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Original poster

Am I being unreasonable to not expect the only school in my son's catchment area to be able to set its own criteria for entry to reception class?

42 replies

pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 16:22

We live in a small village without a school. The village is close to another village where the school there is the catchment school for our area too and the only one. Kids get bused from here to there. Its a Church of England Voluntary Aided school which according to what our county council said today means it can use the usual system to manage applications and admissions but set its own criteria, which of course include one parent being an active Christian. Our DS will be 5 in November and I had assumed that as the other schools we chose are naturally not in our catchment area, as its the only one, and are also oversubscribed, that we'd stand a good chance at appeal, as the LEA could insist that the school increases its places from 24 in reception. The LEA says no, the appeal is with the school and they admit according to their critieria and only the school can decide to offer more places. What really gets me cross is that this means the school will know long before the LEA date of 23 April who they are offering places to, but will not tell the parents, but use the normal system. This whole system stinks, it isn't about choice at all!

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pooodle · 08/02/2008 16:30

Do you know how over subscribed they are, what your chances are etc? I teach at a VA secondary school, and they admit both church and a small number of community each year, do you have any idea how likely your chances are?

I am also waiting to find out if son has a place, it is 3:2 over subscribed, and i am applying for a "compelling need" place, which is very obscure so no idea if they think he has a compelling need or not! There are some useful threads on www.parentscentre.gov.uk/forum site, re admissions, and some experts on the reception sizes and appeal chances. apparantly its almost impossible to win on appeal in reception, 1 and 2, becuase of class to teacher size rati.

UnquietDad · 08/02/2008 16:35

"Choice" is vile. Abused by schools and no more so than in the ghastly faith-school arena.

having said that, you have to work within the system you've been given. Here's a hoop - jump through it.

How "active" an active Christian do you need to be? I'm guessing that smiling beatifically and helping old ladies across the road is not enough. I expect you will need to put on a brave face, grab a hymn-book, look pious and have god as your best mate for eighteen months.

(Actually, saying it only needs to be one parent is letting you off lightly compared with some!!)

Smurfs · 08/02/2008 16:43

Good luck Pralinegirl

The appeal hero aka unquietdad will help you through this, he was great when I frequently sat at the computer in tears last year.

(not quiet sure if I ever thanked you ud!) so thank you

TotalChaos · 08/02/2008 16:44

a bit too late though for OP to do that UQD. I sympathise Praline - nearest school to us is a catholic school, which prioritises any Catholic child in the city above children that live nearby. Fortunately this is only a minor inconvenience for us - but in your case sounds to be a complete PITA.

Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 16:47

I would have to be a very quick persuasive active Christian who could persuade a minister, if I knew one!, to write a letter to the school on my behalf by 28 Feb! I admit if we fail on appeal I will re-think it, at least it would be a way to meet some other folk in the village, as I work four days full-time. But thats also partly why I don't see why I should have to - our weekends as a family are so precious and my husband is so not religious, actually so am I but was brought up to be in Scotland so am more open to it. But we've lived here 6 years now and you'd think that would count for something. Hes an only child who desperately needs friends in his own village, the nursery where I work at the hospital is great but they are all spread out. There are 30 families applying for 24 places, but 11 will automatically go to those with siblings already there. They will after the church thing, take older children rather than younger, so thank goodness he is november! Last year they were undersubscribed. Its a good school so worth fighting. We were joking at the pre-school this morning about sending them to pre-school with 666 on foreheads as protest!

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choccypig · 08/02/2008 16:53

What a cheat to take older children rather than younger! It is often stated that older children settle in easier, do better in SATS etc. So at last we have found out why Church schools seem to get higher SAT scores. And there was me thinking it was all about "ethos"

TotalChaos · 08/02/2008 16:56

yes, I thought that was a bit odd too, choccy. would have thought proximity would have been a fairer criteria.

Blu · 08/02/2008 16:58

Write to your MP.

This is exactly the problem with mixing schools which have specific criteria in as part of the LEA 'community' provision.

Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 17:01

My thoughts exactly about the idea behind it! Older kids will make them look better and be easier! Proximity I guess they can't do in this area, as its so villagy, smaller villages without schools would have nothing!And there are lots of tiny villages here.

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Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 17:03

Thanks Blu, never thought about the MP idea!How do I find out who they are and address, can't remember the name.

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Fennel · 08/02/2008 17:04

Definitely appeal as well as writing to your MP and cite the importance for your son to be an active part of his local community including going to school with other local children.

we appealed when we moved to a village with an officially full and oversubscribed school, and got in. My argument was based on the importance of community and of not having to commute to school by car too.

it wasn't a church school but the C of E is supposedly into strong communities etc.

Smurfs · 08/02/2008 17:05

I second Blu, we contacted our local mp and I had a meeting with him and he sent me and the appeal board a lovely letter outlining why DS should be admitted to our chosen school. He also followed it up afterwards to see how we had got on!

Fimbo · 08/02/2008 17:06

PG have posted same thing on other thread. Whereabouts are you? My ds's school (state) is an "outstanding" school and may have places in September.

Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 17:08

Thanks Smurf, should I write to him before I find out the decision in April or is it better to now - although not right now as need to make thai green curry for hungry DH coming home - its my day off today!

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Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 17:09

Fimbo - am in Norwich

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Fimbo · 08/02/2008 17:10

Yes but whereabouts?

Smurfs · 08/02/2008 17:11

pg, it might be worth contacting him before you officially know and explain the situation and then if you do get a 'No' the wheels can be set into motion quite quickly as you don't have that long after finding out and having to have your appeal documents in to the LEA. Mmmmm to thai green curry

UnquietDad · 08/02/2008 17:17

Sorry, I didn't look at the timescale properly!

UnquietDad · 08/02/2008 17:17

smurfs - glad to hear I was of help!

Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 17:23

Fimbo - in Thorpe End.So catchment school Little Plumstead.

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Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 17:26

Unquietdad - wasn't being sarcastic - hope you didn't think so - just trying to see something funny in the situation! I need a 'tame' minister! Except even if I could it shouldn't work like that.....

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pooodle · 08/02/2008 17:27

I have also sat on far to many panels where the infant class size regs make it a very unhappy experience for the appealants. The problem is that the appealants do not know or do not understand that they have a very low level of chance of success. They assume that their arguement that it is the right school for their child will have sufficient weight to gain admittance. When it is under the infant class size regs the only real possibility of succeeding is showing that the admission authority made a mistake.

be careful, it is very very very difficult territory, read up on the primary appeals threads to find out why. if you cannot prove the admission authority made a mistake in applying the criteria, it is an automatic no, no matter how heart rendering the reasons. its law, they cannot go over it.

Smurfs · 08/02/2008 17:28

....pg, set your principles to one side with all this, it is the only way to get through it....we even seriously looked at renting in the village for 6 months to get into the school

Fimbo · 08/02/2008 17:29

Ah my dh's boss's dc go to the school you are trying to get into ( can't see him being a churchgoer).

Pity, I am the opposite end to the A47 from you in Hethersett. A touch too far.

Can't you get him into Dussindale? Or is that oversubscribed?

Original poster
pralinegirl · 08/02/2008 17:43

Dussindale was os last year and being new probably is this year, also reception class is huge and theres no bus, which wouldn't matter now but will later. I really want a chance to meet other local kids and mums in our village! I have to work, no choice, so I know no-one here with kids that age.

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