Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell you to read this thread if your DC starts school in Sept!

244 replies

seamstressmummy · 19/12/2015 19:13

This thread saved my skin last year, so I am paying back the karma.

15th January seems to be the closing date again.

  • remember it is preferences, not choices
  • they do not HAVE to give you one of the schools on your list
  • make sure you have a dead cert banker in there!
OP posts:
Jesabel · 24/12/2015 13:21

ursus - is the next nearest school more than 2 miles away? I think the council will offer transport (just for the child, not for you and siblings) if the nearest place they can offer is further than 2 miles.

Are you sure you have no chance in the village school? Who has told you all places will go to siblings?

DreamingOfAFullNightsSleep · 24/12/2015 13:28

Oh my goodness! We won a place for my dd, currently in reception, on appeal last year and now the nerves are hitting that my dts won't get in this year :/

DreamingOfAFullNightsSleep · 24/12/2015 13:30

Also I would definitely try the village school if I lived in the village ursus as your first choice. We got offered out village school but did win our appeal for a 15 place school in a neighbouring village. A child who moved to the village and had no transport also got in on appeal.

MrsHathaway · 24/12/2015 16:14

I know of a school here who have had 29 siblings for 30 places more than once. Only takes one statemented or LAC and nobody else gets in.

Naty1 · 24/12/2015 16:30

Thats what im worrying about a sudden increase in siblings
Direct gov say 0.07mi whereas another gov site says 0.035mi.
There are at least 2 sets of twins. Both with older sibs

tiggytape · 24/12/2015 18:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ursuslemonade · 24/12/2015 19:46

Thanks all for your replies.
Dd is in the nursery attached to the school and approx 80% of them have siblings attending school already. It's a given that they will get in...
There are 30 places available in the school and the nursery takes 2x27 local children.
Been told that not even all children with older siblings already in school will get in, it's quite a big village so what chances do I have? Not much.
My only hope that the second closest one (in next village) will take her and there will be a school transport. It's about 2 miles from home and it took me once 50 mins to walk there. The other small town in the other directon is also being served by the same crappy bus company (once an hour type and not arriving at the school just after 9 grrr) I feel so shit because I don't drive and now being pregnant with number 2 I don't have a chance to learnt it any time soon. I was going to give it a go after my dd starts school so I have the time...
Anyway thanks again for your answers, I will appeal and also enquire about transport methods/costs.

ursuslemonade · 24/12/2015 19:50

learn not learnt

tiggytape · 24/12/2015 23:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CruCru · 27/12/2015 00:05

This thread is helpful, thanks.

Enjolrass · 27/12/2015 08:15

Anyone know how you go about applying if you are moving area?

Sil is insisting on applying for schools 40 miles away. Because by summer they will be living over there. She thinks if she puts that in her comments it will be ok.

Except their house isn't up for sale yet and they have been saying they are moving for the last 5 years.

We don't have a great relationship and she doesn't take advice well. She assumes that since I won an appeal (secondary) that she will. Her words are that if they don't give her DC a place she 'just won't have it and they will have to give in'.

Is she right that if they are moving, but don't have an offer on a house that she can get in?

It could be me that's wrong, but I don't think they would consider it since nothing is set in stone.

LIZS · 27/12/2015 08:32

She can apply from the current address through her LA for out of area schools but obviously will be lower down on distance criteria than those living locally so may well not get a " good" school place of her choice. After that she can name schools for waiting lists and once she has moved the position would be revised so she may eventually get in that way. If she turns down what is offered it will be up to her to liaise over places as LA will have satisfied their initial obligation.

LIZS · 27/12/2015 08:36

The alternative is to make all her choices local schools so that she has a back up and make a late application to new LA when things are more certain ie. She has evidence of new address.

Enjolrass · 27/12/2015 09:08

I will pass that on thank you.

The school she wants is massively over subscribed. Most in that area are. So I don't think she will get a place on distance.

I am worried she will apply for schools over there, the house won't get sold and they will still be living here in September with no school place. But there isn't much I can do about it, I suppose.

As I say, they have been moving 'next summer' for the last five years, so it may not even happen.

tobysmum77 · 27/12/2015 09:19

I am always Hmm about the apparently 'rubbish' schools. So what you mean is that they had a bad OFSTED a couple of years ago? Since then they've improved and are now better than the one you're all clamouring to get into that will have a crappy inspection this year?

I've put indeed choice down, dd2 wll get in there is absolutely no doubt. A lot more sensible than putting 6 that you arent certain of Wink

tobysmum77 · 27/12/2015 09:19

One choice....

tiggytape · 27/12/2015 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
seamstressmummy · 27/12/2015 15:11

new trend has been 38 siblings chasing 30 places

What happens in that scenario?!

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 27/12/2015 15:19

The thirty nearest siblings get in, the other eight go elsewhere, and the only children and pfbs go elsewhere too.

Realistically, many of the siblings launch appeals and people can be seen marching along the road with those wheely measuring things.

Original poster
seamstressmummy · 27/12/2015 15:22

Thanks. I wonder when this is going to peak, or if we are only seeing the start of overcrowding.

OP posts:
tobysmum77 · 27/12/2015 16:19

Tiggy we are in priority area with sibling. Plus the school probably won't even be oversubscribed. There is absolutely no doubt at all she will get in. You don't have to be a looked after child to be certain.

tobysmum77 · 27/12/2015 16:23

In relation to 38 siblings round here only siblings in priority area get a place above the other children in priority area so it isn't necessarily a guarantee that even 30 of them will get a place but I think different areas must work differently.

Naty1 · 27/12/2015 17:42

Our school says siblings attending prior to 2016 have higher priority, which will be annoying trying to get dc2 in, in a few years.
As half the schools siblings will be higher despite us being 57m from school

missymayhemsmum · 27/12/2015 22:27

The big thing it is not too late to visit all your local schools, particularly the ones you might get a place at. Too many people choose the 'popular' (oversubscribed) school and ignore a good local school which may actually give a better education, especially if it has smaller classes, but has a 'reputation' based on myth, rumour, snobbery, and perception of what it was like 5 years ago. Personally, I would choose the school that is 'coming up' rather than the one that is resting on its reputation

tiggytape · 27/12/2015 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.