Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Primary placement - advice please! is this common? DD doesn't get into any of the 4 schools we applied for (in our area) but given a not-very-good school in a rough area miles away from where we live.

50 replies

greenday · 15/03/2008 11:14

Our 1st choice was a church school (and we attend the church regularly) and the rest were schools where we live. We didn't mind which school she was given our of the 4, but never in our wildest dream did we think she would not get into any of them and put in a school so far away.

Obviously, I'm new and inexperienced at all this as she's our 1st DD.

So, I'm wondering, is this common? It all feels so unjust and apart from appealing, what else can I do?

Words of wisdom .. anyone?

OP posts:
TotalChaos · 15/03/2008 11:16

get on the waiting list for all the 4 schools, and hope that someone moves house etc before Sept.

tootiredtothink · 15/03/2008 11:18

Are you in the catchment area of your first choice? If so then only thing you can do is appeal - but first go to your priest/vicar to ask him to help you. If you are a regular church goer it goes a long long way!!!

Nemoandthefishes · 15/03/2008 11:26

agree appeal and for church school see priest as they tend to chair board of governers for schools. Get name on waiting lists as not everyone will take thier place

Original poster
greenday · 15/03/2008 11:29

We were in the catchment area for our 1st choice. But we moved in Jan this year and now are in the catchment area of our 2nd choice (I wrote about this under notes for our 2nd choice)

Also, there's a new vicar at church. So he doesn't know us but at the same time, maybe that may work to our advantage.

My other question - is it ok to question the headmistress about their decision? I don't want to come across as pushy-parent and all but I really wonder how we were left out of the equation here. DD attends the nursery of the same school and although it doesn't guarantee a placement in the school, I was hoping that perhaps ... perhps, they would take into consideration that the child has settled into their school enviroment, etc ...

What questions should I ask the headmistress?

OP posts:
hercules1 · 15/03/2008 11:31

You need to find out why the church school didnt take you. I know from friends experiences it can often be a paperwork error and amended on appeal.

cece · 15/03/2008 11:32

In our county the Head Teacher plays no part whatsoever (much to thier dislike) in alloting school places. It is all done centrally though the local council school admissions office.

tootiredtothink · 15/03/2008 11:36

Sadly as its all done through the LEA i believe there is very little the actual school can do other than put you on the waiting list. Having said that i always feel its good to get your face seen and a friendly chat to the head couldn't do any harm. Just ask her if there is any advice she could give to with regards to the appeal. And get appointment booked with vicar asap.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 15/03/2008 11:43

The heads at the non-faith schools probably have little control but the church schools often manage their own admissions so definitely speak to the head there and appeal.

Original poster
greenday · 15/03/2008 11:46

I understand now why parents go through so much stress over all these school placement.

I just cannot believe our darn luck! How did it go so wrong. With the school that DD was given, I would have to take 2 buses to get there. How could that have been the most practical decision based on distance (as said by the council authorities)!?!

I am taking note of all your advice. Thank you all. Please do keep them coming - they are so useful!

OP posts:
lucykate · 15/03/2008 11:57

i would also advise, get her name on the waiting list for the other 4 schools asap, find out where about on the lists she is, and what criteria dictates this.

we moved house last july, so dd could only be put on the waiting lists after we'd moved, in the end, she got offered a place at all 3 local schools, so it's worth waiting it out.

LadyMuck · 15/03/2008 18:02

You need to understand why you didn't get into your first-named school, and from there, why you didn't get into any of the others. Was it already full because of siblings, or did your application not fit the higher category for church attendance etc. Did you meet the correct entry date for example (if not you would be at the bottom of the pile). Certainly you need to undersatdn how the mechanics worked, because if the mechanics worked incorrectly then you have a very strong chance at appeal.

Unfortunately every LEA seem to have slightly different admission criteria, so whilst I can sympathise I can't really offer much real advice other than to find out why this has happened and appeal if something went wrong, and otherwise get on the wait list. Locally the waitlist also works on the same council admission criteria so definitely do not skip the step of finding out how this criteria was applied to you.

amidaiwish · 15/03/2008 18:13

agree with all the other advice - get on the waiting list for all the schools on your list and any others you would prefer over the one you were given.

go and see the Vicar

tell the Head how devastated you are and what happened?

are you near the edge of a borough? it may be that your neighbouring boroughs results haven't come out yet and when they do and everyone accepts their places there will be a lot of places released

what is the deadline date for accepting places? again, many may opt for a private school and will release their state place.

lastly, when was your DD born? they don't have to attend school until the term after their 5th birthday. If you're not happy then you can always keep her at home and hope a place comes up in time for her. Once children have started in a school most parents leave them there so you're more likely to jump up the waiting list.

GOOD LUCK! Our school allocations come out this Thursday so am starting to feel v nervous too.

