Unreasonable question/comment from son's teacher?

[Feminine]

My eldest son is in year 11.
Unfortunately he has never enjoyed school, and although polite (confirmed by all his teachers) he makes no effort.
Anyway, that is more back story than anything else, although l feel it relevant.

My younger son will start in year 7 in September.

Last week one of his head of years (who is also in charge of new intakes) asked my son:

"(smiling) Are you still definitely not returning to school for 6th form? "
My son confirmed he wasn't.
She then went on to say:

"oh good. I have just seen that your brother is wanting a place in September and now there will be no sibling connection, and we are oversubscribed as it is"

Really?

The teacher is totally forgetting that my youngest son will have to attend as it is the only catchment school.

Wasn't she unprofessional?
I think it was a really odd thing to say to my eldest son.

They don't like him. Fair enough.
However, l am concerned that they have now marked my youngest son's card.

Any thoughts please.

True spider l just phoned County admissions. I am awaiting their call back :)

I agree with getting hold of the school admissions policy and read it carefully, just so you know where you stand and at least can apply knowing what might happen. Clearly it might not cause you a problem but better to be informed than have a nasty shock.

It won't be cost to a neighbouring county if your child goes to a school there, OP, your county would simply reimburse them and it would by your county's duty to provide transport.

I've known a case where the only people who got places at a popular primary school were children living within 100 metres: there were a lot of sibling and statemented placements that year. It might well have been illogical that children living 101 metres away then had a 50 minute journey to go to the nearest school with a vacancy, but if the first school is full there isn't a choice.

Don't get me wrong, I really hope your youngest gets a place if that's what you want, I just think you shouldn't make assumptions.

If it is the only catchment school, where will your son be going for sixth form?

My eldest son will be home schooled next year.
Well un-schooled actually. :)

There is a sixth form college about 10 miles away too

Just spoke to county.
Although they can't say before the paperwork has been sent out, the lady said there was no reason for him not to be accepted.
The lady reiterated that as he is at the feeder school, plus catchment... His application would go from catchment plus sibling, to just catchment. This apparently is just a strong an application.
She was actually laughing at the silliness of it all.

Thank you all for your informative responses, fingers crossed lady at admissions was correct. :)

I would be considering playing them at their own game - ask your older son to agree to stay on the school roll until September, so your younger son has the sibling connection, and then once he has taken up the place, remove your older son to HE him.

YANBU. Complain to the school and pass on your complaint to the LEA. Admissions procedure is very strict and no-one should be commenting on whether or not your child will get a place. I'm a teacher btw and I would be furious if I heard a colleague say this. It is also extremely unprofessional to judge a sibling based on their elder brothers / sisters; whether that be positively or negatively.
On a positive note you have now been given a head's up re the procedure. You also will be on alert re any pre-judging of DC2.

BTW I would be looking at vocational / apprenticeship work for DC1; I have seen children thrive when working as they see a real value to it. From your posts he has qualities that count (politeness etc).

Oh thank you caboodle thanks for your advice.
I have been trying to think of one with him.
We arrived at 'unschooling' because he loves to learn, just likes doing it himself.
It has been a really difficult year.
:)

It's so hard when your perfectly nice 'normal' child doesn't fit the school system. My poor son had to follow two siblings who had done everything right both academically and extra curricular. The teachers made cutting comments about him. We made it through school in the end, and he did a vocational course in the sixth form. He is now earning money and paying to do part time courses that interest him. Good luck with your unschooling.

Thank you funky
I am so glad it all worked out well for you.
:) it is really difficult parenting 'outside the box kids sometimes....