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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think siblings should have priority in secondary schools

47 replies

Allotment123 · 18/09/2018 19:19

My daughter goes to a school we are out of catchment for. However it had space and was better than the local school, hence we sent her there. As it is improving it is unlikely we will get her siblings in. It is OUR NEAREST school, but due to ridiculous local boundaries, it is not our catchment school. Okay I have a personal beef about this, but for everyone's sakes, teachers, families etc, wouldn't it be better if siblings followed through, rather than we all adopted a random lottery approach when it comes to secondary and children are driven miles across the city?

OP posts:

Lookingforadvice123 · 18/09/2018 19:22

No, because it would be very unfair if someone within catchment didn't get a place because of your children, who are out of catchment. Annoying for you, but fair. There's a reason people move for schools.

MrsBertBibby · 18/09/2018 19:24

It's secondary. Kids get themselves to and from secondary, surely?

TallulahBetty · 18/09/2018 19:24

I'll never understand how a school can be the closest one to you but not in catchment. Crazy

flowery · 18/09/2018 19:24

”wouldn't it be better if siblings followed through, rather than we all adopted a random lottery approach when it comes to secondary and children are driven miles across the city?”

A lottery approach is very unusual though, and it sounds like you were fully aware there was a risk your second DC wouldn’t get in.

Plus most secondary children make their way to school independently so the travel issue isn’t usually a problem in the way it would be during primary school.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 18/09/2018 19:25

rather than we all adopted a random lottery approach when it comes to secondary

How is it random when they have published admissions criteria for every school?? Did you not look at this list when you sent your daughter there and realise there was a chance others wouldn't get in?

dreamingofsun · 18/09/2018 19:28

the random catchment thing is so that they mix up the different social classes isnt it? So that it gives children from disadvantaged backgrounds more of a chance because they are with kids from more advantages families peer pressure, less pressure on resources etc. I think thats also why they got rid of the sibling rule....at least thats why grammar schools do it

NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/09/2018 19:28

In general I think that in areas where lots of schools (primary especially) have siblings way down the list it is a fucking nightmare and not right really.

Still you work with what you have > you must have known this was a risk and took it anyway?

I feel for the people with primary school kids at different schools and same start times (and not really much they could have done about it bar moving to a different city!) more tbh.

Lichtie · 18/09/2018 19:28

I get how it's annoying for you and hope they get in.
But how does that make it easier for the teachers? Surely it makes no difference to them, only you.

A580Hojas · 18/09/2018 19:29

No. I completely disagree. It's a terrible system.

Lougle · 18/09/2018 19:30

No, it wouldn't. You managed to get your DD into this school. It would be very unfair if your other children then got an automatic 'golden ticket' regardless of your circumstances. The reason they apply the rules each and every time is to stop people moving into choice catchments temporarily to gain admission for one child and then moving out for all the other children. I do agree that this favours people who can afford to move and stay, but there isn't a perfect system.

xyzandabc · 18/09/2018 19:31

I can see the logic for primary as a parent can't physically be in 2 places at once to drop off/pick up.

But secondary kids should, on the whole, be getting themselves to and from school. The vast majority in the UK either walk, bus, train or cycle by themselves. So I don't necessarily think siblings need priority at secondary barring any extenuating circumstances.

In fact I know several families with children at different secondaries. I only have 1 that age at the moment but we do have the potential to have 3 children at 3 different secondaries due to single sex/mixed/grammar and non grammar options. I would much rather choose the right school for the child than assume that because it suits their older sibling it will be a good fit for them.

Penisbeakerismyfavethread · 18/09/2018 19:34

@Allotment123 you’re not in a West country City are you? If so they’ve published some secondary school admissions changes that might help?

Armchairanarchist · 18/09/2018 19:34

I know families that rented briefly in an area to get their first child into a school, moved, then complained bitterly when sibling rights were removed. Catchment areas are clearly defined.

