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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to appeal about dd not getting into school of choice

25 replies

Rowgtfc72 · 16/04/2011 06:31

Dd is four, we have just been told she hasn't got into the school of our choice where she is currently at nursery. Its no more than four hundred metres away from our front door and she has made loads of friends in nursery. Other school is further away and its likely she will not know anyone there. She is, however, quite excited about making new friends, having a new jumper and having a lollipop lady! AIBU to want her to stay where she is and appeal (I'm so annoyed and feel its personal now that someone somewhere has got a place that should be ours ! ) I do know not all the kids that go to this school live in the catchment area like we do. Please be gentle, first post in AIBU !

OP posts:

mycatoscar · 16/04/2011 06:36

What makes you think that someone has got the place that should have been your dd's? Do you think a mistake has been made?

YANBU to appeal - it's always worth a try. But for now assume she is going to the other school, becasue appeals can take forever and you may still not know by the holidays.

FWIW my dd started school in sept at a school where she vaguely knew one other child. No one else from her nursery went there. She is very happy and has made lots of lovely new friends.

mycatoscar · 16/04/2011 06:40

oh and we live 0.35 miles from our first choice school, sometimes catchments are tiny we were told catchment was around 0.5 miles, last year it went down to 0.18

Original poster

Rowgtfc72 · 16/04/2011 07:21

Waiting for the letter to come to explain why we haven't got in. There aren't that many kids with siblings and I know a lot of the kids live further away (don't know if they have been offered places or not )It just feels so personal - daft isn't it ! However Ive just read you can go on a waiting list so will see where that leaves us ! On a plus point dd really isn't bothered, it's just us. She would make friends anywhere !

OP posts:

fivegomadinthelambingshed · 16/04/2011 07:28

Repost this in primary education, you will get a lot of help with the appeal process.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 16/04/2011 07:30

if more people applied than there are places, then not everyone can get in. Look on it as an opportunity. You'll meet new people, make more friends.

She's 4. Most children will not know anybody when they start school.

caramelwaffle · 16/04/2011 08:29

0.18 miles, mycat? Where on earth do you live?

BabyBoom Town?

(feel free not to answer)

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 16/04/2011 08:34

If the school is no more than 400 metres from your house I would appeal for several reasons. One being that when it is chucking down with rain there is less of a journey! There may have been a mistake, there may be a high number of siblings. However, if it your first choice then you don't have any option but to appeal. If she doesn't get in then it is not the worse thing I. The world by the sound of it. She will make friends wherever she goes.

Rosebud05 · 16/04/2011 08:37

Our first choice went from 5.7m in 2009, to 4.8m in 2010 to 2.3m this year. It seems to be happening more and more - more siblings as more people staying put as sluggish property market and people in temporary housing (a factor around our way) are there for way more than a couple of years these days.

Rosebud05 · 16/04/2011 08:37

Yes, I'd agree about re-posting in primary education as there are a few experts on admissions and appeals who kindly share their wisdom.

sausagesandmarmelade · 16/04/2011 08:40

Oh bless her!

I know how upsetting it is when you have your hopes on a particular school. My SIL is in the same situation and equally dissapointed. I do think this current system stinks (that you give 3 schools and one is selected for you).

When my DD was very little I put her down for the school I wanted her to go to...and she got in. It was as easy as that.

I would definately appeal. It may be that this school has to take a certain percentage from a different catchment, or if it's a religious school then they have to have a percentage who are non-denominational (I think!).

sausagesandmarmelade · 16/04/2011 08:41

Was going to add that it sounds as if your DD is quite positive about it all...which is really good! I think parents worry more than the kids about them starting school for the first time.

mycatoscar · 16/04/2011 08:55

tell me about it! And the school is 3 form entry! I was quite shocked, but luckily we got our third choice which is lovely and actually closer than out first choice (3 doors away LOL) so it all worked out in the end and I am actually really glad she got in there now.

Vallhala · 16/04/2011 09:05

I hate to say this but if you intend to appeal purely because it's your local school and without special circumstances (e.g. disability etc) you have no chance no matter what your child's age.

An infant school appeals are stricter still and if the class size has been reached you can only appeal if there has been a breach of admissions code or arrangements or of the decision to refuse a place was not one which a reasonable admissions authority would make... essentially if there has been dodgy dealing or a screw-up on the LA or school's part.