Original poster
greenday · 15/03/2008 20:48

Thank you all for your useful advice. Yes, I agree I need to find out how the decisions made has worked against my application - I suspect it was bad timing as we were due to move but had to apply with our old address, but it is worth finding out if it was any more than just bad timing / luck. Am dreading it though ...

In the beginning, my DH and I was adamant to go to church because we wanted to, not for the sake of our DD's education. We didn't want to become 'hypocritical' about attending church, IYKWIM. Also, DD didn't really like going to sunday school and preferred to sit with us in church which meant she was not as 'obvious' as the other children. I am very disappointed that we have been proven wrong and that perhaps I should have been more pushy and in-the-face to everyone who mattered!

As we definitely can't afford private school, I think the best option if everything else fail is to re-enrol her for the next year (although I would feel so sorry for her for being left out especially when all her friends are going to school). I simply cannot fathom the thought of taking her to school we haven't heard of till now, and in an area so far away from her, especially when I have a younger DS to look after as well. It's not impossible but would make everyday life rather strained.

OP posts:
Miggsie · 15/03/2008 20:52

Get onto the LEA who allocated places, try to find out exactly what criteria led to your being allocated this school.
If your address has since changed you would have grounds on that basis and ask for an immediate review.

And get on the other waiting lists and alert the head of your favoured school that you are appealling and why...

Good luck!

mrz · 15/03/2008 21:00

"I think the best option if everything else fail is to re-enrol her for the next year"

you could be facing a worse problem if you take this option unless someone leaves the class there still won't be a place.

Contact the LEA and request an explanation and appeal against the decision please don't leave it to chance.

LadyMuck · 15/03/2008 21:15

Sorry, but I don't understand the idea of reaplying next year? She won't be applying for reception, she would be replying for Year 1 (which presumably will be full if it is full at present). Your best chance is the wait list.

2boysnamedR · 16/03/2008 23:39

Hmmm - sounds like your in a simliar situation to me. Make sure you appeal asap as my appeal deadline is this Friday (Surrey LEA). You may get in on a waiting list but I wouldn't leave anything to chance. Unless you kick up a fuss for your DD, no one else will do it for you - good luck!

Oblomov · 16/03/2008 23:57

greenday, my sil had a nightmare. They were moving at the time of application. She put all the details down of her old address, but her first choice was for new address - one of these new build huge estates with their own school. She rang the admin people. They said, yes yes we understand. The house fell through. Then they did move. Rang again. yes, yes no problem they said. Then the letter went to their old address.There had obviously been a major muck up. She is appealing, but it is almost useless.

get your old vicar to speak to new vicar about this.
Forget ths, 'I don't want to come across as pushy' thing, you are going to have to fight to get this sorted. You must be strong and get pushy and go in with that mentality.
Although being ultra polite at all times, you must be forceful , in anice way.

There are lots of good thread here on winning appeals, and leaflets to read, and how the whole appelas process works, type pamplets, that may be very helpful to you.

Oblomov · 16/03/2008 23:58

And they allocatd her a school, in her old address, 60 miles away from new house.

Original poster
greenday · 19/03/2008 13:58

Thank you Oblomov! I am defintiely doing anything and everything I can now. And I am discovering that, sadly, it is necessary to be pushy and in-the-face and that's what I'm doing now. Did your sister get her DD into the school of choice eventually?

OP posts:
chocolatemummy · 19/03/2008 14:07

I am really nervous now, we don't find out yet until end of April.
we could put down three in order of pref but we have five schools within a mile so i didnt really know what to put down, I put the one that I have to go past every morning on my way to work, and can walk to, and it is the smallest, as my first choice but have no connection with any of them

iheartdusty · 19/03/2008 14:15

well chocolatemummy, what are you nervous about?

chocolatemummy · 19/03/2008 14:17

that this person didnt get in to any out of 4 and all catchment? including one she is already at nursery at and goes to the church??

Original poster
greenday · 19/03/2008 14:33

Don't worry too much, Chocmummy - my case is different from your's.

My application was made with my old address but because we were due to move, the schools I selected were at the other end of my area and therefore, although in the catchment area, I lost out to the many other applications which were closer and of their first choice.

Also, the 4 schools in my area are all very good schools (all graded 1 in OFSTED report). So competition was very stiff from the beginning.

I think my luck was just CRAP!!!!! That's all. Apart from the lousy system of school placement, I think I was just rock-bottom and 16-feet below UNLUCKY!

OP posts:
chocolatemummy · 19/03/2008 14:37

what are you going to do? could you afford private? or do you not agree with them ?
The school I have put first is the third best primary in the city (thats out of about 50) and the 2nd is in the top 12 but they are my catchments? bloody hell, its a nightmare.

Swipe left for the next trending thread