PermanentlyFrizzyHairBall · 18/09/2018 19:41

I think the catchments should perhaps be more fair but I don't really think there sibling priority needs to happen for secondary schools where most students will be making their own way there.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 18/09/2018 19:46

Don't secondary schools offer sibling priority?!

RedSkyLastNight · 18/09/2018 19:48

Siblings in catchment have priority where I live. Most schools only take a handful of out of catchment children so if you have a sibling and live out of catchment then either
a) you live pretty close to the school so good chance of getting sibling in
b) you used to live in catchment and have since moved. No particular reason why sibling should get priority.

PhilomenaButterfly · 18/09/2018 19:50

I was thinking that MrsBert.

agnurse · 18/09/2018 20:00

In my area, if you live out of catchment you have to apply for a boundary exception. They'll only allow you in IF there's enough space.

In my family there were 6 kids. In the city near where we lived, there was a Catholic school that had K-9. Had we kids all gone there, there would have been 5 of us in the school at one time. (Fortunately we were homeschooled so it was a non-issue.) It would not have been fair for 5 kids to be told they couldn't go to their local school because 5 siblings have priority since their sister went there? (Catholic education is free in my area; separate schools are government-funded.)

smallchanceofrain · 18/09/2018 20:00

YABU OP. If you want a guaranteed place you need to move house - and stay moved.

Our local secondary is outstanding. They had a problem with families moving to the catchment area and then moving out again fairly quickly - simply because house prices are cheaper outside the catchment area so you get more house for your money. Some of those families then expected siblings to have a golden ticket. For an already over-subscribed school that would be unworkable and also unfair on those who live in the catchment area if they don't get a place at their local school.

Janleverton · 18/09/2018 20:02

I have 3 dcs at 3 schools - 2 at different secondaries and the third at primary. Yes it’s a pain in the neck with regards to holidays (all have different term dates, including the secondaries one having a week less in the summer and both the older ones having an extra week at half term). But there’s no reason why dc2 should automatically have gone to dc1s school. They make their own way to school and I take the yo7ngest to primary.

EduCated · 18/09/2018 20:04

Catchments can be oddly shaped for all sorts of reasons - schools aren’t neatly and evenly spaced with a similar number of houses around them. Catchments might be drawn so that everyone had a reasonable chance of getting into a nearby school and to avoid ‘Black spots’ where you have an area that wouldn’t be nearest to any nearby school to get in.

Oblomov18 · 18/09/2018 20:10

Siblings in catchment have priority where I live.

But surely it's wrong, the basic concept, that it's your nearest school, but not in catchment: see I always struggle to get my head round that one.

A580Hojas · 18/09/2018 20:13

Have you heard of Graveney School in Wandsworth? I know someone whose child 1 out of catchment (lives about 45 minutes by bus away) got a 6th Form place there (ie. said child had not sat the Wandsworth test and got into the highly selective grammar stream, they just got a place at 6th Form) and then child 1's younger sibling out of catchment got a place all the way through the school from Y7, without having to qualify, just because they are siblings. Child 1 and child 2 were in the school for precisely 1 year together. It's a very unfair system.

Original poster

Allotment123 · 18/09/2018 20:16

Penisbeakerismyfavethread Tell me more...
TallulahBetty I know!

Obviously I knew it when I applied, but it grates rather when it is my most local school. I feel like emotionally I've invested a lot in the school, supporting PTAs, understanding curriculum evenings, ways of working, organising cake bakes for staff etc, so although my next child can go to another school, as a parent I would rather really support one school, get to know the staff etc. And assumed for staff it would be helpful if they knew you and your family. In primary it seems to make a difference, maybe not in secondary?

Interesting that people like catchments so much. I know more people who move into catchment and therefore decrease the diversity in sought after schools, than those who increase the diversity through sibling priorities, often with more chaotic lives and temporary insecure accomodation

OP posts:

1981fishgut · 18/09/2018 20:17

Nope

Looked after children
Adopted children
Children with Sn

Then sibs

I think the rules are bang on

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