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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Children offered places at different schools

19 replies

TheCottage · 10/02/2011 13:38

Has anyone else been in this situation? We are moving soon and ds2 been offered a primary school place in reception (our preferred school) and ds1 a place at a different primary school in yr2. It is going to be logistical nightmare as schools whilst only being 1.5 miles apart there is a lot of traffic. I have ds1 on waiting list and he will be at top of it for our preferred school. Has anyone else had to do this? I know the schools are worried about me picking up on time but I will just have to pick one up earlier in order to get the other one!

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newname0601 · 10/02/2011 13:42

I've chosen to do this and it is possible. But I'm using school transport for one. Maybe that is possible for you?

3timesalady · 10/02/2011 13:46

I had this last year. All 3 of my kids were allocated different schools. The stress was just unbelievable, so much so it kinda hurts to open that door again IYSWIM. Anyway - my tips...

Have a face-to-face meeting with the Schools Organiser at the local Council. Very good to out a face to your name.
Arrange a meeting with the preferred schools headteacher to discuss your options.
Don't believe the 'line' that they can't bend the rules/if we did it for you, we'd have to do it for everyone. The reason they have an appeals process is precisely for this reason!
If any of your kids have special needs, that bumps them up the list to a preferred spot. Kindly GP? Sorry but all hands on deck...
I emailed/called the Headteacher of my local school every day, also got other Mums that I know to speak to him.

The end result was that my ds2 was allocated a place legitimately, ds1 & ds3 both accepted as an exceptional case, both of them taking the class size to 31.

HTH. Good luck - don't give up hope, just fight like a lioness!!

Original poster

TheCottage · 10/02/2011 13:58

3timesalady thank you for that. Don't worry I will be roaring at the top of my voice! I'm going to put up a good fight especially as ds3 will be going to same school as ds2. Newname 0601 there's no school transport and I'm new to the area so I will be doing all running around. Neither children has special needs, it's just the fact our preferred school is in our catchment and it's a good one. Would love to hear from others who have had this problem and also how long it went on for until it was resolved.
Thanks

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IndigoBell · 10/02/2011 14:02

When your child is in Y3 there is no 30 size class limit so you'll definitely get in on appeal then.

DS2 will also be top of the waiting list (with sibling priority) at your preferred school.

Special needs do not get you bumped up the list unless they have very severe SN and have a statement.

You may find once you've moved that there are loads of local kids who can take one of your kids to and from school, so that you only have to take the one who's not so local....

Original poster

TheCottage · 10/02/2011 14:09

Hi indigo bell, thanks for the reaasurance. I was hoping someone was going to say that. I will go to appeal for when he moves up tp year3. I'll do everything possible to make sure ds1 gets in. It seems you have to put up a bit of a fight nowadays. The school ds1 allocated finishes this school year and then have to apply for a junior school for him, will appeal instead. Our preferred school is a c of e and does own admissions. Hopefully we'll have a good chance.

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3timesalady · 10/02/2011 16:28

Thats not true about yr 3 & upwards where I live - catchments run until Yr7 here so check your local policy. All 3 of my boys were Yr3 or above & i detailed my fight. Mine went on for approx a month until I wore the Head down...actually he told me since that it was a very emotional email I sent him explaining how close my boys are & that ds2 needs the protection of the others as he doesnt mix well...anyway, I poured it all out & he told me he couldn't refuse me after that. Must have hit a nerve I guess. It was such an emotional time :(

My overall summisation is to fight like you are 100% going to win, stay calm, bug them like crazy so they know you'll not go quietly & dig those heels in hard. I told them at one meeting that I'd home school if I wasn't allowed them all in - even went as far as filling in the forms.

DH said to me there ain't nothing scarier than a Mummy fighting for her kids. Amen to that!

prh47bridge · 10/02/2011 17:36

I would not go as far as saying you will definitely get in on appeal in Y3. You have a better chance but it is by no means guaranteed (and has nothing to do with catchment areas). You are entitled to one appeal every academic year so you could appeal now (although your chances are low) and again when he moves to Y3.

