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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think school refused a place because of this

75 replies

Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:01

Hi,I'm new to the site so not sure where to post but this board looks active.

We moved house over the summer and dd's school is now too far to attend (4hours each way) and we haven't been able to find her a school place (year10) . We are planning to move again but haven't found the right house yet .so we applied to a school in the area that we want to move to.
We've looked around the school just before summer and were told when they move to the bigger building they will have space to take on more students. They asked Dd what options she'd pick and said she'd fit in nicely,just need to get in contact with precious school. so we really thought we'd get a place. Now they told us they have no space. Aibu to think they didn't offer her a place because they spoke to her previous school and found out she has a 'child in need plan' and didn't want all the extra hassle.

Sorry for rambling on,in a bit of a panic because she's not at school and year 10 is important ,can't get a place in the area we are in or the area we are moving to . Tried lots of schools but no luck.

OP posts:
Tiredandtested · 19/09/2016 09:06

I'd post this in Secondary Education, there is some great knowledge on there.

RedHelenB · 19/09/2016 09:07

I think if nowhere has a place it is unlikely the school are holding anything against her, simply that they are full. What area of the country are you in?

Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:08

In the south east

OP posts:
Whynotnowbaby · 19/09/2016 09:09

If this is a state school and they have a place they can't refuse to give it to her. If you think they have done this then appeal the decision and an independent panel will decide whether she can go or not

redskytonight · 19/09/2016 09:11

Have you applied for a secondary school place via your LEA? They have to offer you a place somewhere!

Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:12

I'm really not sure if I'm just paranoid and thinking they've refused her a place because of the reason above or they really don't have space. I just don't see why they will show us around ,ask her to pick options and even have her two dates last week to have a taster day at which never happened . Had dds hopes up because there's not many schools like it around.

OP posts:
Only1scoop · 19/09/2016 09:12

Surely they have to offer a place somewhere for your dd?

Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:13

I have red sky and they said to keep calling schools and if we can't find anywhere by the end of October they will help. I don't want Dd out of school for that long ,especially not in year 10!

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/09/2016 09:13

If a place was available, and there is no definite indication that there was, it is possible someone already in or moving nearby took priority. Where in their entrance criteria does Child in Need come, is it listed ahead of siblings, distance etc and did you mention it at the time? Is the school an academy or selective?

Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:14

The lea have told us that because she is still registered at her old school,she has to go back or try and find a place ourselves ,if we don't find a place by the end of October then they said they will help.

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/09/2016 09:16

I would question that. They have to find a space. Are you now living locally? Is it the local LA you are talking to?

Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:16

Not an academy or selective ,I didn't mention it at the time. I have no idea about where child in need comes as I think only children in care can take priority. Dd knows someone in the year group and no one else has joined and they haven't been told of anyone else joining. Infact,some children left at the end of last year .

OP posts:
Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:17

The la I've spoken to is the one we are living in now ,we are planning to move again so it would be a different LA again

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/09/2016 09:20

So you aren't yet living near the school you visited. Secondaries are so large I'm not sure how reliable anecdotal evidence of comings and goings would be. Have you spoken to the LA there for a list of vacancies?

Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:24

It's a very small secondary school,no more than 70 kids in the year group. Waiting for the LA to email me the list.

OP posts:
FluffyWuffyFuckYou · 19/09/2016 09:36

Now they told us they have no space. Aibu to think they didn't offer her a place because they spoke to her previous school and found out she has a 'child in need plan' and didn't want all the extra hassle

It's far more likely that they actually have no space.

BertPuttocks · 19/09/2016 09:39

"We've looked around the school just before summer and were told when they move to the bigger building they will have space to take on more students."

So have they now moved to the bigger building? I took this to mean that there wouldn't be any spaces yet but that they will have after the move.

t4nut · 19/09/2016 09:41

Schools aren't that organised, plus they don't handle their own admission lists.

If there's a space the local authority offer it to the person at the top of the waiting list. If there isn't you get told it's full and how to appeal.

From the local authority find out what admission category you're under, where you are on the waiting list, what the PAN is for that year group and how many are in that year group.

t4nut · 19/09/2016 09:43

Oh and to add, you're moving in year 10. year 10 is not a normal transition point so normally it would be full as a starting point. You'd be waiting for someone to leave for their to be a space - or for new buildings to go up.

Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:44

There wast space at the time but then they told us they had a few students leaving and that more places will become available when they move and they have moved now .

OP posts:
Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:44

Wasn't *

OP posts:
Original poster
Unluckyirish · 19/09/2016 09:45

T4nut , they've moved to the new building.

OP posts:
reallyanotherone · 19/09/2016 09:47

So, your dd is registered at her old school.

You are living on LEA1, but want a school where you propose to live in LEA2. You have applied to the school directly, rather than through LEA1?

We have also relocated over the summer (and also without school places for the forseeable). You have to apply for an in-year place in the LEA you are currently living in, then they take over the responsibility for education from your old school.

You can put LEA2 school down on your application. If you don't live close though you will likely be at the bottom of the wait list.

I'd contact LEA1 and formally apply for an in year place. They will have to find you somewhere, then it is your choice whether to home school until a desired place comes up, or accept what you are offered and switch later.

Bit I think it's likely distance that means you aren't getting a place.

CrotchetQuaverMinim · 19/09/2016 09:48

If it's technically full, then they have to refuse her - but you can still appeal, and if they are actually happy to have an extra pupil (e.g., in anticipation of the new buildings), then you'd have a good chance at appeal. Now that you've been to see the school, you can talk about all the things about it that particularly suit her, and the fact that there aren't any other schools that have places - it is possible that the appeal won't be fought very hard by the school, but it just has to be done formally in order for them to admit over numbers.

leccybill · 19/09/2016 09:48

If it is an LEA school and not private, they will not have been able to refuse her because of her plan. (Is it an EHCP? What is the nature of the need?)

  1. Because they don't handle their own admissions.
  2. Because it is illegal.