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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can the school just ignore me?

42 replies

QueenCamilla · 10/05/2022 20:37

I'm moving to a new area (the other side of the country) and I'm looking for a school place for my DS.

There's a Primary very close to our new home that I've made a contact with to ask them if they would have a spot available for an in-year admission in June.

So I sent an email introducing myself and my son, giving our address and asking the above.

A couple of days passed and a very curt e-mail response arrived (No greeting, no sign-off just one sentence): What's your son's date of birth.

I thanked them for their response (even though I was a bit.. 😐) and replied to their question.

Then a week passed. Nothing.

I sent another email asking if they would have an update...

That was two days ago and nothing....

Is this a thing?! What do I do next? Are they even within rights to not respond at all?

Next two nearest schools are not suitable for us (one of them is a Catholic primary). Do I really need to look further afield even though I don't have a straight yes/no?

Help!

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenCamilla · 10/05/2022 21:08

Princessoftheuniverse · 10/05/2022 20:58

Unless you have a reason for not choosing a Catholic school I’d consider it. My own non Catholic DC went to a Catholic Primary and Secondary. They were very good schools . Our reason for choosing the primary was that at that time a lot of other schools in our area needed improvement. I’m a non Catholic and I worked in a Catholic primary which was rated good and it’s pastoral care was excellent. The main focus was the happiness and well-being of the children.

The only reason is that I don't have faith. It wasn't a problem in the CofE school as I wasn't required to attend the Church. I've heard that some Catholic schools can be very tough on parents about them being Christian and attending every weekend.

My DS wouldn't mind either way, so I prob should stop thinking of myself here!

The lightning might strike me upon entering the Church though 😁

OP posts:
SaltandPeppasHere · 10/05/2022 21:09

Um…pick up the phone and call? In my LA you have to apply via the authority, but it would be normal to contact the school first to check and maybe have a tour. But I’d ring them, emails can get missed and people
are very busy so even with all best intentions, your email may not be top priority.

TheGrumpiest · 10/05/2022 21:10

@QueenCamilla yes, that was my thinking too (long summer holiday) as we moved this time last year!

It was definitely worth visiting the schools. Hard to get a real feel for them just via websites and Ofsted reports etc. Also, there were a couple which weren't on my radar till we moved and some neighbours mentioned them to us.

Hope it all works out for you. I completely understand the stress. Bad enough moving house, let alone looking for schools!

Original poster
QueenCamilla · 10/05/2022 21:21

@RoyKentsChestHair

Well, I've been told!!
Thanks though because it does put things into perspective.

The school my son is at now told us that they will have a space available (as someone was moving) and on which date. So I was a bit clueless that not all schools work the same!

It's actually a bit counter-productive not to have a unified system in place if I think of it.

I'll just take a chill-pill and try a different way.

OP posts:
RoyKentsChestHair · 10/05/2022 21:25

Well, I've been told!!

Thanks though because it does put things into perspective.

Honestly, it’s nuts! I had no idea what I was letting myself in for before I started - through a nice little job in a school, long holidays, lovely kids (to be fair, most of them are!) but it is an absolute whirlwind, just chaos from start to finish Grin

RoyKentsChestHair · 10/05/2022 21:26

*thought a nice little job

Houseplantmad · 10/05/2022 21:28

Isn't it SATs week this week at primary schools so perhaps not the best week to be chasing an admission?

MrsWombat · 10/05/2022 21:30

In my school we give a list of spaces to the local authority and they let us know who's on our waiting list so I would try there first. We might tell a parent that we've got a space in year X but they will still need to contact the LA as there will be people before them on the waiting list.

We are not doing anything in year transfer related this week because it's Year 6 SATS week, and it's all hands on deck elsewhere. If your child is in year 2 they might not want you (rightly or wrongly) until May is over.

Original poster
QueenCamilla · 10/05/2022 21:32

@TheGrumpiest

You must be all settled in nicely by now 💐😊

Yeah, I think I'll pick my battles and sort some things once I'm there - too many spinning plates as is at the moment!

And someone mentioned the proof of address and I definitely don't have that one yet anyways!

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenCamilla · 10/05/2022 21:35

@RoyKentsChestHair

LOL!
I caught my kid licking the counters next to the school receptionist, so it's definitely like a Zoo 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenCamilla · 10/05/2022 21:39

And the SATS too! I had no clue.

Thanks Mumsnetters, I'm pausing this mission! I'll contact the LeA and resume the search later (once I've actually moved most likely) .
💐

OP posts:
Meem321 · 10/05/2022 21:49

Or... Is your emailing etiquette/style an issue?

To lose communication with a conveyancing solicitor and this school in such a short space of time does beg the question. You are the common denominator, after all!

RoseGoldEagle · 10/05/2022 22:15

delivering notes from one end of the school to the other about who’s collecting little Tarquin today

I emailed school this morning to say someone else was picking my child up today, for unexpected reasons, didn’t realise office staff would be sneering at me for this, what a weird comment!

OP it’s not you, hope you get the place sorted soon x

RoyKentsChestHair · 10/05/2022 22:35

RoseGoldEagle · 10/05/2022 22:15

delivering notes from one end of the school to the other about who’s collecting little Tarquin today

I emailed school this morning to say someone else was picking my child up today, for unexpected reasons, didn’t realise office staff would be sneering at me for this, what a weird comment!

OP it’s not you, hope you get the place sorted soon x

Is that sneering? I was just listing it as one of many jobs that keep school staff busy. Using the name Tarquin is just an MN joke because obviously I’m not going to name an actual child from my school. We don’t have any Tarquins.

Sometimeswinning · 10/05/2022 22:54

Meem321 · 10/05/2022 21:49

Or... Is your emailing etiquette/style an issue?

To lose communication with a conveyancing solicitor and this school in such a short space of time does beg the question. You are the common denominator, after all!

So the op asks for advice, says they've had a tough week. Takes on board some suggestions. Then along comes that poster with a different angle and gives op a hard time.

Honestly, insulting their email etiquette 😂

Pinklimey · 11/05/2022 01:47

I had to apply through the LEA for my dd's place. She got it but when I contacted the school, they said they would have to check if there was space. They were shocked to hear I had applied properly.

It did take two weeks to complete the application, and apparently that was quick. Please be patient.

LetHimHaveIt · 11/05/2022 02:12

Meem321 · 10/05/2022 21:49

Or... Is your emailing etiquette/style an issue?

To lose communication with a conveyancing solicitor and this school in such a short space of time does beg the question. You are the common denominator, after all!

Don't be silly.

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