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Original poster

Feel sad for dd as she has no hope of getting into the school she likes

27 replies

bunjies · 27/09/2013 10:51

We went to a couple of school open days this week, one at our closest school & one at the popular girls school. We have no issue with the closest one, in fact our ds goes there & likes it. When we looked round there was nothing glaringly bad & on the whole the teachers were enthusiastic. It has always been our preferred choice due to its location. We decided to go & visit the other school to provide some perspective expecting it to be stuffy & not at all what dd would like. How bloody wrong we were. She & we came away totally blown away by the school. She loved everything she saw & now has her heart set on going there. One thing I did notice is that the teachers took more of a step back & let the students do most of the talking. Our guides were a y8 & y12 girl & they were lovely.

Problem is the school is likely to be very over subscribed & as we don't live in the catchment area or have a sibling she is unlikely to get a place. Also if we put this down as her 1st choice & our closest school as her 2nd there is a risk she won't get a place at either. Although at least there will be a sibling connection.

Anyway, I don't really expect any answers & i know it's how things are but it still saddens me that dd won't be able to go to the school she has set her heart on.

OP posts:
HmmAnOxfordComma · 27/09/2013 10:57

Putting your closest school (ds's) down as second choice won't affect her chances of going there. The authority/schools are not allowed to take preference as a criterion for offering places, ie. you will be given the highest up school on your form for which you qualify. Therefore, it's worth putting the school you really like down as first choice, and if by some fluke of lower birth rates or applications to this school this year, you might get a place. If not, you will still get a place at your ds's school (if you're sure you qualify on sibling/distance grounds etc).

Mintyy · 27/09/2013 10:54

It sucks a bit and is very hard to explain to children, but why have you said this: "Also if we put this down as her 1st choice & our closest school as her 2nd there is a risk she won't get a place at either. Although at least there will be a sibling connection."

?