why is it so hard to put your children into schools once you have moved districts?

[bubblezzz]

I have recently moved districts, i have just had to put into the council my preferred school, and to my disappointment two of my children have been refused, one is for primary she would start in reception the other in year 9 of secondary.
I have been told o appeal against both but have been advised that my 4 year olds decision will be hard to overturn as she does not need schooling till shes 5 i am beside my self and her brother already attends this school, there seems to be no support or advice, if she dont get a place and all schools are full she could be a year behind. With my older son he has been offered at a different school, i dont like it and to learn its a new se up for this year as two schools that failed have come together worries me no end, they have told me i will be prosicuted if i dont send him there for the 30 days till the appeal but its me that has to deal with the upset he will go through. where has the days gone when you approach the schools and they make a decision this is ridiculas all i can do is cry, i feel i have let them down especially when i look at them.

But presumably the schools are full? So what should the council do? If they offered your son a place at his preferred secondary, what about all the other children they might already have turned away from this school?

If the school is full, then it is likely that your son is not the only child who has to make do with some other school. The success of any appeal will depend on whether you can show that there is a special reason why your son should be admitted that would not apply to any other child whom might have had to settle for a less attractive school. If you go to appeal, think carefully about your arguments. Merely saying, I don't think the school he was offered is good enough won't cut it: that will be the same for all the other children who have to attend this school.

As for your daughter, can't you just go on the waiting list and hope that a place will come up. By the time she is 5, it is the council's responsibility to offer her a place- though not necessarily at her preferred school of course: they are restricted by space.

Whatever you do, you must not show your son how upset you are. He is at an age where he needs to buckle down and start working towards his GCSEs wherever he is, you need to show him that he can do this whatever happens. BElieve me, I have a child of the same age with some quite worrying problems and the one thing you have to do as a parent is to stay calm and upbeat; this is not a time when they can afford to lose heart.

I'm afraid I agree with cory. Just because you have moved districts doesn't give you more right to places at schools you want than people who have lived in the district for ages and been turned down.

I live in an area where children already in our village are not guaranteed a place at the village school because there are more children than places. I'd be bloody pissed off if a child who arrived a term or year late got a place but my child had had to go elsewhere.

So councils do what is fairest, and treat you the same as other families already in the district - if there is a place you can have it, if there isn't then you have to go elsewhere. I'm not sure what else you can expect them to do.

By all means appeal, and I wish you well because everybody wants their child to go to their first choice school and I completely understand that, but please don't let your son in particular feel your worries or make him think he is going to a bad school in case he ends up having to stay there.

BTW, you do not have to register your son in school at all (ever!) so I do not think they can prosecute you if he does not attend until the appeal. If he is not registered, he cannot truant, so what would they prosecute you for?

I realise that does not solve your real problem as both you and he want him in school, but it should remove some of the fear.

Feeling sick for you, sorry to pry but have you bought or are renting?

Coming to this late but, as Cory says, the council can't admit you to a school that is already full. Schools can't hold back places in case someone moves into the area. Imagine the outrage from local residents who couldn't get their children into the local primary because places are being held back.

Whoever told you that the decision regarding your 4 year old is hard to overturn on appeal because she does not need schooling until she is 5 is talking rubbish. If, as with most LAs, children start in reception the September following their 4th birthday, your daughter's age will not be an issue for the appeal panel. It may be that an appeal would be an infant class size appeal which would be difficult to win. However, if it is not an infant class size appeal your daughter's age will make no difference.