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Original poster

Richmond Primary schools - appeal process - any experience or advice?

25 replies

xoxo · 21/03/2007 18:41

DS has not been offered ANY school place. We have been advised that schools two bus journeys away have vacancies.
We are going to appeal. Has anyone got any experience or advice for us, please. We are desperate.
DD is one year behind DS so this is double whammy, because of the sibling rule.

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singersgirl · 21/03/2007 19:01

Where are you on the waiting list for the schools you have requested? We are in Richmond, and the year DS1 got a place for reception, a friend of his was 14th on the waiting list, but got a place. I don't know anything about the appeals process, I'm afraid, but I would be surprised if a place nearer to you didn't come up by September (people moving away, as we did, or choosing private schools etc).

Original poster

xoxo · 21/03/2007 19:07

For Orleans we are 137 on the waiting list. THere are 90 places. For Vineyard we are 95 on the list, there are 60 places.
We have been told by Admissions that there is little chance of anything coming available because of where we live, close to Marble Hill Park.

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fridayschild · 21/03/2007 19:22

I went to the NCT session they organised with Richmond Borough Council earlier in the year and the advice was that appealling primary schools is much much harder than secondary because of the maximum class sizes. I've also heard via my nanny that the word is there are 200 more children in Richmond this year looking for primary places so unsurprisingly lots of people (including us) have not got into a school we would normally expect - we are in Barnes - don't fancy Lowther and are now thinking about going private. The mum of one of DS1's friends is so upset that she is thinking about going back to work so that her boy can go privately. At the NCT chat they did say that waiting lists move a lot but I don't know if this applies in a year with such a large potential intake.

On a more positive note, the waiting lists stay open in that you can stay on them as long as you like. The nice people from the council said that the head of education had not got her DD into her primary of choice and had stayed on the waiting list until November - ie the child moved in the middle of her first term. You could try that - not a great short term solution. Or if your local schools are full of siblings maybe DD will get in next year, and thus catapult her brother up the waiting list? Good luck anyway.

Original poster

xoxo · 21/03/2007 19:44

Thanks Fridayschild.
I too heard about the 200 extra children from the council admissions office. But - how can they NOT know this is coming?
We have actually got a letter from teh admissions office saying there is no availability at local schools! The day after a council tax bill for £1900!

We can't easily afford private. It will probably mean selling something (anyone wnat to buy a car?).

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singersgirl · 21/03/2007 20:59

I'm sorry to hear that and don't really have any advice- it must be a really busy year. In the past with bulge years they've created bulge classes in schools - there was one in my boys' school that left 2 years ago (ie 3 classes in the year instead of 2). Though 200 children is a lot of bulge classes.

sunnydelight · 22/03/2007 18:58

What a nightmare xoxo. Appeals are extremely difficult for reception as fridayschild has pointed out as there is a legal maximum in each class, but I always think it is worth appealing. I had a complicated siutation at secondary level and the very nice guy in the LEA basically said that an appeal at least keeps you on the radar so it's always worth going for it. Would you consider home edding until your DS gets a place in an acceptable school?

Original poster

xoxo · 22/03/2007 20:44

Hi Sunnydelight
Thanks, I'm def appealling. and causing as much stink as poss.
I can't home Ed as I'm working. I'd also be bloody awful at it.
We're looking at a second mortgage for private education in teh hope that we will only have to do it for a year until something shakes out/ or we move out of London.

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hana · 22/03/2007 20:50

how awful for you xoxo
we didnt' get out first choice last year ( in Richmond) , but we were 18th on the list, and eventually a place came up during the first week of school, so it all worked out.
There is a LOT of movement on the lists though - people first have to accept places....remember that some people will be holding out for a school where a place has been accepted but that child is going private or moving or waiting for a school elsewhere instead ( does that make any sense at all? sorry)
I would def appeal - keep this bumped. Think there was a thread last year this time about primary appeals, that might be worth a search, or a general google search on the same.
it's crazy though isn't it that nothing was offered, you'd think that this would have been predicted and suitable measures put in place
lots of luck

Original poster

xoxo · 22/03/2007 21:10

Thanks Hana. I'm really hoping things will move. In the meantime we are appealling and praying. Like you say, keepiung on the radar. So much for Gordon Brown's promise on education, eh!

But - if you 're in Richmond, how come we don't see you at the West London get togethers? It would be nice to meet more Richmond/ Twickenham mums. You can all console me on the school front!!

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hana · 23/03/2007 11:28

aha
then everyone would know me! I kinda stick out anyway, so like my annonimity here. you do seem a v friendly bunch....have read the threads

breadandroses · 23/03/2007 11:38

Are there no places because you have applied to schools far away, or are there no places in your local school?

FWIW, Darrel have created a bulge class for this year.

