Losing my mind and considering homeschooling

[Pinkjellyunicorn]

Moved house to get into a specific school.
The policy is that children in catchment are prioritised. Found out today that we didn’t get in despite living in catchment when other children out of the catchment have got in. I’m genuinely unsure if there has been an administrative error or we have no choice but to appeal which is going to cost £250 . The school we have applied for is the closest and is 0.4 miles from home. The school we have been allocated is on the other side of town, almost 2 miles each way and will take 45 minutes of walking due to hills and driving would be about the same. I’m going to appeal but would I be unreasonable to homeschool and potentially change my work hours as I feel that the stress of a 3 hours of walking too and from school would be too much? I have health issues and chronic illness and couldn’t manage it guaranteed every day.

Feeling so broken and haven’t stopped crying all day.

AIBU to homeschool rather than commute if the appeal fails.

Schools can claim back money spent on appeals from the DfE.

Update. I’m horrified that this sort of error has taken place. I dread to think what would have happened if I would have rolled over and accepted the other place. I still have to appeal to solve this ‘human error.’
many thanks to everyone who has something encouraging to say yesterday.

Wow OP. I’m really pleased for you but what a rollercoaster!

This is good news

Flipping heck well done OP. I wonder if it’s just you though…

Looking at the definitions via Google they seem very similar!
https://www.nec.ac.uk/2023/05/05/homeschooling-or-home-education-is-there-a-difference/

That one article is incorrect.

they seem very reluctant to complete the FOI. The school have been excellent on the phone and just cemented even more why we moved here for this. I’m angry the council have messed up so badly and let us down.

I’d push for this. It sounds like you are safe and dry but just in case you aren’t, you need to know the breakdown of how many they admitted in each category. Did you find out what their tie break criteria was for each category as well? Distance or random allocation? If it’s distance, You also need to find out the furthest distance that got in in category 2. If that’s >0.4 miles you are home and dry.

Have you come across anyone else who didn’t get in who you would have expected to?

I would speak to the admissions manager as a matter of urgency. They can reverse this without going to appeal as they've admitted in writing that they've made a mistake. @prh47bridge @PatriciaHolm would you be able to advise (I know a fair amount as my work is Fair Access but we don't get involved with actual appeals)

@DIRECTDORIS

“Bugbear” is all one word.

Also it is “it’s” not “its”.

“when the term is used wrong” is incorrect grammar. It should be “when the term is used incorrectly”

It you are going to have a go at the difference between “home education” and “home schooling” than at least have the decency to be able to converse correctly and in proper English.