Waiting for that secondary school letter (1st march?)

I am over-the-moon. DD1 got a place at our first choice - the superselective girls' grammar school. I truly believe it will be the right education for her as it's the only place around that offers a really academic curriculum which she wants.

Congratulations to everyone else who go what they wanted and comiserasations to those who didn't.

I got MS's first choice, and so did his 2 friends! None of us are 'in catchment' so lucky this year. When I applied for ES, they were full so got 2nd choice, which didn't work out and we sent him to a co-ed independent which has worked out better for him.

Skegness - lots of sympathy from here. This is just utter lunacy. They have to resolve it, it's just so clearly and patently wrong, wrong, wrong.

Roisin

Hey passmyglassplease! Thanks. and well done for getting your DD into Enfield County...thats one of the better schools in the borough I believe?
We live in Southgate - so close to Ashmole but cos it's so oversubbed couldn't be sure she would get in. She didn't make the grade for Latymer or DAO (TBH I was much happier with Ashmole and after filling out the form wish I'd put them first). Anyway it's all turned out good.

Skegness - I do hope you sort this out - it seems total madness!!

Regarding the strangeness of banding...do you mind me asking - is it the 'less academic' twin who has been given the place? And if so, how do you explain that to your other twin?

'You sat a test, you did too well - so your twin gets to go to the better school.'

I agree with you about the DM - but I think there is a news story in this. Telegraph or Indy perhaps???

I can see your reasoning Skeg but it's hardly ideal, is it? Hope it works out- nasty situation to be in.

Good luck.

That's incredibly helpful, Cette. Thank you.

Ampere- I think it works something like that. The idea is to get a mixed ability intake. Tbh, I would prefer them both to be at the 4th choice than split up.

Skegness, haven't got time to trawl through the previous but did I read the decision is made about schools on a spread of banding? To ensure a school gets 'x' percent Band A, x percent of Band B etc? Is that how it works?

IS it possible that an appeal could mean both twins get allocated the 'poorer' school so as to 'avoid' putting a less academic child in a more academically skewed school? Not encouraging, I know, but a thought!

We're glad me moved into the catchment of our chosen school to 'guarantee' DS1 a place. I was concerned about separating him from primary school friends (as he left that primary, too, towards the end of Y5) but, of course, circumstances change and now, out of his friendship group of 4 others, ONE other DC (a girl!) is going to the school DS would have gone to has we stayed put.

So so much for maintaining friendships!

Fwiw, we got first choice though I admit even I was a little bit nervous!

Skegness - I work for a London admissions authority. Am almost positive that NO school is allowed to split twins anymore - a new Code of Practice was bought in for all children who start in 2010 (as yours will) which says twins cannot be split, and schools/local authorities MUST have a section in their admissions regulations which deal with twins and multiple births.

www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0205

As per above, Ed Balls agreed in November 2009 that twins should not be split. Cannot find an updated copy of the code of practice for you (am stupidly busy in the office answering many angry phone calls!!) but will see what I can do and keep you updated if I find further info!!x

I applied for secondary schools near my DD's primary school so she could stay with friends (which is not near where we live) but didn't get into any and also hasn't got into our local school (which I hadn't applied to) If none of the appeals work, does anyone know if she will be stuck with her allocated school? Thanks

Thanks, should be ironing. Good tip re TAMBA.

Skegness - definitely appeal. Also try TAMBA (twins charity) for advice/support - they have done a lot of lobbying on this issue very recently (and have managed to get some local authorities to change their criteria for admissions so that twins have to stay together if the parents want them to).
They have lots of info to back up any appeals. You can contact them direct and I think their advice is free so its worth a try - you can always see if you think it would help.

Skegness - that is truly terrible, and of course the sibling policy should apply . Yes, big fight, big appeal.

Scummy this is ridiculous! I'd go to the papers if it was me and kick up a huge fuss.

hi skegness what a bummer!
much love xxx

Skegness, thats ridiculous. Our LEA makes sure that twins applications get processed together. Except for the case of academic or other aptitude selection, what possible reason could there be for them not being allocated the same school?

Sure, the normal sibling policy shouldn't apply to twins - they should get precedence over non-twin sibs.

Ah, Scummy! Just heard your news elsewhere, didn't realise this was you also. Thought I was hearing double...

Will get your FB details and friend request you, am just entering 21st C in FB terms.

My ds has our 3rd choice, but the other two preferences were always a long shot so we're happy on balance.

I cant believe it, my son has been offered the worst school ever, his sixth choice. Apparently it is the closest school but it is not. There is a closer one which has an outstanding ofsted and yet they placed him at the bottom of the pile. wtf is all that about. Am absolutely livid, there is no way on this earth I would send my son there so will have to appeal and also consider private education. I really didnt want to go down that route but I would rather pay than have my son in his 'allocated' place...

just got letter dd got first choice, am totally gobsmacked and know that we are really lucky, sorry to hear of those who didn't get what they wanted, had that 2 years ago with ds it was awful

Hiya frogs.

We'll definitely appeal. Even if we were prepared to have them apart, which we are most certainly not, the schools are so massively different in style and reputation that I think twin 2 would feel massively hard done by if we didn't put up a huge fight. Am really worried about telling them. They have been together since conception...

How did your boy get on? Hope you've had good news.

(Have name changed- it's Scummy btw)

realdeal, congrats on getting Ashmole, you must live very close as it is really over subscribed?

phew, we just got an email and we got our 1st choice Enfield County for girls.

dd will be very very happy.

good luck to everyone still waiting

skegness that is crazy, i would def appeal.

asdaz, thanks for the link but the norfolk online thing wasnt working, i finally managed to speak to someone at norfolk county council today and ds has his first choice yay

but some people have had an email telling them they have a place and then a letter telling them they havent, others like me have had no email and no letter, it is a HUGE cock up, not impressed at all.

That is truly shocking! I thought most schools were moving towards allocating twins jointly. Can you not appeal and get Twin 2 in on the sibling criterion?