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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To get my knickers in a twist over this?

74 replies

Duperhero · 23/01/2015 15:01

Hello,

Would love some opinions on this please. We were forced down the private route as no school places available. We are still waiting for a place in Year 2.

There is a little girl in my DC's class who has just been allocated a place at our nearest school. We were number one on the waiting list, but somehow the other child has been given a place. They live much further away from the school than us. There are no learning difficulties that I know of, as the little girl was in my DC's class and at a similar level. There is a sibling, but we also have a sibling at the school we are on the waiting list for.

How could this have occurred? Mutual friend has been bragging about how there are 'ways' to get both children into same school. She won't elaborate when pushed about these mysterious 'ways'!

Am I missing a trick here? I want to bring this up with the Council to find out why we were not given the place.

Our LEA criteria is Looked After Children, SEN, Siblings, then distance. Length on waiting list doesn't come into it.

OP posts:
footallsock · 24/01/2015 18:30

Radius map sorry !!

Duperhero · 24/01/2015 18:32

The other family live much, much further away than us. It's as the crow flies here, but waking route would place them much further away too.

OP posts:
NoCoatFurKnickers · 24/01/2015 18:43

This happened to us. You can see the community school from my bedroom window- it just happened by some crazy coincidence that the replacement therapist that I had that week was the childs( who got ds's school place) mother and did she BLAB. She told me the only reason she got her son into the school was her BIL was in charge of admissions (theyd moved here from abroad)Grin silly woman!

KayElleBee · 24/01/2015 19:09

If it's a primary school you're trying to get into (YR-Y6), is your DC's sibling in the juniors (Y3-6) and the other child's sibling in the infants (YR-2)? In our area, reception admissions give priority entry to primary schools to siblings, but within that, children with a sibling in the infant years of the school get places first, then ones with a sibling in the juniors - there might be a similar sub-criteria in operation in your area?

It does sound more like they've found a way around the rules somehow though!

Duperhero · 24/01/2015 19:18

We both have siblings of the same age so even with sub sibling rules it wouldn't change the waiting list order.

With the BIL, did you appeal and win? That's shocking!

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 24/01/2015 19:24

Hello OP

In my local authority, the list only stands for the first term after the intake. Ater that, all bets are off and places go to the person who phones up and nabs it when it becomes free

Could it be that in your case?

I do sympathise - I have been in your position too but fortunatleya place became free just a few weeks before DC2 started school and she got in as first on the list

Duperhero · 24/01/2015 19:40

No our lists remain until you take your child off the list. There are families who have been waiting for 2 school years.

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 24/01/2015 19:41

Oh OK - I thought I'd cracked it there

I take it that you have phoned up admissions and asked?

Duperhero · 24/01/2015 19:49

They have said they cannot discuss but I'm calling again on Monday!

OP posts:
Hamper · 24/01/2015 19:51

Something sors seem dodgy from what you posted. Glad you are following up.

NoCoatFurKnickers · 24/01/2015 20:06

Duper DH was furious and boy did he have admissions crapping themselves - he threatened to go to the press- the admission rules here are very strict and schools have no say it was supposed to be centralised To avoid bias!
As it happened gut instinct took over and I told DH not to pursue it- I transferred all my children to a amazing school 6 miles away from our home and in those years their tiny village school has earnt an OFSTED outstanding, I'm glad they got their dirty place in the school Grin because it was the best move we ever made!

PumpkinRain · 24/01/2015 20:36

I would definitely contact the LEA. I wouldn't ring though I would write or email. I have experience of being lied to on the phone from our LEA.

Duperhero · 24/01/2015 20:42

Amazing this can happen nowadays. Good for you finding an amazing school for your children.

I will put this in writing that's a good point.

OP posts:
IDontDoIroning · 25/01/2015 14:01

It is possible that they have had some kind of Sen diagnosed and don't want to tell anyone whcih is fine but you would have thought she wouldn't be saying what she has said to cheat the system.

