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

[soo22]

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.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

have got contacts I can phone on Tuesday, thankfully

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

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

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

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

[dizietsma]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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!

[soo22]

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!

[PamSco]

In case you missed this...

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

[PamSco]

And this one specifically on places - RC schools mentioned

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

[WillPenn]

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.

[soo22]

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!!

[prettybird]

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]

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

[K999]

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

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

DD got her special school place :-)

[TheCrackFox]

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

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

yes, am over the moon :)