You should apply for a junior school for your son as well as appealing. Not applying will not improve your chances of a successful appeal. It will simply mean that you risk ending up without a place for him anywhere if your appeal fails.

Original poster

TheCottage · 10/02/2011 18:16

Prh47bridge do you think I should do my first appeal once ds2 is at the school (beginning march)? I know they don't have a head at the moment or at least the existing one is moving on, so don't have a head to contact yet. I don't see how it can be acceptable for two very close children to go to different schools let alone all the difficulties involved. They're going to miss each other desperately. That's why I'm hoping it won't be for long and wondered if there was anyone else who has had this situation and if it's been going on for a long time. Just want to mentally prepare myself and the children.

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Original poster

TheCottage · 10/02/2011 18:22

3timesalady I was wondering about home schooling ds1 until situation is resolved. (I'm useless at teaching though). Surely it wouldn't make a difference though to whom ever I am appealing to, whether he's home schooled or not. I would have thought, in their minds, it would be problem solved?

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admission · 10/02/2011 20:53

Home schooling should not make any difference to whether an appeal is successful but the way that you explain it is likely to make the panel think that you are deliberately doing the home schooling on an assumption that the appeal panel will have to admit. That may influence negatively a panel.
What is the admission number for the school? If it is 30 then any appeal now for year 2 would be an infant class size appeal and you have effectively no chance of winning. If the admission is not 15,30, 45 or 60 then I would be tempted to appeal as soon as sibling is in the school as you can realistically argue that the siblings should be in the same school.
If the appeal fails or it is ICS Regs case then wait for September and then appeal again when they are in year3 when you can argue the need for siblings to be together but also practical experience of the difficulty of getting 2 children to different schools - keep a log of all issues and times when you were late etc, which will be good evidence.

prh47bridge · 10/02/2011 20:58

Agree with Admission.

Original poster

TheCottage · 10/02/2011 21:32

Thank you to everyone and helpful advice. I will find all this out and will probably be back again for more advice. Admission; definitely not going to hold people to ransom, will be going down the road of desperately wanting children to be together. Ds2 is really going to miss his older brother, his protector and his best friend. Will be back soon for more help.

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bagpusswasthebest · 11/02/2011 08:32

Home Schooling is a massive PITA & the fact that I told them I would rather do that than accept a stupid offer of schools 5miles away reinforced to them that I was not gonna bend. Seems others are talking in strict 'lines' whereas I found if you dig your heels in hard enough, you can get them to change. Thats my point - The Cottage I hope you take heart from my points - I had everyone telling me no you have to go through the appeals, you have to follow the 'lines' but I found a way to make the situation bend & work for my boys. Anyone can tell you the standard way but I found you don't have to follow the standard way. Good Luck!

prh47bridge · 11/02/2011 14:43

They should not change because a parent digs his or her heels in, especially if changing involves a breach of the Admissions Code, e.g. admitting a child without an appeal when the school is already full. I am not saying it never happens but an LA can get themselves into all kinds of trouble if it does.

bagpusswasthebest · 11/02/2011 18:28

It does happen - it did for me and my boys. Luckily my Head saw through all the red tape bollox & saw the people being affected. Be positive TheCottage - I'm wishing you well. It's so much more fun outside the box!

Decorhate · 11/02/2011 18:36

Is there a Reception place available at the school hour ds1 has been allocated. I understand it is not your preferred school but if there is a place there at least your children would be together...

Original poster

TheCottage · 13/02/2011 10:01

I can't get either of them into the same school as each other.

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Original poster

TheCottage · 02/03/2011 08:54

update

We've been offered a place for ds1!!!! Woohoo!!! Didn't need to go to appeal as somebody left. So relieved. Thanks for all your support.

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 02/03/2011 09:53

Excellent news.

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