If you intend to write I would write in recorded delivery.

Ask /state the following
I write in respect if my child xx dob application to x school x county, this application was submitted in accordance with the correct process and procedures for x county on x date.

On x date I was informed by admissions dept that my child was first on the waiting list.

I have not been informed of any changes to application criteria affecting my child's applications nor have I been informed that my child's place on the waiting list has changed, and I therefore have assumed My child x remains first in the waiting list. I have reconfirmed this with staff in the admissions dept on several occasions by (phone email etc and rough dates if you know them)

As per the original application my address remains no x y street, z town, AB1 23C, and is approximately (by Google maps or some other reference) x miles from xx school. We have not moved address.

My older child z and a sibling of x is already a pupil at x school. My child has no Sen and is not lac so I undertsand that normal admissions criteria apply.

I therefore assumed that my child would be first to be offered a place at x school should one arise, unless a fresh application was received from a child who has special status such as LAC or was resident at an address that was geographically closer by the standard assessment method or there was a significant change in circumstances of a child that was lower on the waiting list which affected their place such as moving closer to the school etc.

On x date I was disappointed to hear from Mrs abc who lives at a b street, z town that her child (name ) had been admitted into x school thus superseding my child on the waiting list. I do not know (unless you do) what number place this child was on the waiting list, but as my child was first I have to assume that they would have been lower, second or even lower due to the distance they live away from the school.

While I appreciate that you cannot disclose to me confidential issues in respect of the school application process undertaken by Mrs abc I am at a loss to know why her child would supersede my child x on the waiting list, as my house is closer and if all other aspects of the appreciation are identical then preference should be given to the child living nearer which is my child x.

I know Mrs abc has an older child who is also a pupil the school as do I and I have not been made aware of any changes in sibling priorities for applications. In addition I have known mrs abc since 20xx and I believe her child to be her natural child and not LAC, and I am aware that they continue to live at x a street. I know this to be a fact because ... Eg my child has gone on play dates or whatever and during my conversations Mrs abc has not indicated she has moved house recently. Mrs abc has been quite vocal about being successful in getting a place at x schoo for her child and has intimated that she has had some special knowledge of ways to beat the application process and has in some way or another manipulated her application to get her child admitted.

I would be grateful if you could review this application in comparison to mine to ensure that the correct processes and procedures have been applied in bith cases and the correct information has been supplied by Mrs abc in the application and no oversight has taken place in the award of this place to child.

I reserve the right to formally complain about the application of Mrs abc and admission of child and appeal the administration of this application process subject to your responses.

steppeinginto2015 · 25/01/2015 22:33

Oh wow, ironing, that letter is awesome.

(makes note of name in case I ever need a formal complaint letter written!)

footallsock · 26/01/2015 07:23

Great letter ironing. Perfect

diddl · 26/01/2015 07:27

I would cut that down considerably tbh.

ChocolateBubbleBarsmakemefat · 26/01/2015 07:52

That letter is spot on. I would use that OP

IDontDoIroning · 26/01/2015 08:00

Thanks - obv feel free to edit and correct the typos.

Stealthpolarbear · 26/01/2015 08:23

Lurking as I want to know

minibmw2010 · 26/01/2015 09:25

Did you get any answers this morning OP (asking my question now even though it's only 9.25am as I'm working Smile)

Stealthpolarbear · 02/02/2015 17:51

Any update?

egnahc · 02/02/2015 18:04

Ok. Does the LA manage the non standard admissions. Those in year?

Usually here they are managed directly by the school who hold their own waiting list.

Here you have to contact each school and go on the waiting list. This has to be renewed in September each year. The LA are only involved in admission years (reception usually) and then only until the end of September when the school becomes in control.

Are you sure that you have understood the local process?

itsveryyou · 02/02/2015 18:13

Not sure if they can help, but you might contact www.childrenslegalcentre.com or ace-ed.org.uk to see if they can offer any advice about your options.

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