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Original poster

Primary school admissions - would this ring alarm bells?

41 replies

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/10/2018 22:21

We live quite close to a super popular primary. Outstanding Ofsted, loads of local links like joint projects with a nature charity, offer foreign languages etc. Also have an attached preschool and their preschoolers are all but guaranteed a place at the school.

We really hoped DD would get a place.

I emailed last term asking when they normally started tours for Sept 2019 - pretty early, I thought! They responded they were already full for 2019-20 Confused only turned out they had got mixed up between academic years and meant 18-19.

I contacted them again to ask about a tour a fortnight ago. No answer. Tried again a week ago. They emailed back asking for my mobile and said they'd ring. They didn't ring for 3 days and when they did, were confused about what I wanted.

They advised I try emailing again (for 4th time!).

I am starting to have serious second thoughts. Do they sound like a disorganised nightmare to you or am I a picky bitch?

OP posts:
honeysucklejasmine · 02/10/2018 22:24

Can you just go in in person?

It does sound a bit ridiculous tbh

NoHufflefucksGivenMugglefucker · 02/10/2018 22:24

Picky.
They are probably just busy being brilliant

GreenMeerkat · 02/10/2018 22:25

The receptionist might be new?

I really wouldn't judge the quality of a whole school on their admin staff.

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General education
Timeforabiscuit · 02/10/2018 22:26

Is it public or private?

If public, they tend to have specific open days rather than individual parent visits around when the admissions window opens. Your local council tends to co-ordinate admissions , so give the schools admission team a ring or look on the website to check dates.

Clawdy · 02/10/2018 22:26

It might have been easier if you had rung up or popped round to see them. Emails are not always the best choice with a busy primary school.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/10/2018 22:27

I think they probabky know they are outstanding and this is the stuff they don't jeed to bother with cos they would fill your spot in seconds

It isn't difficult to answer the simple.question. i would od worry they found it so puzzling Confused

Wolfiefan · 02/10/2018 22:27

Super popular? They probably have lots of people calling and emailing and hoping their kids would get a place.
Aren’t there times and dates on the school website?

Hoppinggreen · 02/10/2018 22:29

Unfortunately it sounds like they are very oversubscribed and have no need or inclination to arrange tours, there is a school near us that is seen as the most desirable one in our whole Town ( pushes up house prices etc) and they have the same attitude. It IS a good school but has a bit of a reputation for arrogance unfortunately.

purplecorkheart · 02/10/2018 22:29

Call in, in person if you can or else phone. I am finding more and more that some people skim emails and see a few words rather than reading the whole email and reply to what they think you are asking rather than what you are.

biscuitmillionaire · 02/10/2018 22:30

I'm guessing they have a small admin department who are hugely overworked, like most schools. Give them a break! I think most people would phone to ask about an open day or tour rather than emailing. And by the way, 2 weeks ago was 2 weeks into a new school year, so a very busy time!

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree · 02/10/2018 22:30

usually they publish on website for open days
our DCs school and most round here had basically open door policy, not fixed dates or times, ring up and they would fix it up, sometimes led by a charming Yr 6

WyfOfBathe · 02/10/2018 22:31

It might be a disorganised receptionist, or a disorganised admin system.

But having taught in an outstanding (secondary) school, I would put my money on them not bothering to reply because they know they'll be oversubscribed anyway.

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/10/2018 22:42

There is nothing on their website - I checked.

The email address I am using is their admissions one - [email protected] style thing.

Interesting so many people say not to email! In my area, email is a courtesy as you can answer when you have a moment, instead of being put on the spot by a phone call.

OP posts:
PillowOfSociety · 02/10/2018 22:42

Is your Dd at the pre-school, or is it the pre-school you want to apply for?

Application for primary doesn’t close til January so there is plenty of time.

I really wouldn’t base my decision on a primary school on this sort of thing .

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/10/2018 22:46

Pillow we want to apply for the school, but would consider placing her at the preschool if it would guarantee a place. Or so I thought.... every other school we've contacted has been nice and normal, emailed back within a working day, booked us on one of their open days or whatever.

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 02/10/2018 22:50

Is this a state primary school? How can going to the pre-school guarantee a school place? State primaries aren't allowed to do that.

Littlefish · 02/10/2018 22:50

Is it an Academy? If it's a maintained school then admissions will be controlled by the local authority, so your application should be done online through them.

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/10/2018 22:53

Yes it is an academy and we'll use the council's online application form.

But I want to go and look at the damn' place before applying to send DD there every day for years! Surely that is normal??

worried I am a weirdo now Grin

OP posts:
EllenJanesthickerknickers · 02/10/2018 22:56

I would doubt their admissions policy includes attending the preschool. Even academies don't do that, generally. Have a look on the LA website for the admission info, it usually lists each school's admission policy. Usually, LAC followed by siblings followed by distance unless a religious school.

ScarlettJo · 02/10/2018 22:57

I'd be very surprised if a place in the pre-School guarantees a reception place.
Primaries generally don't have open days, you have to arrange a visit. They have a lot to coordinate - especially in September so I'd just call in to arrange if I was you.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 02/10/2018 22:59

Ring them. Unless it's huge there'll only be 2 admin staff in total. The admissions email might not be closely monitored outside admissions rounds. Admin@ etc might be better. Primary schools are often a bit behind the times in their used of technology.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 02/10/2018 23:00

*Their use

TheBrilloPad · 02/10/2018 23:03

Primary schools are insanely busy between now and Thursday - Thursday is the national census day when they get funding for every child on roll, so if there has been any movement with children not coming back after the summer/movement from waiting lists and kids leaving etc, they are frantically dealing with all that because any vacancy means a huge loss in the schools funding, and all the paperwork it entails too.

Email after Friday. They will be more with it then.

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/10/2018 23:04

Ellen it is their admissions policy that their preschoolers have priority. Their admissions policy is spelt out very clearly on their site and the council's. I am not confused about their policies, I just want to see the school!

I'll ring tomorrow. The other primaries in our area have advertised open days so maybe this school is just different.

OP posts:
Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/10/2018 23:05

Really Brillo? Interesting! Might leave till next week then.

OP posts: