Page 8 | Romesh Ranganathan - School Places & Entitlement

FightingFish · 2025-04-25T16:39:33+00:00

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

cramptramp · 25/04/2025 20:55

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 25/04/2025 17:44

Schools publish their allocations policy

But do people always read them? I read our local policies at the relevant times and they were very clear, and still heard people in the playground saying rubbish. I even had one teacher at the school the oldest went to telling me they would ‘see what they could do’ for my youngest.

No, people don’t always read them. But they only have themselves to blame when they don’t understand why they didn’t get the place they wanted. Romesh is obviously one of those parents. Never mind Romesh eh?

Undercover4ever · 25/04/2025 20:58

All I can say is it's WSCC - if you live there you know.

Catsandcheese · 25/04/2025 20:58

sofasoda · 25/04/2025 20:48

@Catsandcheese it definitely is true that parents choose schools that they don't have a hope of getting into..,distance criteria is always fluid.

Ok, I am telling you my lived experience and what happened to us.
Of course there are parents with their heads in the clouds. I am just explaining why I think the only solution is siblings having priority.
I don't know a reason why I would want my children at different secondary schools, I am not choosing private or single sex, and I guess that is much the same for most of the parents out there.

PremiumD · 25/04/2025 21:00

Screamingabdabz · 25/04/2025 17:51

What does he expect them to do? Bend the school admission laws to accommodate him? There’ll be loads of kids that didn’t get their first choice just because of how places are ranked in line with the published policy.

It’s set up to be a level playing field for everyone and that means that some people will end up disappointed. Middle class parents always deal with it badly and dramatically but I’m sure he’ll find a work round, whereas others may not have to means to.

Middle class parents always deal with it badly and dramatically

I agree with the rest of what you said, but was this bit necessary?

godsmessage · 25/04/2025 21:01

privatenonamegiven · 25/04/2025 19:39

But did he move before his older children went through the process? No one seems to be able to prove this is the case? If he moved in 2021 which is what is alleged, he could have children in year 8/9 who went through the process after he moved?

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It could well be the case that his middle child got a place after they’d moved, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the school changed its admissions policy between that point and the point at which his youngest applied. Cohorts can fluctuate- it could be that the school was less in demand when his middle child applied, due to a lower birth rate that year or the school had just had a lacklustre ofsted, or another local school had a great ofsted and loads of people applied there instead…all sorts of possible reasons. When his youngest applied, there may well have been a higher number of pupils applying who happened to score higher on the admissions criteria for some random reason.

Something similar happened at my son’s primary. When we applied (ever so slightly out of catchment), there were very few kids applying to join reception for reasons I don’t quite understand. DS would have been the lowest priority according to the admissions criteria but got in, and the class only has about 22 kids in with capacity for 30. Had we applied the year after, I doubt he would have got a place because the next reception class was completely full, mostly with siblings and children who live very close to the school. No change in policy, just more local applicants that year.

Imisscoffee2021 · 25/04/2025 21:01

Its frustrating for him and he probably thought that the move didn't matter as his sons were already there so usual to keep family together, however his issue of collecting them seems a bit reaching as most highschool kids get themselves home dont they? I got a metro and then a bus home every day, my school was an hour away, hardly anyone got collected from school.

PremiumD · 25/04/2025 21:07

sofasoda · 25/04/2025 19:31

Maybe because i'm a Londoner and it's quite normal to go to different schools (many are single sex for one) I don't think it's that big a deal.

I’m hearing 🎶 maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner’ now 😀

sofasoda · 25/04/2025 21:07

@Catsandcheese what has my comment got to do with your lived experience? I've worked in admissions, plenty of parents pick a school they have no hope of getting a place at.

I am just explaining why I think the only solution is siblings having priority.

But siblings pretty much always have priority but within that cohort some may have more priority over others eg living closer to a school.

Jk987 · 25/04/2025 21:09

who says he’s a multimillionaire?

Branleuse · 25/04/2025 21:10

Siblings at the same school is a fair reason. School admissions are a pita, and its good that hes using his position to highlight it

forgotmyusername1 · 25/04/2025 21:11

This is the policy for over subscribed schools in wscc areas. Siblings is criteria band 6 under catchment. It changed in I think 2023

Romesh Ranganathan - School Places & Entitlement

privatenonamegiven · 25/04/2025 21:16

godsmessage · 25/04/2025 21:01

It could well be the case that his middle child got a place after they’d moved, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the school changed its admissions policy between that point and the point at which his youngest applied. Cohorts can fluctuate- it could be that the school was less in demand when his middle child applied, due to a lower birth rate that year or the school had just had a lacklustre ofsted, or another local school had a great ofsted and loads of people applied there instead…all sorts of possible reasons. When his youngest applied, there may well have been a higher number of pupils applying who happened to score higher on the admissions criteria for some random reason.

Something similar happened at my son’s primary. When we applied (ever so slightly out of catchment), there were very few kids applying to join reception for reasons I don’t quite understand. DS would have been the lowest priority according to the admissions criteria but got in, and the class only has about 22 kids in with capacity for 30. Had we applied the year after, I doubt he would have got a place because the next reception class was completely full, mostly with siblings and children who live very close to the school. No change in policy, just more local applicants that year.

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You might be right. I know my first child was part of a baby boom 2008/2009 and that many many parents end up without a school on national offer day (I seem to remember over 100 children without school offers in the borough I live in, horrible for all concerned) nevermind not being offered your top 4. The system is flawed and gives parents a sense of control over where their children go to school when it's all down to luck etc.

clary · 25/04/2025 21:17

In secondary I take the view that local DC should be prioritised over siblings out of catchment. Otherwise the examples quoted on here where people get in then move will mean local DC don’t get a place.

And those who say "everyone wants their DC at the same school" – they really don’t. I have a friend with four DC, I don't think they were ever at the same school; and in fact IIRC they went to three different schools for secondary (one was a UTC so only in KS4 tbf) bc of differing needs.

Those who say the system is shit and it doesn't work – I think it is not ideal but it does work. No one says you are making a choice – or everyone would choose the really excellent school. You express a preference – which is why @Unitarily the order is important - if you qualify for more than one school, they will give you the one you put highest on your preference list.

Every year I seem to see a story of how a DC has not got any school on their list – and nearly always it’s bc the parents have listed unreasonable and impossible schools. I don't know if this is the case with RR to be fair.

privatenonamegiven · 25/04/2025 21:20

clary · 25/04/2025 21:17

In secondary I take the view that local DC should be prioritised over siblings out of catchment. Otherwise the examples quoted on here where people get in then move will mean local DC don’t get a place.

And those who say "everyone wants their DC at the same school" – they really don’t. I have a friend with four DC, I don't think they were ever at the same school; and in fact IIRC they went to three different schools for secondary (one was a UTC so only in KS4 tbf) bc of differing needs.

Those who say the system is shit and it doesn't work – I think it is not ideal but it does work. No one says you are making a choice – or everyone would choose the really excellent school. You express a preference – which is why @Unitarily the order is important - if you qualify for more than one school, they will give you the one you put highest on your preference list.

Every year I seem to see a story of how a DC has not got any school on their list – and nearly always it’s bc the parents have listed unreasonable and impossible schools. I don't know if this is the case with RR to be fair.

I don't think everyone is saying - that everyone wants their DC at the same school - what I'm saying is that it's not unreasonable to want that..

Dingalingalong · 25/04/2025 21:22

LookingAtMyBhunas · 25/04/2025 20:46

He's my guilty crush. (Misses all the point)

Oh my God, me too! Love him! ❤️

privatenonamegiven · 25/04/2025 21:23

Also I would add that schools are put out there as if you are making a choice - many parents just don't get that you really don't have a choice but just a preference.

LindorDoubleChoc · 25/04/2025 21:23

I think I've commented on a previous thread on here, certainly commented on his IG post - it's a bloody good thing when secondary schools don't automatically dole out places to siblings! I wish all secondaries were the same. I can't tell you the oddities I've witnessed over sibling places in my little corner of London. Including child 1 with dyslexia getting a place in a highly sought after school they wouldn't otherwise have gone to, followed by all siblings without SEND. And many, many variations on the same theme, plus address moving, renting in catchment, fake divorces, Y11 children starting 8n the school year their older sibling leaves for a different 6th form.

I'm slightly embarrassed for him that he's made such a fuss about this without thinking it through. It does indeed make him come across as entitled and a bit ignorant.

Franklyyes · 25/04/2025 21:26

Schools have changed their admissions policies over time as people would get a child into a popular school and then move out of the area. And later apply under sibling rules and get a place over local children. Schools we’re finding there were lots of places offered to out of area children because of this. Even experienced a family “separate” and mum rent a home in the catchment area of a popular school with the children and get a place and then “reconcile” later … dad was a solicitor. Even have a CofE school with higher criteria for church attenders amend their policy when a mum who visited the school said they had time to build up church attendance to get in the school - weren’t church attenders at the time of visit

PremiumD · 25/04/2025 21:27

LindorDoubleChoc · 25/04/2025 21:23

I think I've commented on a previous thread on here, certainly commented on his IG post - it's a bloody good thing when secondary schools don't automatically dole out places to siblings! I wish all secondaries were the same. I can't tell you the oddities I've witnessed over sibling places in my little corner of London. Including child 1 with dyslexia getting a place in a highly sought after school they wouldn't otherwise have gone to, followed by all siblings without SEND. And many, many variations on the same theme, plus address moving, renting in catchment, fake divorces, Y11 children starting 8n the school year their older sibling leaves for a different 6th form.

I'm slightly embarrassed for him that he's made such a fuss about this without thinking it through. It does indeed make him come across as entitled and a bit ignorant.

Edited

OK, can we know more about the fake divorces and how they impacted school places? I’m fascinated!

privatenonamegiven · 25/04/2025 21:28

LindorDoubleChoc · 25/04/2025 21:23

I think I've commented on a previous thread on here, certainly commented on his IG post - it's a bloody good thing when secondary schools don't automatically dole out places to siblings! I wish all secondaries were the same. I can't tell you the oddities I've witnessed over sibling places in my little corner of London. Including child 1 with dyslexia getting a place in a highly sought after school they wouldn't otherwise have gone to, followed by all siblings without SEND. And many, many variations on the same theme, plus address moving, renting in catchment, fake divorces, Y11 children starting 8n the school year their older sibling leaves for a different 6th form.

I'm slightly embarrassed for him that he's made such a fuss about this without thinking it through. It does indeed make him come across as entitled and a bit ignorant.

Edited

I hope you don't begrudge someone with SEND getting into a school that they need? Because your post does come off a little like that.

I get your upset at the other points however.

Sunbeam01 · 25/04/2025 21:31

I'm with Romesh.

The system is fucking ridiculous.

fashionqueen0123 · 25/04/2025 21:31

privatenonamegiven · 25/04/2025 19:39

But did he move before his older children went through the process? No one seems to be able to prove this is the case? If he moved in 2021 which is what is alleged, he could have children in year 8/9 who went through the process after he moved?

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If he did then he got lucky that they got in. You couldn’t assume younger children would.

LindorDoubleChoc · 25/04/2025 21:31

EastGrinstead · 25/04/2025 20:41

It's always depressing to read threads where even basic maths is beyond the capabilities of the OP.

How so? I think I'm missing your point. Can you explain?

fashionqueen0123 · 25/04/2025 21:32

PremiumD · 25/04/2025 21:27

OK, can we know more about the fake divorces and how they impacted school places? I’m fascinated!

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Probably so they could have two different addresses

LegoLivingRoom · 25/04/2025 21:32

Sofiewoo · 25/04/2025 20:01

Catchment areas change every year and aren’t set in stone before applying though. This is such an out of touch comment.
You can’t just live in or live out of a catchment. Last year the intake for my local primary extended to over a mile and this year it was 0.2 of a mile. None of this information is available at the time of applications though.

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I think this shows that the rules aren’t always fully understood, particularly since there are variations. In my area, when we discuss catchment we mean a fixed and defined area that does not change. It usually gives you priority over those not in the defined catchment area. This is different to when people say ‘catchment’ referring to last distance admitted. I was reading a thread the other day where people were confidently stating that you cannot be in more than one catchment (not true) and that being in a catchment means you are guaranteed a place (also not true).