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Original poster

School admissions transport help

35 replies

Hump12 · 02/03/2023 14:27

We got our result for secondary school admission yesterday. Our first and second choice were schools in our home town that my daughter liked best. We did not put the nearest school (1 mile away) on the form as my daughter did not like it and the other two schools in my opinion are better and also the nearest school is C of E and we are not religious and there was an clear religious element when we visited. We put two grammars as 3rd and 4th choice as she narrowly missed out in the Kent test and we cannot appeal to them if they are not on the form. The school we have been allocated was not on our form at all and is 13 miles away. Having looked into travel it will cost us a substantial amount per year for a school bus. (The allocated school is in a rural location and the opposite direction to where I work so driving her is not an option) If she got a local school she would be driven and the second grammar is in the town I work in so again I could drive her. I cannot figure out whether I will be responsible for the cost of transport to the allocated school if our appeals are not successful. Any advice would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hump12 · 02/03/2023 15:00

Plumbear2 · 02/03/2023 14:56

This is why you should always put your closest school somewhere on the list eve of you don't like it to avoid this situation. People think they can fiddle the system if they refuse but the reality is you carnt . There's always someone who does this every year.

Sorry I’m unsure how this is “fiddling the system”. You go round secondary schools to see which ones you like best no? So due to a post code lottery you think I should have accepted that my daughter has to go to a lower performing school? To be able to appeal for the grammars we had to put them on the form which didn’t leave many other options.

OP posts:
DistrictCommissioner · 02/03/2023 14:57

Hump12 · 02/03/2023 14:55

The nearest one is over subscribed so I’m not sure how I’d know if she would have got a place? If it wasn’t over subscribed surely the allocated school would have been there?

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You’d know by identifying what admission category your DC falls into (eg category 3, no sibling but lives in catchment) & finding out whether everyone in this category was admitted or not.

Plumbear2 · 02/03/2023 14:56

This is why you should always put your closest school somewhere on the list eve of you don't like it to avoid this situation. People think they can fiddle the system if they refuse but the reality is you carnt . There's always someone who does this every year.

Original poster
Hump12 · 02/03/2023 14:55

slamfightbrightlight · 02/03/2023 14:36

If she would have been admitted to your nearest school if you’d applied there, then likely you will be responsible for arranging transport.

The nearest one is over subscribed so I’m not sure how I’d know if she would have got a place? If it wasn’t over subscribed surely the allocated school would have been there?

OP posts:
DistrictCommissioner · 02/03/2023 14:52

I don’t think you’ll be eligible for transport in this scenario. You chose not to apply to the nearest school.

UKMum2021 · 02/03/2023 14:51

No wonder we are paying more and more taxes

TeenDivided · 02/03/2023 14:39

Get your name down on the wait list for the nearest school if you would prefer it to the 13 mile away one.

slamfightbrightlight · 02/03/2023 14:36

If she would have been admitted to your nearest school if you’d applied there, then likely you will be responsible for arranging transport.

Mumsafan · 02/03/2023 14:33

Our previous neighbours had this issue with their DS. The local authority sent a taxi for him each morning and back home.

We are in a rural area and the allocated school with bus didn't give him a place and he didn't get into grammar. She had a job where she had to leave at 7.30 each morning and the school they allocated him didn't allow pupils on premises until 8.

So she told them either he didn't go to school or they sent taxis paid for by the LA

clary · 02/03/2023 14:30

Hi OP and sorry about your situation. I'm afraid that, as I understand it, since you did not put your closest school on the list, you will be liable for transport to the allocated school.

Thirteen miles is a bit of a trek - any chance that there might be a place at the nearest school - a one-mile walk would be better and cheaper after all. This is why parents are always advised on MN to put their closest school down somewhere on the form. I realise that this is not helpful for you!

You can go on waiting lists remember, and of course appeal. I would deffo check out where you will be on WLs for all the local schools.