Is it too late to change my school preference?

[Mackonadragos]

Hi everyone,

My daughter was not accepted into her first choice of school (Didcot, Girls), which, according to OSTEAD is rated as outstanding. To my shock horror, my husband listed another school (Aureus, Didcot, that needs improvement) and my daughter is accepted there.

My daughter has lived abroad with me, that is why my husband sorted out that issues, and he sent in the school application without discussing the other choices with me. He was very relaxed about it, thinking that she will be accepted by sure. Eventually, I was told, but I failed to act upon it, to resend, or amend or do anything at all.

So now she is in a school, that I don't want her to be in.

Is there anything to do now? Can I resend the application? Or is it only the private school route that is available only?

My daughter will start Y9, the last two years in a non-English speaking school, so plenty to catch up. I feel now, I totally ruined her chances.

Any idea what shall I do now?

Your help is much appreciated.

How many secondary schools are there in Didcot, it's not a very large town.
The OFSTED category "requires improvement" means that the school is Satisfactory. Outstanding schools are inspected less often than other schools, so it's difficult to compare the schools if one inspection is more recent than the other.
You cannot appeal based on OFSTED category.
Your dd can go on the waiting list for your preferred school, but this does not guarantee that a place will become available.
You have not "ruined" your dds chances by sending her to a "requires improvement" school. Many schools in this category provide good support for their pupils.
You could try contacting private (independent) schools regarding Y9 entry. However, your dd would probably need to take an entrance exam.

Have you actually ever visited the school?

You can see if any school you would be happier with has spaces.

Have you read the report? I sounds like the school is on the up. Whether the improvement is fast enough for a Y9 child, I'm not sure, but it's not an awful report.

That may have been the only school with a y9 place. Have you called LA for advice on any other local vacancies?

I'd get on the waiting list for Didcot girls, it's always a long list though and you might be better sticking with Aureus so that she can do all the taster days etc. Go and visit it - Aureus is a new school and it had some teething problems, but that seems to have settled a lot. I haven't heard much complaining about it!

I'm not sure there are any private schools in Didcot itself, so if you're having to look outside of the town maybe consider looking at the Downs School (state school sort of nearby) or schools in Abingdon and wantage. If you're having to travel anyway might as well save your money?!

Thank you all for your replies.

I am still abroad with the children and only return at the end of August, so it is my husband who can go and look around. Our house is 15 min walk away from the Girls' School, while Aureus is 40 min walk away, nearly 3 km back and forth. We have another 3 children, the youngest starts reception this year. I don't drive so getting to Aureus will be very difficult. No transport is provided by the

Thank you all for your replies.
I am still abroad with the children and only return at the end of August, so it is my husband who can go and look around. Our house is 15 min walk away from the Girls' School, while Aureus is 40 min walk away, nearly 3 km back and forth. We have another 3 children,
the youngest starts reception this year. I don't drive so getting to Aureus will be very difficult. No transport is provided by the local authorities.
In January, when we contacted the schools, including the Girls', we were told that there are places available, but as joining to Y9 meant an in-year transfer, we had to wait until June to apply. By now there are no places available.

No, I haven't read any reports about Aureus. But again, thank you for the positive thoughts, for me a school that needs requirement sounds very bleak (so far the children only went to schools rated good, and I could see what a headmaster could do with a "good" school.)
We will contact the LA and see what we can do.

40 mins is not that far for a healthy yr9/10 to walk as long as it is a safe route. If she isn't yet in the country that might affect where she is on waiting lists. They probably had a space in January but someone has moved in and taken it. You can appeal but you will need to find a good reason why that school is a better fit for her - any clubs which she can do at one not the other. Just as well your dh did put the other school down as otherwise she might have been sent further away.

Where I am schools that have been outstanding for years are tumbling under the new inspection regimes. Some of those which are outstanding are only still that because Ofsted hasn't reached them yet. Looking at the website it was last inspected in 2015, there will be no girls left in the school who were there when it last had an OFSTED. A lot can change in seven years.

3km is really no distance, there may even be a bus route partway. Most children of 13+ make their own way to school. Can she return earlier to get more familiar with the area? Do you have places yet for your other children?

