Why are we not getting a school admission

[BucksParent]

First time parent and we really are doing the best for our child, as we all do.

So our little one is ready for reception (age4) starting sept 2014.

We listed the 4 schools and submitted before the deadline as the process dictates.

However we had been offered none of our 4 choices but one that is out of catchment? Council have stated they will provide a taxi and an adult to accompany our child. Which I am absolutely gob smacked about, is this normal ??

So we rejected this offer. Wrong school, not suitable etc.

It is now august and 4 of the schools we listed we are on the waiting lists, Yet we are creeping to September and yet no placement.

Are we the only ones in this boat?

Should we appeal?

and then you have the opposite problem, my dd1 just left a village school (y6) where there were 6 students leaving. in the whole school, reception-y6, there are 3 classes. reception and y1 together, y2 & y3 together and y4, y5 & y6 taught together. a good school and dd left with level 6 SATS results, but not ideal!

The flip side of it not mattering how long you have been on waiting lists is that someone else who meets the criteria more closely than you can jump in at any time and you might never get to the top of the lists.

Can you find out how close you are to the top if the lists? When is your DC's 5th birthday? You've got more leeway if their birthday is later in the school year.

As for the frustration of having 20 in a class, that would be an unheard of luxury where I live.

MsAdorabelle - don't get me wrong; it's far from ideal that your child is being educated in a corridor, in fact, it's pretty damn appalling. That needs to be addressed with the school/local council so that ALL attendees can have better facilities. My problem was with your implication that your child specifically should not be in the corridor as others who came in later, or were less fluent readers etc should be there instead.....rather like putting your towel on the sun-bed to save it. Everyones child has the right to a decent education, including yours but you do portray a sense of entitlement here that is difficult to reason with. Yes she may be an advanced reader and they may have had generations of Adorabelles through the school, but seriously, can you not see why your points were taken as they were?

Going back to the OP, were the original schools you put down realistic I.e. schools that last year took people who live where you do, or you otherwise met the criteria e.g. Faith? In that case you've been unlucky. Or did you just put down four schools that you liked the look of but a bit of reaearch would have told you there was no chance of a place because you live a long way from them? It is academic now but might be useful for future children. All you can do is get on all the waiting lists and decide if your backup plan is private or home educate.

Ps the experts on primary admissions (tiggytape pr47bridge admissions and panelchair) tend to hang out on the primary education forum so you might want to get this thread moved (report it and ask them to move it) or start a new one there.