gifted & talented v school action plus

[deeb604]

Hi all I'm new to this. My daughter is in year 8. She started year 7 in a local secondary school where she was bullied. After much liason with the school I was informed they could not meet her educational need as she scored in the top 0.01% in the country in her midges exam. She was registered G&T from that. All local schools stated they too would be unable to meet her needs. Her school sent it me in writing. I was advised to apply for a scholarship at a private school which we did, she sat some exams and was awarded a 30% scholarship and 30% bursary mean me a single mom on a nurses salary pays the rest currently £360 per month. she is in top sets for all subjects. I applied to the local authority, they would not help with the costs despite them not being able to educate her from my taxes! In contrast my son is in year 7 he is school action plus and has had support a various levels since year 1. Any advice re funding as i am struggling financially!!

How stupid.
Schools are refusing to take her?
Sorry I've no advice for you but would be interested to see what the answer is.

Party line was literally if that local secondary school couldn't meet her needs the we won't be able too!! I tried loads of schools and got nowhere. During my research I discovered each pupil in a state funded secondary school has a financial allocation. I asked if hers could be redirected to the public school as they were the only school offering her a place stating they could meet her needs. I was told no! Took it to parliment got nowhere they didn't even get my name right in the reply letter!

Did you get to y7 and not know she was gifted? I can't understand a school refusing to take a pupil because they are too academic??? Is there more to this story..... can you give more background?

Did they say 'we'll give her a place but we won't be able to offer the extension classes that will take her to her full potential', or did they say 'we can't meet her needs, therefore we will not offer her a place'?

It does sound difficult - can you talk to the school and ask thoer advice, because there are some charities that will contribute towards the fees of children in your dd's circumstances.

I would go back to the school and ask for a higher bursary to make it up to 70% bursary and 30% scholarship.

If you are a lone parent on a nurse's salary they would be inclined to look favourably on your application. Especially as they are aware that she has special needs they can meet.

I am in a similar position and my ds scholarship is topped up to 100% fees and extras.

My daughter has always been G&T we just didn't realise how G&T compared to other peers until secondary school. The school stated they were unable to meet her achademic requirements within their curriculam. Other states schools locally agreed with her first school based on her midges exam results which is a means test for year 7s. Thank you nobodyisasomebody I will try the school, am not opptimistic however as only offered my 50% initially I appealled and they offered the 60% subject to review.

Definitely go back and try for more funding for the private school. They will want her so should bend over backwards for you. Good luck with it!

The lea has a legal duty to provide a 'suitable' education for each child. Not the best, but a suitable one. If the schools are saying they cannot provide a suitable education then you should have a good chance with the lea. You usually have to go to tribunal though - you might need to apply to get get statemented to highlight this/have her educational needs assessed.