Is the teacher or me?!

[Treeli]

Full disclosure, DS can be a sod behaviour wise. Low level disruption, he’s been on report twice since he started secondary school. He’s just started year 8.

When he joined the school he was streamed middle/bottom sets. He passed his SATS but he’s an August born.

Last year he absolutely smashed science. Didn’t show much ability in class but past his assessments with flying colours. I knew and his teacher made it clear he didn’t want him in the top set but they had to move him due to his assessment marks.

3 weeks into term and I’ve just looked through his science book. They had a quick pop quiz of last years material and his teacher has written this:

XXXXX, should you be in this class? Are you comfortable? I have SERIOUS concerns about you being here looking at this, id like to talk to you after class.

I’m the last person to go running to the school complaining about poor DS (in fact I was the one who told them to put him on report last time), but doesn’t that seem a bit harsh 3 weeks into term when they are going over material from last year?

If there were 30 potential siblings, Lola, she'd know her chances of getting in are pretty slim considering she doesn't/didn't quite meet the other criteria. She's also pushing for SEN assessment with the small chance that will improve her chances. She wouldn't have done that if they didn't say her "minor concerns" might get her somewhere. They also said they even if she doesn't warrant diagnosis/EHCP, fancy wording around the extra needs DC does have could come under social needs. Does it guarantee her a place? No. But the school has fed her as much information as possible to increase her chances and routes to appeal that they know have worked previously. That's what happens when you make friends.

No, they don't offer all that information to every Penelope that enquires for sure.

But knowing that there were 30 siblings wouldn't be something she can change.

She can push "minor concerns" all she likes. Minor concerns won't automatically give her an edge unless she's planning on going down the route of pay a private person to write a report based almost entirely on what the parent reports at home which she can then talk up as required. Again, considering what people with very pressing SEND needs have to do, it's a bit of a joke for someone to try and talk their way into a category (which is sounds like she's willing to do in order to try and fabricate under social needs which is, rightly, a difficult case to prove as you end up with pushy entitled parents trying to shoehorn their child up the ladder on those grounds - schools see it at appeals all the time)

She hasn't made friends with the school. She's doing what pushy entitled parents do and try to talk up tiny issues in a vague attempt to get around the school admission procedures.

You said on the other thread schools are doing all this stuff to get the parents they want. Total nonsense.

No, they don't offer all that information to every Penelope that enquires for sure.
Every piece of information that enables your friend to try and play the admissions system years in advance is available publicly.
Knowing about LAC in the cohort and potential siblings offers her nothing.

And yet you turned up spouting nonsense on the other thread about how posters are naive to go by the admissions procedure when in this thread when challenged you've confirmed the school are following the procedure and your friend hasn't got any insider preference.
It just suited the agenda on the other thread to mud sling at schools, just like it suits your agenda on this thread to act like you're standing up against everyone else who is some mean Govebot who hates children.

She's also pushing for SEN assessment with the small chance that will improve her chance

That sounds far more like a parent who is coming to terms with the fact that her dc has SEN, and is trying to dress it up to friends as "well if I can pretend that the only reason I'm getting her assessed is for a school place, then I don't have to admit that she really does have SEN".

And "minor concerns" won't get her to the level of being able to name a school, nor is it likely she would be considered under medical. You have to have a reason why that school is suitable and others aren't.

So for example, the school is all on the ground floor for a wheelchair user. However my dd who is missing a hand would be considered that any school could cope, and you wouldn't get priority entry. I know a couple of people who have tried and didn't manage.

I've had both, good and bad experiences with schools during my children's school years. Good teachers brought the best out of my kids and the difficult ones did the opposite. It was a pleasure to work with those teachers to bring the best out of my kids and fulfil their potential. With the difficult ones, I used to help my kids at home and if I couldn't, I would arrange private tuitions for them. I wanted my kids to feel good about themselves, their subjects and their school years. Now, they are knowledgable enough to help their own kids without any need to arrange any private tuitions for them. I was fortunate enough to be able to work extra hours to pay for those private lessons and I'm so glad I did. When you are faced with difficult teachers, you'll have to compensate for it somehow if you can, no?

ChilledBee you must know the threshold for social/medical grounds at admissions is high. A diagnosis isn't enough to get you a school of your choice. You need solid evidence as to why it needs to be a particular school from professionals and even then that often isn't enough. A panel review that evidence in a totally opaque way and make a binding decision.

AlunWynsKnee
It's almost pointless pointing that out because ChilledBee claims to be current/former SLT but then turns up on threads saying all sorts of nonsense like:
People are naive if they think schools follow admissions procedures
Her friend has been told how to get herself into the school of her choice years early by helping at school events when her child is still a baby (aka was told publicly available information for admissions and irrelevant current cohort info that her friend can't change)
That schools can magically take new information into account and bump people up into admission categories that don't exist
That schools require parental consent for detentions (the law says otherwise and has done for some time)
Generally turns up arguing extreme examples that are nothing like what's being discussed, but the general trend is to have a go at schools and teachers for being nasty and oppressive so on

I know in your training you were taught to lie repeatedly, Lola, but please stop doing it here with me. I know it might work when you want to justify punishing an inconvenient or annoying student, but you cannot do that here. You've continually miscommunicated what I told said and the information you stated is irrelevant actually isn't given that it is the only aspect of admissions that she has absolutely no control over. She,as you rightfully said, cannot summon a sibling out of thin air. Knowing how many places will be taken by siblings and that is relatively few for the school on that year let's her know that there is point in doing other things to get a place given how oversubscribed the school is at the moment.

And yes, the threshold is high, but in as nicer way as possible, privilege gets you places. If you know how to word something and who to get to support your statements and how they should go about it, you can get more than you are entitled to. It isn't rocket science.

My friend's kid is a bit quiet/late speaking. Many ASD kids have this trait. That why they said to use that fact along with the fact he is on the quieter side to have an assessment for ASD. How much she wants to push for a diagnosis (warranted or not) to improve her chances is up to her from there. Are you all really this naive to how people get into schools they want?

I know in your training you were taught to lie repeatedly, Lola, but please stop doing it here with me. I know it might work when you want to justify punishing an inconvenient or annoying student, but you cannot do that here.
More conspiracy theory nonsense.Chilled has been trained to be the bastion of all that is good but can make grand claims that others are "trained to lie" in their teacher training.

Anyone who doesn't agree with you really is some Gove fan robot who hates children, is involved in creating abusive environments for children, doesn't address SEND needs, can't build positive relationships.

And now I lie to punish inconvenient students and I was trained to lie in my training.

Excuse me whilst I get my tin foil ready. I have a hat to make.

No doubt there'll be more threads where you turn up talking nonsense and having a go at front line staff.