Nobody wants my kids in their school

[ScummyMummy]

So much for my championing of state education! We've heard this morning that our twin scunners have been rejected from 3/5 of the local schools we applied to (and I have absolutely no hope of them getting into the other 2 since they are religious schools and I did not pretend we were religious.) What happens now? I'll ask for their names to be kept on the waiting lists. Is there any point in appealing? Can the LEA now send them anywhere in the borough where there are places left, even if this involves long journeys or separate schools? I'm feeling slightly gutted that this is going to be such hard work. Any words of wisdom?

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Scummy, what a total pain for you. Hope you get the good result you are after soon, as others have said, don't give up and keep phoning.

I've no experience at all of this, Scummy, but I'm appalled that something as fundamantal as getting your children into school is so difficult. Good luck with your mission.

scummy have you found out what the "professionals" consider a reasonable distance to travel to get your kids in school?

does anyone know what would happen if someone sat back and said " am not sorting it out my kids can s tay at home?" would some "professional" or other sort a place out - i bet they would.

how does this affect you ( or partner) with work /college and the logistics - can you prove that travelling farer or the time it takes to go to another school would activley keep you (or partner)from employment or college?

the reasons they state might be sane - but if you were an already overloaded school and it was an equal choice between a singleton and twins - anyone in that situation would go for twins

i had to fight , appeal, and fight some more to get my kids into a catholic school - and i am catholic - practicing at that i thought i was going to have to get the pope himself to intervene. but i am up for a good fight again "professionals" but it is weary and tiresome

as a bit of encouragement though - i have appealed against 2 schools at primary level regarding enterence of my kids and i won both times

best of luck

sorry i mean if it was an equal choice between a singleton and twins with an already overloaded school they would go for the singleton ( not twins as previously stated!)

custardo - I mentioned before that taking the "am not sorting it out my kids can stay at home?" line is a very risky one unless having your children at home is an actual option for you and wouldn't mean nightmares with work, college etc etc You would also have to demonstrate that you are providing your children with an education at home.

It is likely that some "professional" (why the " "'s?) or other would sort a place out as there is an obligation for the LEA to find a school place, but the place found would not necessarily be at a school nearby or a school that you would want to send your child to. The LEA would have fulfilled their legal obligation, but the situation would not be satisfactory. Best if things are resolved either by appeal or otherwise before reaching that point.

I don't think that the school could opt to take a singleton over a twin. The twins will probably be in places x and x+1 on the waiting list and places should be offered accordingly. The school would not be able to offer a place to child x+3 to avoid the twins - that's what I think anyway - I could well be wrong!

Congratulations on succeeding with your appeals!

( was the "s" bad grammar? or is there only one!)

so what if the LEA offered you a place that you could have taken before - but on principle said no because it would make you life living hell for the next ten years and interfere with possible job or college things. and you didnt show any inclination to educate you child at home becuase that wasnt the reason you were keeping them at home - it was the principle.
what happens next?

This may have been mentioned before so sorry if I'm repeating ideas here, but how about going to the press with it? Schools hate getting bad press and it puts pressure on them and the council to be seen to be doing something.

Also your local MP could step in for you too, as could your local councillor, the Mayor and anyone else you can think of who might make a difference! I'm sorry you have to go through all this. My dh's nephew lives in a small village and they had to fight to get him into the village primary as there are just too many kids for the school's capacity. It didn't matter that they had lived there all their lives! But they did fight and they got there in the end. I suppose it helped that f-i-l is the local councillor and ex-Mayor.

Sorry I can't help more, but don't give up will you? Keep fighting your corner - best of luck!

thanks batters

best of luck scummy

Scummy - any progress with this at all, i've been wondering ? much love xx

Hip hip hip hip hooray hooray hooray hooray hooray. The little blighters are in! The lovely school secretary phoned this evening and I think even she was a bit taken aback by my whoop of joy, though she knew we'd be happy. She even said "I hope we can live up to your expectations!" Thank you all so much for your reassurances and words of wisdom. I'd been meaning to update you for a month or so that they were very high up the waiting list (numbers 1 and 2 to be precise!) at the school I was equal keenest on (cute red sweatshirts, lovely teachers, great diverse mix of kids) though right at the bottom of the lists at all the other schools. I've been assiduously phoning secretaries to remind them that we were waiting and keen. And what a lovely bunch of people they are- incredibly sympathetic and helpful. I'm quite sad that I'll be losing touch with them now! Anyway, all is beautiful at the house of scum and I'm going to go and open a beer and toast you all for your inimitable and wonderful cyber-support.

Oh that's so good scummy, great stuff. Have a beer for me...

a toast to scummy's boy's new school!

Bril, really pleased for the scummy family !

Brilliant news!

that is great scummy! congratulations!

brilliant Scummy

Hip hip hooray indeed Scummy

Scummy, you did it! Well done, I'm very happy for you and your 2! Hope you had a good holiday as well.

Fab news Scummy, so pleased for the boys and for you all!

Excellent news! A year ago we were in your position, and got a place at the eleventh hour. We continue to be absolutely thrilled with the school - definitely worth all the stress. Hope it proves that way for you too.

Hooray Scummy .... great news!!!

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