Wandsworth Primary Schools - Anyone else not offered a place?

[DastardlyandSmugly]

Hi - I'm wondering if there is anyone else in the same position as us on here. We applied for four of the five schools closest to our house, including our closest which is approx. 550m away, and we haven't been offered a place at any of them. We are 7th, 23rd, 53rd and 59th on the wait lists. The other school in our locality, which we don't want our son to go to, also has no spaces available anyway. As it stands all we're being offered is to submit a late application to one of the schools that do have open places - all of which are prohibitively far from us.

Is anyone else in a similar position?

I'll get in touch with the reporter and ask what she thinks then get back to you.

OK. Got appeal date through today. It's 21st May.

Thanks DMF. Glad to see you on the True Blood thread too!

Any news mtcac?

No reply from the reporter so maybe it's a no go. Will email her again though.
Good luck with the appeal. More anon.

Yes I need to get prepared for the appeal now. Already starting to panic about it!

Hi Dand S,
Just wanted to share my good news - amazingly just been offered a place for DD at Belleville. The relief is immense. I really hope you get a place soon. I really was starting to go out of my mind so I know exactly what you're going through.
If you want to get in touch with reporter directly (I'd feel like a charlatan now we've got a place) I can send you her email offline. Just let me know. And the very best of luck with the appeal and the whole process.

mtcac am so pleased for you and your DD - that's really brilliant news.

Yes send me the reporters details - that would be great.

mtcac not sure if you're still checking this thread now but, on the advice of the admissions experts on here, I've just sent this letter to the Director of Education and the councillor responsible for education. Wondered what you though?

Dear Councillor Mrs Tracey and Mr Robinson

My son is one of the 421 children in the borough of Wandsworth who on March 18th did not receive the offer of a place at any school for reception commencing in September 2010.

We have an appeal on 21st May for one of the schools we identified as a preference, Swaffield, but I must point out that I am absolutely dismayed at the scale of this problem, the lack of assistance from the LA in finding an acceptable solution for our son, and the seeming lack of realisation that something urgently must be done to resolve this and prevent it happening in future years.

It simply isn't good enough, in my opinion, to expect parents, with no experience in dealing with the admissions system, to navigate the process to obtain a late place for their child when there are 421 other children also required to do this. It appears to me that you are expecting a large part of this shortfall to be made up by parents moving away, home educating or transferring into the private sector and I believe in this you have failed to meet your responsibilities to children in this borough.

I would like to give you notice of my intention to contact the press following our appeal to highlight the scale of this problem and I wanted to give you this opportunity to respond to my concerns in advance.

I would appreciate your urgent attention on this matter.

Yours sincerely

DastardlyandSmugly

Hi DandS,
Yes still checking!
I'll send the reporter's details to you directly and would be happy to support any action you take as I fully agree with the sentiment of your letter - the system is clearly flawed and that needs to be addressed.
Bye for now.

Hi again DandS,
Didn't realise I can't email you since I don't have your email address!! Here's the reporter's details:

Eleanor Harding
Senior Reporter
Wandsworth Guardian
Tel: 0208 330 9537
Mob: 07825715338
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk

Thanks - that's great.

Hi mtcac - great news from me - we have a place. The councillor responded to my letter saying they were doing something and when I asked for a face to face meeting to discuss further she replied that they have negotiated an extra class at the school and we will receive an offer letter tomorrow.

To say I'm relieved is an understatement.

Also have news from her that the DSCF have agreed that there is a long-term problem in Wandsworth that needs fixing - which is great news for the borough as a whole.

Hi DandS,
Wonderful news - I'm so pleased for you and so happy that your efforts have paid off.
And with any luck, this won't be an issue for so many families in the future!
Take care and enjoy preparing your little one for big school!!

Yes we went to the spring fair on Friday and it was lovely. We met loads of parents and teachers and felt so at home. It was fab. In the meantime we've been referred to the DoE by Michael Gove with the epithet 'sort it out'. I've told them we have a place but I may use it to discuss the wider issues in Wandsworth.

I have written to her several times and never even get and acknowledgement!!!!

Bonjour,
I just moved back to London after spending three years living in France because of my husband's job. I am in a real state of anxiety as our daughter, who was second on Sheringdale waiting list about ten days ago, is now 4th. I have no idea how likely this is for her to start her reception class this Sept... It was a huge change for her to move back to London and i am not sleeping at night because of this ridiculous school system. i feel totally in someone's hands. i am going back to my full-time job as a secondary school french teacher and not knowing yet whether my daughter will have a place or not is simply devastating.
Does anyone know if being 4th on a waiting list at this stage is hopeless or on the contrary quite good? We also applied for St michael's but there she is number 55 so no hope. When will we definitely know if she has place or not? The secretary of wandsworth council said that we have to wait until the first day of school and see if there are children who are not turning up; sometimes people move and don't inform the school nor the council. Dis i understand that correctly?
Thank you

it can still all change
remember people may be on more than one list
and yes some just don't show up
best of luck

Hi! I am applying for primary schools for entry in 2012. I was just wondering what the outcome was for all of you who were on waiting lists? I live between Riversdale and Sheringdale and am trying to decide what to do.

hi there Sweetnhappy! I also live between Sheringdale & Riversdale and currently reading Ofsted reports... everyone I speak to tells me my DD "should" get 1st choice place given the proximity but after reading this thread I'm actually afraid we might not get one!
freaking out too early maybe? don't know...