to be fuming that one of our local oversubscribed schools was half empty when I looked around it this morning?

[thedollyridesout]

When I challenged the Head about the number of empty rooms vs pupil admission number he said that the school number was set at the maximum capacity of the school hall to enable the whole school to meet together.

AIBU in thinking that that is a rubbish reason?

This school has fantastic facilities and I am sure it could easily accommodate more pupils.

Can anyone think of a way of building/strengthening our case?

Is previous attendance at an independent school likely to be an advantage/a disadvantage/irrelevant?

Perhaps, but the fact that he then went on to say that they were operating at their legal minimum suggested that I at least had a point.

Irrelevant. Why would it be an advantage?

I disagree. I would say that he was perhaps gently putting you in your place. [

And what place is that?

You might get some other MNer coming along to tell you why it might be considered an advantage. I for one have no idea.

I doubt a head would be easily embarrassed by a question like that.

How on earth could having attended an independent school at some point in the past be an advantage?? In many RC schools it would be a huge disadvantage unless it had been rc itself.

It was a kind of feigned embarrassment which is why I have referred to it as mild.

Do you know the expression 'a joke with a jag'? Well, something akin to that. Of course, I could be wrong.

Fully fledged teacher here btw .

rainbow, not 'our' RC school.

I was advised personally by the Head that if necessary I should appeal the schools decision with particular reference to my DD's music and sporting ability - so there! The RC school is not however my first 'choice' of school.

Still don't see why that would entitle her to a place over and above another child. If it's a state school, it'll be non-selective - on any grounds.

The point is that very few people appeal.

If you get in 'on appeal', a place is made especially for you. You are not taking another pupil's place. What you are doing is placing a drain on resources. I can't imagine DD being anything other than an asset to any school.

You know, I really want to contribute on your threads Dolly but they always end up winding me right up [hides thread]

Whether or not she would be an asset is also, sadly, irrelevant.

That is exactly what I thought when the Head said it to me Pixie. Incidentally there were no appeals to this RC school last year at all.

I am sorry that I wind you up domesticextremist.

I am only ever honest and I have no agenda, hidden or otherwise.

Have to agree with domesticextremist.
You may be honest with no agenda, but it also seems that you think that your views and life are so much more important than others.
If you're not happy with your local schools, move, like we had too. to the other end of the county if needs be, like we had to.
My eldest two are extremely bright, but I would never go so far as to think they'd be an asset to a school. No individual is worth more than the ethos and standards of the school. The ethos makes most of the children an asset.

This thread has reminded me that DD's application has to be in by 15th January - hers is to a lower school though so I will at least not be competing .

In your OP:

"This school has fantastic facilities and I am sure it could easily accommodate more pupils. "

By increasing the year groups to 5 form entry (would you really want class sizes of 32???) then the school will be unable to maintain these fantastic facilities.

In order to have such good facilities, they need the specialise rooms. Obviously not all of these are used every minute of every day.

Instead of having more and more children stuffed into schools, cramming them so they have no leeway with rooms, etc. we should be campaigning for all schools to run on lower numbers, so they can all have these great facilities.

"I can't imagine DD being anything other than an asset to any school."

Good luck with the appeal then

Hedwood

Hey, you're not the same OP who wrote a few months back saying you were shifting 2 of your kids out of the private system but all the good state school places were taken and wanting to know how to jump the queue, are you?

Your posts have a similar tone.

I think it is the same poster (just with a slightly different name).

No, not me. I did move my DC from the private sector to our undersubscribed catchment primary which is 5.6 miles away.

My DD would be an asset to any school in that she is a good girl who is willing to work hard and join in with everything. I don't see what is so wrong with me feeling that way.

We live in a semi rural area so the schools are not on our doorstep.

So, the alternative is that I should move so that my DD receives the education that she is entitled too. It is a sorry state of affairs that people think this is an acceptable solution.

My anger today was generated on behalf of the 45 children who were turned away from this particular school last year. It seemed to me that at least 30 of them could have been accommodated.

What is so wrong with that?

We are way down the list in terms of the faith criteria so I am trying to come up with other 'legitimate' means of securing a school place for my DD.

And again I ask, what is wrong with that?