Romesh Ranganathan - School Places & Entitlement

[FightingFish]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewgj1ry9x7o.amp

I’ve seen this story popping up a lot on social media and we are only seeing one side of the story. Schools publish their allocations policy and apparently RR has moved house since his older children were allocated a place. He obviously didn’t consider the implications of moving outside of catchment at that point. There are only so many places, AIBU to wish that he would acknowledge that? I also feel sorry for the kid, if my father was a multi millionaire, I’d rather he shelled out on a place at a private school instead of bleat on about how hard done by he is!

It’s not flawed, and it’s not unreasonable to expect parents to think about and read admissions criteria. Schools have a duty to consult on changes, but that’s no guarantee parents will engage.

It does seem very unreasonable however to be offered none of your 4 choices! I agree with him that that’s not ok

Seeing as he clearly didn’t read the admissions policies, I imagine he applied to 4 schools they aren’t in catchment for or wouldn’t otherwise qualify for.

No sympathy for people who don’t read the admissions criteria tbh, unless they have reasons they can’t (ESL, learning disability etc). Clearly not the case here.

I always assumed siblings would be top priority

In quite a few areas with sought after schools there was a pattern of parents living close to the school just long enough to get their first child in and then moving to a different area much further away but still expecting to send their younger kids. (Resulting in long journeys and local kids missing out). Councils wised up to this and have changed the rules so that out of catchment siblings don’t get priority. However in many areas siblings still get priority regardless.

Always read the policies for your own area, each school can be different.

Anyone would be struggling with multiple kids in different schools.

These are secondary age kids and can get themselves to school.

I disagree it is flawed - that doesn't mean I can come up with a better system, but we have to acknowledge that every year parents and children across the country feel let down by this system - as system that pretends you have choice.

Here we don't know whether the parents involved read the admissions criteria or not - you can't assume they did not.

Oh really? Why is he making a fuss about the school run then?!

I live in an area with an outstanding secondary school - the number of people who get their first child in and then move to a cheaper area because siblings would get in is high and somewhat annoying.
The system and criteria for schools are well publicised and easily available, if he moved house he shouldn’t have made the assumption that he’d get a place. (If that’s what happened, I haven’t actually read his circumstances)

It is not just about the children getting to school though - clearly you have no idea what is really like. My two are at different secondary schools for various reasons - there are lots of issues as a consequence - the biggest one they don't aways have the same inset days or holidays for starters...

Anyone would be struggling with multiple kids in different schools the solution could be to move your kids to a new school if you want to move out of catchment. As I see it, the school situation should be part of the decision to move, if having all your kids at a specific school is crucial then you stay put or find another house in the same area, you can’t have it both ways.

@DeafLeppard I think the admissions criteria changed between his second child starting at the school and his third applying - that’s why he’s annoyed about it. If you already have two children at a school and the second got a place even after you’d moved I think most people would presume the criteria would be the same for the third. Maybe there was a consultation and maybe they misunderstood the changes but there isn’t anything he can do about so it’s not unreasonable to be frustrated by the circumstances. Even if they’d read the rules before applying they’d still be frustrated by the situation and I don’t think it’s entitlement.

If he's struggling with getting his kids to different schools maybe he can move the older ones to where the youngest is. Probably disruptive. Or alternatively don't move when your kids are at secondary school, at least not without checking the admissions policy.

Loads of schools round here have removed sibling priority to stop the multitude of parents who would move/rent near the good school for a year, get the first kid in. Move to a nicer part of the county 15/20 miles away and then send the next 2 kids there as well. The schools rightly came to the conclusion that priority should be for the kids who live closest.

It's totally fine him complaining as indeed people on Mumsnet do.
But if they end up suddenly finding a place for him, because he is famous, then that would not be great.

How do you explain that there are news and media articles all the time about this subject showing mr and mrs average?
Callers to the Vine show referenced above werent all famous people were they?

I also wouldnt have thought he is a 'multi millionaire' as referenced above. And even if he is, he is a tax payer, parent, member of society with the same problems that people have with their kids schooling.

When I saw this, it made me like him less. He's trying to get special treatment 😄

In his case they probably can afford move again, if it is true that they moved since the other children went through the process....but if this case has highlight this issue then good - as many people who also have had similar experiences can't always just afford to up and move house! It is a real issue for some families.

As someone with an only child I don’t agree with my child being pushed out for children of parents who have chosen to move away from area just because the have siblings.

What he said was pretty clear, how can he drop kids in 2 different places at the same time. He also selected other schools as alternatives and didn’t get them either. How are parents expected to ensure all dc are at school on time? I had a similar situation 2 different schools allocated (house move) 2 miles apart and they had the cheek to say couldn’t I ask my mum (who lived 299 miles away and worked!!!)

Sounds as tho he didn't read MN and put a banker on his list!

Not all secondaries have siblings as a criterion anyway as there is no logistical need for sibs to go to the same secondary and in fact I know a number who don’t.

This is odd: He said it was not feasible for them to accept the allocated place because they would be unable to get their children to different schools so far apart each day.

Who does he have to get them to school? Can they not find their own way? I assume the older ones are at least 13 and maybe older. Get on a bus!

My sympathy is deeply limited tbh.

ETA: I see PPs have sympathy for him but we don’t know where the schools were he listed. If he did indeed list his closest schools after then it does seem unfair tbh

Agree on that. But it is an issue that needs highlighting in my opinion.

He moved out of catchment. It is unreasonable , absolutely unreasonable, to expect your children to still take priority over children who live in catchment, siblings or no siblings. Otherwise, the wealthy would game more of the system then they already are!

I wonder if you would feel the same if you had more then one.. I would bet not!

There was a farmer on here last year in a very similar situation. However, he hadn’t moved house and his wife even taught at the school his eldest was at. He was absolutely crucified on here for asking advice on how to change

It’s clear in the first few lines of the article that it’s secondary school.

If he did move out of catchment though, then that's his own fault.

If that issue needs highlighting then yes, that's a good thing. (I agree with that policy though)

Some schools prioritise dc in catchment though so it's really important to read admissions criteria & tbf they aren't that worst.

lengthy!