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

Skegness, I would be asking to see how they allocated those places, as unless it was on a lottery system I can't see how they can offer one twin and not the other. Well unless one got the very last place, in which case the other twin must be top of the waiting list. And even then, I would want to see the tie break situation they used to decide which twin got the last place.

What is the complecated 'banding' which they use, is it an academic criteria?

I do know of a case where an LEA offered one twin and not the other as there was only one place left. The LEA offered the twin which just happened to be first on the list. The parents appealed stating that the first twin had been offered unfairly over the second twin as no tie break criteria was either published or used. The appeal was successful and both children were allocated places.

I know this as I worked at the LEA - I was NOT the person that allocated these places! Few years ago now tho, but even so.

I think they allocate X number of places per band based on distance, siblings, etc. So probably twin 1 was in band Y and we live closer than other band Y children whereas twin 2 was in band G and we live further away than other children in that band... Not very clear, sorry. Basically I don't totally understand. All I know is that it sucks!

Blimey Skegness! I thought the that if one twin didn't get a place the other was autumatically at the top of the waiting list?

They don't know yet. Not looking forward to telling them at all.

different bands? not about distance then obviously?

Have to laugh at our LEA/council system;

Have just received a text message telling me I can now log onto the system and view the outcome of my application. Errr - I had a letter 5 hours ago, via post. You know, that old-fashioned thing with a proper postie...

[shakes head and mutters about technology...]

Thanks for sympathy, Paul but am not really a fan of the Mail so won't take you up on the phone offer.

How on earth can the sibling rule not apply to twins?? Of all the sibling relationships surely twins are at the top??

I am so gutted for you skegness, how are the twins taking it?

My daughter did not pass her 11+ so we have got our first choice that isn't a grammar. Her best friend is going there too so she and I are happy as larry.

I don't know. Just phoned 1st choice school and they said they said their sibling policy doesn't apply to twins... Think they must have been in different bands (complicated banding system around here, esp for the 1st choice school). The contrast between the 2 schools couldn't really be more stark.

So sorry for you all going through this really stressful situation, must be awful all the waiting and then not getting any of your choices. And how the hell can they justify splitting up twins. Is the mum supposed to clone herself to be at two places at the same time?

No one interested in taking up the up front and not sneaky DM reporter on his offer

What not to say at the school gates

OH's daughter got in to fourth choice school. A good school. We discovered this when the E-Admissions came back online.

Daughter yet to hear the news.

that's the sort of thing that the local news would be interested in

Grammer? No wonder he wasn't offered a place!!

Skegness!

Skegness, that must be a mistake surely?? How on earth can they do that??

Someone joked to me that this could happen and I assured them that they always allocate twins the same school! Feel really gutted, tbh.

No Skegness, that is too dreadful.

Shit. One twin allocated our 1st choice, other twin our 4th choice.

Well I am never going through that again.

11+ hell.

DS was only a few points away from being offered a place at the grammer school...but 20 boys in between him and a place, so won't be bothering to wait.

We weren't offered 2nd chilce because we needed to live less than 1.2 miles from the school, and aparently we live 2.9 miles away. (Not sure which way they were measuring!) But that's OK, becuase if we'd really wanted him to go there we should have bought in the catchment when we moved a few years ago.

He has been offered a place at the Catholic school 13 miles away...manageing to avoid the local school which is duller than dull, so actually I'm quite relieved.

It was the not knowing that nearly killed me.

I actually think he'll be a lot happier at the incredibly laid back shool he's be going tto, rather than the very pushy boys school.

Can you tell I need to talk about this?

Never again though....I think I shall be boycotting the 11+ with my other DC...DS2 wouldn't pass, and DD probably would but there is not way DH and I want her to go to the girls school, although little miss determined might have her own ideas!

Pan London website now working!

We just got email - got our 2nd choice which we're delighted about (knew we wouldn't get 1st choice as out of catchment, but wanted to be on wait list just in case))!