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Original poster

Any Parents out there refused places at St Mary's Leith

91 replies

soo22 · 26/04/2011 15:12

Hi, I'm trying to get other parents out there who have been refused a place at St Mary's Leith to lobby the Council for additional teachers/space to allow children the right to attend their local catchment school.

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 30/04/2011 12:33

have got contacts I can phone on Tuesday, thankfully

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 30/04/2011 12:34

(although they are just people from council who work to support DD so they might well avoid me if it's bad news!)

StewieGriffinsMom · 30/04/2011 12:44

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 30/04/2011 12:45

i have met her twice, will call her if we get rejected, still hoping we wont though, we were led to believe we had a good chance, but its just taking soo long to hear

StewieGriffinsMom · 30/04/2011 13:12

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dizietsma · 30/04/2011 13:22

Makes me glad I'm home educating, our catchment primary (Sciennes) is crazy oversubscribed.

This farce of council provision makes me think we oughta put up some candidates for the next council elections standing on a "sorting out local education" platform.

prettybird · 30/04/2011 14:04

EasterIgg - not sure if you are Scottish, but here the catholic schools are also state schools (ie, not grant aided like in England) and as such do have formal catchments - effectively people have two catchments: one for the non-denominational school and one for the denomination (usually = catholic) school. Hence the OP's desire to mobilise parents to get the council to fulfill its obligation.

The fact that I don't agree with this parallel system is beside the point

Groovee · 30/04/2011 16:24

I've heard of a number of girls in the P7 class who had applied to a high school who didn't get letters either but when their mums phoned they got told they'd got in and can only suppose the letter got lost as every applicant had a letter sent to them.

I know our P1's have had a lot declined even those who have siblings in the school so it's looking like 4 years ago all over again when no one out of catchment got in. The same happened the year dd should have gone to school. I had a call from Placement Services which lasted 45 minutes while they ensured I was entirely sure I wanted to defer her as they had 65 catchment children and only 60 places due to being capped.

EasterIgg · 30/04/2011 23:30

Prettybird thank you for your explanation, I didn't know whole story. I do live in Edinburgh, now worrying about what happens to ds in another year if kids don't get into their catchment school!

EasterIgg · 30/04/2011 23:30

Prettybird thank you for your explanation, I didn't know whole story. I do live in Edinburgh, now worrying about what happens to ds in another year if kids don't get into their catchment school!

Original poster
soo22 · 01/05/2011 20:30

Thanks for all the posts, still no further forward though. Local Councillors not that helpful either, all they say is that the Council have fulfilled their legal obligation, ie giving places to baptised catholics and children with siblings at the school. However, what it doesn't take account of is those parents (I know of at least 1) who have managed to get their DC's baptised as Catholics, but are not Catholic!Someone should look into that I think!

OP posts:
StewieGriffinsMom · 01/05/2011 20:45

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PamSco · 01/05/2011 23:39

In case you missed this...

edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/Fewer-get-in-to-school.6759190.jp

PamSco · 01/05/2011 23:42

And this one specifically on places - RC schools mentioned

news.scotsman.com/schoolsinedinburgh/Primaries-face-class-size-crisis.6739619.jp

WillPenn · 02/05/2011 05:09

Is there anyone around who has appeal experience. Our out-of-catchment request for a place at Craiglockhart was turned down. We made the request for childcare reasons, as our two kids are at a childminder over the road from the school who cannot pick up/drop off from our local school. There is no one in our home area who can look after both kids, so now we are stuck with having to find different childcare for DD1 while DD2 stays with the current childminder, who is lovely and we really don't want to leave. DD1 is devasted about leaving behind said childminder, her sister, and all her friends in the area. DH and I both work full time and are devasted for her, and v. upset about having to drop off and pick up at two locations until DD2 starts school in two years time. We don't want to send DD1 to after school club, as I don't think she'd cope with it.

We've sent off an appeal letter. But do you think we have a leg to stand on? What "line of attack" should we take? thanks.

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/05/2011 16:48

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Original poster
soo22 · 02/05/2011 17:58

StewieGriffithsMom, I was told by the Mother herself and I have other friends who heard her say it, so proving it would be easy. Just feel it's a bit low to stoop to these levels! I've contacted Marjorie Thomas, Rob Munn and one other (cant remember his name, but he hasn't replied anyway) MArjorie Thomas didn't even know that Catholic schools had catchment areas and was not very helpful. Rob said he would get back to me. We'll wait and see!!

OP posts:
StewieGriffinsMom · 02/05/2011 18:05

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prettybird · 02/05/2011 19:33

Sooedin - are you are catholic, and if so why are your children not baptised?

Jackedin definitely seems to have a case, as she says she is both in catchment and the children are baptised - but not clear if that is the situation with you.

prettybird · 02/05/2011 19:34

Sorry - managed to combine 2 names: for sooedin , read soo22 Blush

K999 · 02/05/2011 19:35

I'm waiting to find out if DD2 has a place at St Johns. Smile

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 03/05/2011 12:38

DD got her special school place :-)

TheCrackFox · 03/05/2011 12:57

Brilliant news Fanjo. Must be a huge relief for you.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 03/05/2011 13:56

yes, am over the moon :)

StewieGriffinsMom · 03/05/2011 14:16

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