Not to sure if i should move my dd to our catchment school.

[lollyheart]

DD has just started year 1.

spoke to the school today as i have to apply this year for my ds to start next year.

My problem is that the school had an outstanding ofsted report last year and now the school has a waiting list for this year with children on it from the catchment area, also so many houses are being built near the school, and another school was closed, so all the children from that school now go to the one my dd goes to.

Hope im making sense so far.

So i really dont know what to do, do i move dd to our not so good catchment school so they get to go to the same school or just wait to see if my ds gets in. the school also said being out of catchment means dd might not even get into the jrs,

I am so stressed about the whole thing now.

Moving is not an option

siblings usually get priority - is that not the case in your area?

I would wait and see if your DS gets in before deciding anything about your DD. Just because they were very full this year doesn't mean for definite that they will be very full next year.

yes siblings get priority, but siblings in catchment come first.

There can't be that many siblings in catchment - and you would then have priority over all other non-siblings in and out of catchment. How big is the intake? I would wait and see what happens. You could move DD and hen end up with DS being given yet another school.

last year was 60 with 2 reception classes, this year 90 and an extra class room, because of all the new builds + a school closing

Oh gosh, how difficult! It might be worth at least checking whether your catchment school have a place for your DD.

Just to add to Seeline's point, it depends on the criteria if non-catchment siblings come before catchment with no siblings. At our school (CofE aided) it goes Catchment siblings, catchment, non catchment siblings.
I don't know what I would do, probably apply with the current school as first choice but also putting the catchment school on, find out if you can how many applicants they are expecting, contact your catchment school find out if there would be a place for your dd, if you don't get a place then you can move them both for the start of the new school year.

From your post I assume that this is an infant school. As your dd has just started year 1 there will be no issues about her being a sibling in the school when it comes to allocating places. I think it would be quite unusual if with a PAN of 60 or possibly 90 that all siblings will not get an offer of a place.

However more of problem may come in 2012 when you daughter has to go to the junior school. You need to check very carefully the admission criteria for the junior school. Does it give any priority to those from the companion infant school or not. If it does then you should be OK, providing that they make provision for the 90 year group- if not they have a lot of pupils to find places for.

If however there is no priority to infant school then you may find that this is a problem. Can you confirm what is the junior school admission criteria?

Thank you admission.

I really hope my ds will get in, i am stressing so much over this

My nephew has just started the same junior school, my sis said she did put down his younger sibling on the form, i saw that the intake was 90 for children starting this year, will it be the same then or could it change?

Lolly, where in Hampshire are you??

Basingstoke

I thought you might be in Chandlers Ford!

We are in a similar situation in that dd1 is at a school out of catchment. It also got outstanding at its last OFSTED and things have gone mad. The sister of a girl in dd1's class did not get in this year as she too is out of catchment. My dd2 is due to start school in 2011 and it has really unsettled me.

So much so that we have put the house on the market! We had an offer today and are considering it and there is a house we like in catchment, but the catchment area is small and suitable houses are rare.

It took dh some persuading to realise 2 school runs were just not on.

I really feel for you. Keep us posted.

Good luck to you

We cant sell our house, but thats another story, otherwise i would do the same.

Quick update

I went into the junior school today, it looks like dd wont have a problem getting into the junior school.

the have had an extra class room built so the intake is 90.

Everything crossed ds gets a place next year.

Great news Lolly!

We had good news today. We have accepted an offer on our house. Have offered on the house we like and just waiting to hear back!