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26 replies

Cocopopsss · 04/03/2022 12:56

Having spoken to parents of classmates of DC, it seems like a lot of children in her class were offered a school low down on their list of preferences or even a school not listed!

I spoke to my local council’s admissions dept (different to DC school) and the placing said it was very difficult placing children this year as there had been a spike in the local population.

This is in the West Midlands. I’m curious about other areas as I really felt for the kids/parents given a random, far flung school.

Anyone with some insight into this?

OP posts:
Whatwouldscullydo · 04/03/2022 13:08

With the way housing has been cropping up without the supporting infrastructure yes its getting harder and harder each year I think to place kids.

However I think its also important to remember that sometimes the scenarios are self inflicted to a point.

Here In bucks for example you get 6 spaces. That usually gives you enough room for a couple you really want but are unlikely to get and a banker or 2 that you are garunteed to get as a safety net so to speak.

So fir arguments sake first time round I listed my dds ( 15) school 5th amd my catchment school 6th.

So on the outside it appears I got 5th choice but there were only 2 possibilities listed that I had a chance with and out of those I got the top one

Parents can often be less than truthful with what they say re their applications. Assuming they will get their catchment school so not listing it and not being realistic with any of the other selections so it appears they have been extremely unlucky being put in a school they didn't list miles away but then that's what potentially happens when you don't put one or 2 that you are very likely to get.

I've known.people only.list 1 thinking they will almost force the situation.

As a result I think its Difficult to gauge from talking to people how dire the situation is.

Probably best to wait for the individual counties to upload their data. Many will post the number of applications and the numbers if students granted first choice etc