(breadandroses head swims with the possibility that Richmond council might finally have flipped...)

kslatts · 23/03/2007 11:57

Hi xoxo, which schools have vacanxies in richmond then?

kookaburra · 23/03/2007 13:04

Front page of the Richmond local paper today was the scandal of the missing 200 places. Surely most pre-school kids in the in the borough will be registered with GPS - surely they get data from sources other than live births 4 years ago! I was told a few years ago by the admissions dept that they do cross check loads of data - playgroups etc.
I think you are in a bit of balck hole where you are - is it St Mary's you are going for? Was tehere for a chess competition a few days ago and was very impressed - unfortunaltey everyone else thinks so too.
The council is 'approaching local schools to look at provision of bulge classes'. Myabe if the glut in demand is where you are they might fit one in? Schools aren't keen on bulge classes becuase it has a knock on effect on logisitcs for years to come as siblings of the bulgers also create further demand in lower years, even when the original bulge class has 'flushed through' to secondary.
A few years ago my DC school temporarily accommodated a school which had not yet been built (! top council, Richmond...!)and an almighty stink broke out (law of unintended consequences or plain incompetence) because they opened a hiherto unused gate, whcih meant that measurements of distance were 'distorted' ( or 'fairer' - depending where you live!!!) and children in rads which were previously 'bankers' to get in didn't. They then permanently closed the gate on 'health & safety' grounds - crazy decision becuase it meant that children who live closer to the school were excluded, and thse that lived further awa were okay.

amidaiwish · 23/03/2007 14:08

oh i have got all this to come next year. am dreading it. any top tips what you can do in advance?

families really do move around in this area (move away, move abroad) so i would keep your name on the list of the school you want and appeal.
for the local catholic school i know it is easier to get in mid years, than in nursery or reception. Getting DD in too also will bump your DS up the list so it may be worth putting up with two school runs in the short term if you can somehow manage it.

Original poster

xoxo · 23/03/2007 19:50

HI all
we wnated Orleans and Vineyard as we live equal distance to teh two.
We were 'offered' a school in Ham South (which is currently graded 4 by Ofstaed) but is 2 bus journeys away, and one in Hampton north (ditto).
They are Buckingham and St Andrews with St Richard (or something like that).

Did not go for church schools as we are not church goers and I refused to find God in a prospectus as so many did - am now bitterly regretting it.
So - my advise is go to church, and be seen to go!!!

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Original poster

xoxo · 23/03/2007 19:51

By the way we are No 224 on St Mary's waiting list. It was THE most over subscribed school in teh borough, so you are right, it is good.

dashing off now to read local paper.....

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foxinsocks · 23/03/2007 19:56

Buckingham's not so bad as an interim xoxo (obviously totally nightmarish journey wise, as Ham would be I guess)

I would just advise you to stay on the waiting list. Woman round the corner from us waited for a year but finally got her place.

Re the 200 children - you know, this happens virtually every year in RUT. Although they do have nursery figures, loads of children don't go to nursery school and Richmond suffers very much from a MASSIVE influx of children from other boroughs in the months/year before they are due to start school (people suddenly realise their local options aren't great and move to RUT to get into the schools. We know, just locally, at least 10 families who moved here just before primary application date).

suejonez · 23/03/2007 19:58

who are all you RUT people and why aren't you at the Mumsnet meet-ups?! Where are you all lurking

hana · 23/03/2007 19:59

lolol!

amidaiwish · 23/03/2007 20:21

too scared.

suejonez · 23/03/2007 22:03

I understand I am quite scary. (but not as scary as Uwila)

kookaburra · 26/03/2007 12:32

Am newbie so have not seen any Richmond meet-ups (and am too timid to initiate....)

suejonez · 26/03/2007 15:27

march general meet up thread

Theres usually something for everyone, daytime meets, weekend meets, evening meets etc and even the occasional expedition (Bocketts Farm during half term)

castlesintheair · 27/03/2007 13:09

Hi xoxo, I don't know if this is a bit out of date now but have you tried ringing Rachel Robinson 0208 831 6053? She's the parent partnership person in Richmond who is unaffiliated to any organisation other than offering impartial advice to parents on schools etc.

We were 4th on the waiting list for the Vineyard last year. We moved down the list and not up (we are even in TW10!) as people constantly move into Richmond Hill and bump you down the list. We ended up being 16th on the list!! My DS got into our 3rd choice which has probably turned out to be the best choice for him and apparently one of the 3 most sought after schools by parents in the area according to the local rag .

Good luck with the appeal. I hope you get some good news soon. I can't believe you have been offered nothing

Original poster

xoxo · 27/03/2007 15:50

dear castles - I'm ringing that lovely lady RIGHT now......

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