quickly sometimes though with a new head or change in catchment boundaries which happened a local well thought of school that has definitely fallen from grace.

Yes... the one in our area which used to have parents pewing up two years in advance had some odd shennanigins, lost its head and people started changing their tune.

but that's a bit of a schadenfreudish way to look at it. Yes, it does suck badly that any school is ever - in reality or merely perceived as - second rate. Maybe the way you have to deal with it is that the successes your kids have are all the more worth celebrating?

lborolass · 26/09/2013 20:48

I agree, I don't know what the answer is, luckily my DC is fairly strong minded and is making the best of it.

Things can change quickly sometimes though with a new head or change in catchment boundaries which happened a local well thought of school that has definitely fallen from grace.

Original poster
Mintyy · 26/09/2013 20:34

It is the children I feel for. It filters down to them. Horrible and divisive.

OP posts:
lborolass · 26/09/2013 20:25

Same situation here, someone even said oh no, bad luck when I said my DC didn't get in. I'm sure they were trying to be sympathetic but it's hardly the most thoughtful thing to say.

Actually although my DC wanted to go to that school and everyone thinks it's marvellous I'm happy with the catchment school we were allocated and hopefully the results will be the same as they would at the other school.

It is annoying I agree.

bialystockandbloom · 26/09/2013 20:25

Ha ha yes! I think you're actually in the same area as me and think p'raps its uber-competitive round here. My ds got into the state primary cos he has a statement, but bloody hell I had to field a barrage of "how on earth did he get in"s, I felt almost like a cheat till I reminded myself he does actually have SN. Secondary even worse I expect.

Original poster
Mintyy · 26/09/2013 20:21

Hmm, well I usually have a good soh, but don't think its a laughing matter. Sorry.

OP posts:
TheBuskersDog · 26/09/2013 20:19

It might do if mine didn't go there, but luckily it is our catchment school Grin