Secondary school application........

[1805]

having second thoughts about this idea morally......

Around us, there is only one secondary school I would be happy for dc to attend. We are not in the catchment for it. DC currently in private schools, which is a struggle, but fine.

I have just filled out the LEA form putting the school as first choice. Now I'm worrying that if ds is given a place in out catchment school instead (which I would not accept) are we taking away a place from another family unfairly? If this happened, dc would stay in private school. I suppose I am applying to my first choice school, purely on the off-chance he is given a place.

Is this a really bad thing to do?

Look at another way, you'll make the first person on the waiting list very happy.

There is so much movement so do not worry. I think as long as you don't hold onto two places you're not doing anything morally wrong.

I'm confused, if you get a place at your catchment school, you will turn it down so you're not taking a place away from anyone there? If you happen to get a place at your out-of-catchment school, you will accept it? Do you feel that because you could possibly continue to pay for private school that this place could go to someone more deserving? If so, put that thought out of your head! Otherwise, where would you stop?! If you have private health insurance, would you feel that you should always use it rather than using NHS facilities sometimes?

I don't see how you think you would be taking a place from another family unfairly. You are entitled to whatever place the LA offer you. If you reject the offered place they will offer it to whoever is at the head of the waiting list. That is probably going to be the family who would have been offered it if you hadn't applied at all.

This is definitely not a bad thing to do in any way as far as I can see.

I don't understand your OP - why would you be taking a place unfairly if you decline a place in your local catchment school? Or indeed if you are lucky and get a place in your first choice school? You will only be offered a place in your foirst choice school if you meet the admission criteria, same as everyone else.

I think what the OP means, Blu is 'Is it morally wrong to accept the good state school place if it's offered seeing as we can (just) afford private, where the DC is at present? Could that be seen as depriving another DC of that state place, one who maybe doesn't have the 'private' option to fall back on?'

Oh, I see!

Good heavens, as a parent who cannot afford private and has a child at a highly over-subscribed good comp, no I see nothing immoral about this at all. Everyone is entitled to choose a state education!

Blu - so you wouldn't feel upset if we bumped your child out of the good 'out-of-catchment' school, or if you ended up on the waiting list for your catchment area school?
I think the term "unfairly" that I used was wrong. We are not fiddling the application in any way whatsoever. I just feel a bit cheeky being so picky.
We'll probably not get a place anyway, so I don't know why I'm worrying.

x

If it was a school that admitted on distance, you would live nearer than me anyway to get in! I would be upset not to get a place in my nearest good school, of course, but that should hardly undermine the principle that the school is there for anyone and everyone who can meet the admission criteria within the available places.

If you had played the system, rented a temporary house in catchment or used your mother's boyfriend's dog-sitter's address to apply from, I would be on the warpath!

"mother's boyfriend's dog-sitter's address" LOL!

Ok, I shall feel sheepish no longer. As I said, it's very unlikely ds will get a place anyway.