Agreed; the distance isn't an issue.
We have been in the situation, twice, where an outstanding school was complacent and not providing the pupil support that one might wish for.
Don't forget that results at the end of school are partly to do with the school but not comparable with a school with different entry requirements .
I don't know Didcot to advise any further re specific schools; I advise you or your husband and DC try to visit before the end of term.

Why is it RI? Our local secondary school is for a recruitment error - not having the paperwork for safer recruitment. Yeah not great but probably doesn't effect the children day to day. The actual results are above national average. Prior to this inspection, it has been Outstanding for years. I'm sure I read 72% of outstanding schools are being downgraded under the new Ofsted framework anyway so I wouldn't put too much store in an old outstanding judgment.

Thank you for the replies.

Some clarifications - I used the wrong term - I meant 3 km there and 3 km back. The last year I walked the children to a school that was 1.7 km there and 1.7 km back - while it is certainly doable, doing in on a daily basis was very time consuming.

Yes, my daughter is old enough to walk by herself, although I am not familiar with the route, but walking 6 km every single day of the year, not a leisurely walk, and I think it is a bit much.

Honestly it is fine and many other dc will be doing similar. You will not win any arguments with LA on that basis. Transport is only provided 3 miles plus where that is the nearest available school place.

3km is just under two miles, you won't be able to argue that it is too far for a 14/15 yr old to walk. While I understand that the 15 min walk would be preferable, 2 miles/ 40 min walk is not unreasonable and would not figure in any appeal.

If you are wanting to appeal you need to move beyond the distance and ofsted and find some more concrete reasons why the other school would be preferable - look at clubs, curriculum etc.

There will be buses - your daughter won’t be the only one who has a longer route to school. Remember you’re not transporting her in Yr9 so your own time on school runs isn’t so much an issue. Do you plan to learn to drive?

Without looking round the schools yourself, it’s going to be impossible for you to judge - and you clearly don’t trust your husband’s judgement! Ideally your daughter would look round and get a say.

I agree, however, that mentioning the distance is not a particularly strong point. I looked at club activities, nothing on the Aureus website, the Girls' school does not have any club that would relate to my daughter's current outside of school activity. So I have no clue what would be a stronger point, rather than living next door to our chosen school. Instead of making my daughter walking 6 km per day, it would mean walking 2.4 km per day (I haven't explored the possibility of public transport yet).

My other 3 children got into their school, no problem, and they are just a couple of min walk from the house.

I always wonder when you look around in a school what you can actually see there really? British schools are quite good at presenting themselves , nice, decorated walls, professional looking teachers and the professional way of talking - all are familiar to me. This is what a parent can see.

But there is very little extra info for outsiders who are not part of that community to get some deep info about the school. So I suppose, I have to use what is available.

My husband visited the other schools, and he said they are fine, they looked ok.

But anyway, thank you for your input, and we will see how we can deal with this.

Mine went 3km each way from 10, alone (bus or cycle) - that's not an issue for an appeal. It's an in year transfer so they can't do anything unless there's space no matter how close you are. It's not the LEA's fault you lived overseas, they can't kick another child out for yours.

Ps I walked 3miles each way, this is what the government says is reasonable so my mum refused to pay for a bus pass ;you get a free one over 3 miles)

I chose a secondary school that's 3 km away although there are closer ones. There's buses and kids can cycle.

" they can't kick another child out for yours"

There is no need to exaggerate like this, no one was talking about kicking out children for the benefit of mine.

2 miles is considered walking distance for Infants (4-7yos) under the English school system. So that will be irrelevant.

What you need to consider is why she will benefit going to the other school... subjects studied, sports teams, music etc. This is what will help at appeal.

You can also apply for any other school you might prefer.

That is perfect cycling distance obviously depending on the route

Well, if the school was worthy of a long walk, that would feel different. But passing a good school to get into an assumingly lot worse one, it is depressing.

Yes, that is my problem. Apart from the presumably higher quality of education, there is not any specific thing I can put on the appeal. The only thig is that she studies Russian (not her mother tongue, so a third language), but none of the schools offer that anyway.