Late Grammar School offer: over the moon but stressed/flummoxed

[PermaShattered]

What a 3 days we've had - any insightful comments welcome. In short:

1. Our daughter was offered 3rd choice (her 11+ score was about 30 down on passmark);
2. 3rd school is outstanding but we appealed to 2nd choice school as was our preference;
3. Last Friday took calls from our local Ed admissions authority saying why appealed when have offer from grammar school?
4. Said we hadn't. She made further calls to other relevant admissions authority and came back and told us we definitely have an offer and it would be in post next day (Saturday just gone);
5. It duly arrived, and we posted our acceptance same day (they should have got it today) - verbal acceptance of place given by phone on Friday;
6. On Friday the Authority also withdrew both our place at 3rd choice school and our appeal to 2nd choice school;
7. Today i take a call from a friend whose daughter got substantially higher score than my DD - and she is 188 on waiting list;
8. I call our admissions auth to check they received our acceptance (they said still in posttray but will be dealt with this afternoon);
9. I query whether there could possibly an error and i'm told categorically 'no'. And if there was, we have a written offer, accepted it and they can't take it off our daughter;

10. Finally, my other DS is that grammar school.

I'm perplexed. What could be a possible explanation?

lougle email to other LA done following your suggestions. I've also asked:

1. whether the Foundation and/or the school were party to the error or whether it was isolated to the LA; and
2. when the Foundation and school were first informed of the error.

So many issues :( My mind is spinning. Thanks to all for guidance.

In Education I often read posts from people who roll their eyes at pushy parents that tutor their not so bright kids to pass. They [righteous snort] would never tutor their kids because if they can't pass without tutoring then they will clearly struggle.

Here we have a DC that not only missed the mark but missed it big time such that over 180 kids scored better. Now, faced with the reality of not getting into the GS it is a case of - of course my DD isn't going to struggle. She had a bad day. The moon wasn't aligned with Mars.

I'm guessing that the pushy mums are feeling pretty good at this moment in time and are busy buying the uniforms and stuff.

Take it as a sign OP and stick with your original thoughts.

I don't think so MTSCostco - back in the day when I was young and everyone did the 11+, you always got one or two really bright children who somehow didn't pass, much to everyone's astonishment.

I can't remember it ever working the other way, and someone not expected to pass doing so.

Grr, I think Tiggy said it best. Every kid who takes the test is clever, top 10-20 %, they would all benefit (if you believe GS is the way forward).

I went to a super selective and those in my primary school who didn't get in just didn't do so well on the day.

With solid level 5s your daughter will be fine, but I'm sure you know that. Effort is probably the mist important factor in success.

Do you think we should leave this thread for the op to ask questions and get help? There are plenty of 11+ threads going.......

MTS a load of tosh I'm afraid and another person who hasn't read or read/ignored many other comments on that issue. big time? No. I don't go by 'signs' I go by facts.

MTS not sure why I'm bothering to waste my time to comment again, but no 'righteous snorts' from me for not tutoring. Didn't feel it was appropriate in our situation, the head warned against it. And the fact is some pushy parents do their children no favours by heavy tutoring. But this thread isn't about tutoring so perhaps you want to restrict such irrelevant, ignorant thoughts to other threads. Enough said.

Perma- I really, really wouldn't engage. Honestly.

seeker I know I know. I'm just knackered so just a little tetchy :( Off to put my head down while the baby sleeps.....

No, MTS you are wrong. The OP's DD doesn't 'get in because of a stupid admin error.'

The OP's DD gets in because between them, two Local Authorities and one Foundation couldn't get the information right and gave a place to the OP's DD, then failed to withdraw it in good time.

Simple as that.

It goes beyond an admin 'error' to maladministration when so many people are involved and it's still wrong.

There over 180 (possibly a lot more) that scored higher marks.

Now, we can argue the difference between an admin error and maladminstration until the cows cone home but the bottom line is the DD has a place that she doesn't deserve.

If I say something outrageous on another thread, MTS, will you leave the OP alone?

Perma, I hope you got some rest.

I'd third the suggestion that those who want to talk about the 11 plus, selective schools and tutoring do it on another thread, it is really not relevant here. There are very specific circumstance which the OP has set out clearly, she obviously understands the system, and what she needs is very specific, informed and possibly professional advice. Her dd is upset at what has happened. It is no-one's fault but the LA that made the mistake and turning the clock back isn't possible.

I take the view that any child is as deserving of a place at any school as any other MTS.
Sure there are various hoops the powers that be like to make either the parents or the children jump through during the selection process, but I guess I just don't take all that as seriously as you do.
Anyhow this is a support thread to support this OP and this family.
About deserving a place I think that's especially true if when there she will work fairly hard and respect her teachers, other adults she meets, and the other children.

No she doesn't have a place that she doesn't deserve. The Admissions Code gives limited circumstances when a place can be withdrawn and the LGO has clarified that a delay of 3 days is too long to wait to withdraw.

Therefore, the Code backs the OP and says that her DD now deserves and must be given this place as promised.

It doesn't matter one bit how that came to be, except for if the OP had given wrong information, which she hasn't.

Good luck op, sounds likje you have a water tight case, massive cock up by the Lea!

But you know your dd and you know the school so are best to judge if she will be OK. I hope the appeal goes smoothly and you can then all relax asap xxx

Tiggy - I was a bit (lot) harsh but I don't thing that I was being rude. There are at least 180 kids that scored higher. I'm sure that many would have done months even years of prep. Many did no tutoring. I just think that it's an unfair system that allows the OP's DD to get a place while so many are shut out.

"Anyone higher on the list who misses out because of this should also win at appeal on the same grounds of an error"

Correct me if I'm being obtuse, Tiggytape, but does that mean potentially, should all the parents above OP's DD get wind of this error, they could all appeal and possibly win.....

I'd think the child at the top of the list would have most chance gazz