See what the letter says and if you can find evidence to prove that other DC have been offered places ahead of yours inappropriately but in reality please don't get your hopes up too much that you will be able to change the decision as it's unlikely unless in exceptional circumstances.

missymarmite · 16/04/2011 09:59

But it is also possible that over time a child might leave and open up a place, so keep trying. Although, this could involved taking DD out of a school she has settled in. Sounds like DD is happy, and she will soon make new friends.

coccyx · 16/04/2011 12:54

what would be your grounds for appeal

Original poster

Rowgtfc72 · 17/04/2011 07:25

Have been told its a two class entry.They take 45 kids. Letter keeps muttering about class size limit of 30. Surely I can try that one ! Also this is the only primary that takes kids from 3 - 11 which is what I wanted. Offered school involves moving up to a junior school in two years. Will try posting in primary education, thanks folks x

OP posts:

sunnydelight · 17/04/2011 07:36

YANBU to be upset, but while you are trying to decide what to do I would really try not to convey your disappointment to your child. You say she isn't bothered, and it may well be that the offered school is where she will end up, so try not to burst her bubble. Kids are often more resilient than the adults - most lower primary teachers I know are scathing of the whole "they must stay together, they are best friends" stuff they have to deal with every year. It often has more to do with the mums' friendships than the kids'.

kitkat1000 · 17/04/2011 07:45

Hi, is it a religious school? if so are you the same religion? My dd1 is currently in reception in a catholic school and such schools have to serve catchment first and we live slightly outside it - my second DD is unlikely to get in next year (despite being in their pre-school) because of the high number of siblings within the catchment applying (so i will have 2 in 2 diff schools!). There is no rule about them having other religions in - parish comes first - as it should i think as i would go mad if a CofE got in my daughters school above my DD2 as a catholic! Usually in non church schools, siblings come before area so it may have been a high sibling intake. As someone else said, you are unlikely to win an appeal in reception but i do know that most schools lose appeals after y2 (as they can then take more than 30) therefore if my DD2 ends up in a diff school i will transfer her 2 years later (rubbish i know but its the only catholic school).

If the school offered has to move up for juniors - surely that wont be an issue as they will all move together??? Do they feed to the same high school?

MY DD1 went to her school knowing noone - not even stepped foot in the school before as we didn't think she'd get in and she loves it and was fine after a week Good luck!

moominmarvellous · 17/04/2011 09:50

We've recently moved so DD is going to a completely different school to where she mainly attends pre- school. So different circumstances but i totally understand the feeling. I felt so comfortable there with the other Mums, DD had some really lovely little friends, and tbh Now that they're all going on to school together i feel left out. DD doesn't give a hoot, it's me that's scared of the school gates come September! I was actually in tears last week saying to my Mum 'what if no one likes me?' :(

But as DH says to me, yes DD has friends at the old place, and yes i got on with the Mums, but how many people do i still know from pre-school/primary school......none. And only 4 from secondary come to think of it. My social circle evolved at the local pub.

So we're all worrying about completely the wrong thing!! What are the pubs like in your area......thats the burning question....

Original poster

Rowgtfc72 · 18/04/2011 13:09

Have just rung education office who have told me we are not in the catchment area by twelve houses, would be ok if we lived across the road! Am appealing still as we are only sixth on the waiting list and the woman told me not to hold my breath about getting in. Looks like dd is going to another school.Shes still very excited about having a new jumper and a lollipop lady! thanks for all your advice .

OP posts:

MrSpoc · 18/04/2011 14:13

Appeal, I did and got my child into the nursery. My wife is still cringing.

My friend lives a lot further away from the nursery but we live just a couple of roads away but he got his kid in first time (his family have strong connections to the School). I rang and questioned it. They explained that although I live closer, we were still out of catchment but my freind was just in. I explained that we may be coming across snobby but their school is by far the best and we only want the best start for our children.

We got a letter through the post saying that we have got a place. (i am glad I rang up).

givemeaclue · 18/04/2011 14:36

nurseries are different though Spoc, the school normally allocates the nursery places itself whereas primary admissions are normally centrally controlled. In OPs case it seems it is the central admissions process rather than one controlled by the school so she can ring the school and be as ingratiating as she likes and it wont make a difference.

OP you have nothing to lose by appealing however as valhalla said you do need grounds and you haven't mentioned any. Obviously if you can demonstrate that the admissions criteria have not been met thats grounds for appeal, but you haven't mentioned thats the case.

good luck to your dd wherever she ends up!

MrSpoc · 18/04/2011 14:41

Well I am still new to all this so not sure how it works, but it worked for us.

givemeaclue · 19/04/2011 10:32

Spoc - yes it worked for you - for nursery - OP's issue is with school. They are two completely different systems of admission (in most areas). Normally a place in the nursery does not mean that you will get into the school, you have to reapply through the centralised admissions process for a place in primary school regardless of whether you are in the nusery at the same school. That is what has happened to OP - her daughter is in the nursery but hasn't got a place in the school.

coccyx · 22/04/2011 12:00

exactly school and nursery admissions are entirely different. phoning a school and having a paddy will not get you into a school

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