to not want to walk 35 miles to get to somewhere I dont even want to go :@

[WomanScorned]

We have been allocated a reception place at a school 1 3/4 miles away. That's 17.5 miles a week, in rain or shine. Or snow and ice, on top of a long school day for DS's little legs. And double that for my 46y old achey hips and dodgy knees.

I'm trying to be positive, looking at running shoes and making the most of it, but this school run's going to be f***g miserable, isn't it?

Would I be very unreasonable to shout 'shut up' out of the window, at the smarmy swines running around the playground of the school 5 metres away, who are gloating and laughing at me, because they got in and we didn't?

Dont give up, he might still get in to the close one. A lot of things happen between now and September. Just keep asking for an update etc.

I think I would be more annoyed at having to spend 2 hours a day doing the school run (not to put a further downer on things…).

On the other hand, waiting lists can drop down quite quickly. Good luck!

Yes jacks, 19 places were awarded on distance and we live closer than any of them, indeed closer than any other student in the whole school.

The admissions team have been quite negative on the phone.

I never provided proof if my address, as I saw nothing in the application notes to indicate I needed to.

Dd you take a screen shot/photo copy of the form you filled out thy has the adress you used?

Then fight it all the way and good luck. The appeal should be a formality for you and easy to win.

Why did they use the old address? Did they actually believe you still lived at the old address? When did you move? Before or after the last date for applications? Was the correct address on the application form?

If you post in Education, there are some really helpful posters who will be able to help with your appeal.

And the admissions team may well be negative on the phone. It doesn't mean that you are not in the right, though.

Can your MP or local Councillor help? Do you have proof that you lived in your current address prior to your application?

"The LA had a previous address on their system, so they disregarded the address I applied from, ie, where we live, and used the old one.

If you actually stated your current address on the form you applied on (either paper, or electronic) and were living there at that time, then the LA have made an error and I'd expect an appeals panel to admit your child despite the Infant Class Size Regulations.

I am waiting for an appeal date, but am not massively hopeful, as I have to prove an admin error.

Why would it not be an admin error? If you stated an address and they didn't use it, then it's their fault, not yours. Have you actually made sure they realise there was an error?

"I was banking on the waiting list, but have just learned that 6 families with a sibling link madwnd 2 LA children."

This will be irrelevant in an appeal.

Can't you drive?

How would the route be for cycling?

titchy I think if driving was an option OP wouldn't have started the thread complaining about walking 35 miles a week to somewhere she didn't want to go.

Like other posters have said, I'd be less annoyed at the distance than at the time it will take to complete said distance every day.

If it's a safe route for cycling then I'd highly recommend and bike and tag-along. Probably quicker than going by car. Failing that, you may well be lucky and find other reception parents are passing your house on their way to/from school and can offer lifts or share walking duties. My DS is in reception and I find that parents go out of their way to help each other with drop offs, pick ups and even ad-hoc childcare.

Thanx for all the responses.

I know the waiting list is separate from the appeal, but it was my back up plan.

On the phone, they said they applied the criteria with the information they had on their system and won't give me any indication if whether it will be accepted as an error.

I do have better things to do - like work! I will lose about an hour a day if we accept the place offered.

HE until a mid term place comes up is an option, but I will have to work overnight, which will affect my patience somewhat!

I can drive, but can't afford a car.

I don't know anyone else who goes to this school. Local families use the school opposite our house.

The roads are rubbish for cycling ratruns through narrow, terraced streets.

"On the phone, they said they applied the criteria with the information they had on their system"

Their system is irrelevant. If you gave them the correct data and they used the wrong data, then they have made an error. If that error cost you a place (to be clear, an error isn't good enough in itself - it has to be a material error which cost you a place at the school) then you will win the appeal.

WomanScorned worth posting in Primary Education - lots of appeals experts there who will be able to offer useful advice.

One of the dodgy knees!

I've had advice and done everything I can for now. The reason I posted here today, is because I just found out how far down the waiting list DS is. I had previously dismissed the school offered as I was confident of a waiting list place in the event of losing the appeal. Now, I'm not confident at all. Plus, the appeals won't be heard until the schools are closed for summer, so he'll miss inset days.

transition days, not inset

"On the phone, they said they applied the criteria with the information they had on their system"

I'd be getting my MP involved on the basis of this alone (if you haven't already)

If its any comfort I don't think transition days are that much of a big deal.

My DC's primary was a similar distance. It's fab. You will be fantastically fit. Yes, it will take time but you won't need to go to a gym. Your DS will learn great life time habits and not be one of the significant majority of obese kids. Can he scoot at all? When mine were little (the younger under 5) I had a bike with a pull along trailer like they have at Centre Parks. How about that?

My DC now look back at the school commute as some of the best times of their lives (especially as there was often an ice cream van half way home in the summer). Ah, just seen that your roads are rubbish for cycling whereas my commute was through a park and along tarmaced traffic free share cycle/pedestrian paths. That's the problem: lack of decent provision for cyclists and pedestrians. Hope you win on appeal.

I don't think transition days make much difference.

If you post again under Primary specifically asking for help with the appeal and giving dates of everything (e.g. when you moved house, when the application went in, etc.) and listing all the communications between you and them, there are some fantastic MNers who are experts on admissions and appeals and will be able to give you good advice.

The OP shouldn't have to drive. Why should she have to spend money driving and add emissions and all that because the schools admissions policies are all skewed?

I did query that, SirChenjin. The response was that as he is at nursery, they have his details. I did ask if, had I not been paying for private childcare, they would just have accepted the information I gave on the application form. She couldn't say. Admittedly, I did keep forgetting to show proof of the new address to nursery. They knew we'd moved, tho.

So, they used our of date information from a third party!

That all sounds very suspect - good luck with sorting it out. Try your MP and definitely post on the Education board