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Original poster

DD has not been given any offers for secondary school

56 replies

GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 18:10

and the email from pan London is worse than pointless. Email tell us our next step....and then goes blank.

DD is my eldest so I have not been through this situation before.

Do we have to appeal now because that sounds ridiculous as we have not been given anything.

DD is so upset and it is very hard to comfort her. All I can do is tell her it is no reflection on her as a person and that we'll find her a good school.

What do we do now though? Can't speak to LEA till morning but feel I need to be armed with knowledge.

Can anyone help?

OP posts:
Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 18:24

bump

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 01/03/2011 18:27

How can they do that? It's madness! Angry

edam · 01/03/2011 18:28

sorry no idea but wanted to send sympathy. Poor old dd - rotten system. And how ridiculous that she hasn't got a place at all. Hope someone with more info sees this soon.

somersetmum · 01/03/2011 18:32

Presumably she has not been given a place because none of your preferred schools have places and there is no other school within three miles (or further, but with transport in place) that has spaces available.

The LEA should have provided you with a list of schools that do still have places, which you can now approach.

If you wish for your child to go to one of your preferred schools, or any other school that is already full, then yes, you will have to go to appeal. You only have a very limited time to do this, so speak to your LEA as soon as possible.

Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 18:41

Thank you for all the advice. Have got all the numbers to ring LEA first thing. Feel so bad for DD. We were so excited this morning Sad

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Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 18:42

And thanks for the sympathy too, much appreciated. God, I need a Wine

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squatbottom · 01/03/2011 18:44

which borough are you in ghost?

JetSetWilly · 01/03/2011 18:45

Sorry no advice but how awful for you. Hope somebody has some good advice soon.

Good luck and sympathies to you and your DD

Toughasoldboots · 01/03/2011 18:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 18:56

Not yet, email was sent after 5, so no chance to speak to anyone yet. I so hope it is a mistake.

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Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 18:57

I'm in Tower Hamlets squatbottom Love the name!

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Toughasoldboots · 01/03/2011 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 19:01

Yes, I saw blank letters/emails had been sent out on the other thread. My worry is though that our email wasn't blank. Just categorically stated that no offers were possible for DD.

Pan London website tells me to wait for LEA letter before doing anything else.

What a bloody bugger.

OP posts:
Toughasoldboots · 01/03/2011 19:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lotstodo · 01/03/2011 20:07

I've been in your situation and I didn't know what to do. However, lots of people find themselves with either no school, a school they don't want and didn't ask for or a school they put on their list without thinking that would be the one they would be given for their child. It's early days - I was told this and I thought people were just being kind or trying to say the right thing because they didn't know what else to say.

But, they were right. The movement on these waiting lists is fast. Get your child's name on the waiting lists of the school or schools you would want your child to go to. Phone on a regular basis to ask what position you are. Think about whether you would put in an appeal for a particular school and on what grounds other than that you want your child to go there. Remember that the local authority see all the schools within their authority as comparable to each other.

prh47bridge · 01/03/2011 20:23

This is not acceptable. The LA must find a place for your daughter somewhere. They cannot just say you haven't got a place and leave it at that. Nor can they give you a list of schools with places and make it your responsibility as Somersetmum suggests. Ring your LA tomorrow and ask them what they intend to do about the situation.

Just to correct another point, you do NOT have limited time to appeal. There will be a deadline but you do not lose your right to an appeal if you miss it. However you don't want to ignore the deadline completely as that could mean your appeal is heard later than others which could reduce your chances of success. The formal letter telling you that you haven't got in to one of your preferences will tell you how to appeal.

Lotstodo · 01/03/2011 20:39

Sometimes you are in a better position if you don't have a school rather than once you would not want your child to go to, as, in the area I live there are many schools that are so over subscribed. There are also two schools that are always undersubscribed and don't reach their roll. Of course, there's a reason why they are undersubscribed and parents are not willing,obviously, to send their child there. The local authority only have to provide you with a school, regardless of what it is like, because they are all 'comparable' in their eyes.

jenga079 · 01/03/2011 20:40

IF you don't get anywhere with the LEA, try the Advisory Centre for Education. Some of the most knowledgeable people I've ever met run the phonelines!
www.ace-ed.org.uk/

Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 01/03/2011 21:14

Some really good advice here. I will show DD this thread in the morning as I want her to see that it's not just us who is telling her that she could still get into a school on her list.

Thanks for all the advice and links. I will report back tomorrow with hopefully some more positive news.

In the meantime I'm going to watch David Morrissey in South Riding on iplayer for a bit of light distraction Wink.

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sadmum2011 · 01/03/2011 22:23

I'm in exactly the same situation...

didn't get into any of the 6 schools applied for

"no offer made" email - What to do next?? am beyond dissapointed

edam · 01/03/2011 22:23

Good idea about showing dd the thread so she knows she's not the only person in this predicament.

Ghost's dd, if you read this thread, really feel for you. The LEA have really let you down. But you are not alone and this is not the end - every year people get into schools via waiting lists or on appeal. Good luck!

Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 02/03/2011 07:55

sadmum2011, I'm so sorry your DD/DS is in the same position. I feel for you. 'Tis shit.

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onceamai · 02/03/2011 08:03

I'm really sorry for you all. It's horrific. All I can say is stand firm and don't despair, it's very early days and there will be a huge amount of movement in the next two weeks. If it's any consolation we thought we had hit the jackpot last year and it's been a total disaster.

Original poster
GhostInTheBackOfYourHead · 02/03/2011 08:04

Thanks for all the messages. DD has read the thread and feels a bit better.
I'm going to find out more today hopefully.

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Madsometimes · 02/03/2011 11:12

Good luck Ghost, I hope you have managed to get hold of someone at your LEA. What a horrible situation for your dd to be in.

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