Placing requests for primary in Glasgow city.

[Didinic747]

Can anyone give me information on placing requests within Glasgow city?
I've been told you can put in up to three but my nursery manager said only put in one. Would putting in more than one request dilute my first choice school? Don't really like either of our catchment schools is the problem! Many thanks in advance.

I've only ever done a placing request once (for ds' secondary) so not sure what the "form" is. We had though they we were going to have to do a placing request for ds' primary school and then we found out that we were already in its catchment! (strange dog's leg meant that it was the catchment school rather than the closer school).

You have to put a reason on to your placing request form: how are you going to word three different reasons?

Which schools are you considering and is there any particular reason you don't like your catchment schools?

GCC now actively discourage placing requests - at popular schools children who have siblings attending that school were turned away last year as they were not in the catchment area and schools are increasingly at capacity. Doesn't mean you can't get a placing request, just that it is getting harder every year to accommodate placing requests. If you have good reasons why catchment school not suitable then go for it :-) I would do the same if I wasn't happy.

One upside of the placing request situation is that schools become more populated by original catchment area children and parents don't vote so much with their feet due to HMIE reports etc (understandable as they want the best option). In turn this means that less popular schools can improve due to interested parents and a good mix of children.

Just a caution in case you are not successful, but good luck. GCC Education Dept at John St can tell you procedures, as can your local catchment school. The first round of enrolement has already taken place (last week).

All of our dc were placing requests for the Gaelic school - also dd1 who got in on a PR at primary got a secondary PR too, and we can't see why ds (in p7) shouldn't get a place for high school, or dd2 currently in p6, though the requirements for high school (having been educated in Gaelic primary) mean our dc are more likely to get in.

I do think it matters where you PR for. You're not going to get into Jordanhill or possibly Hillhead. If you're realistic then it should be ok.

Have you considered the Gaelic school. My dc have had a second-to-none education there, I can't fault it!

Also, be aware that you (I'm pretty sure) still have to register your DC at your catchment school anyway.