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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

Primary school places - waiting room for anxious parents !

178 replies

thetideishigh · 03/03/2011 14:48

When does everyone find out where their dc have been allocated a place ?

Very nervous waiting going on here as we have applied to dc1's school for a place for dc2 even though we are out of catchment but because the order of preference rules have changed siblings out of catchment no longer have priority over children within catchment (The school wasn't that popular when we applied for dc1 but has been over subscribed for the last 2 years).

Dreading having to be in 2 places at once on the school run if dc2 doesn't get in.

Off to check the LEA website for date of notification of places but it is deffo March sometime.

OP posts:

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retiller · 26/04/2011 23:28

Hello, thetideishigh. I have been idly googling my situation and discovered you. I have failed to get dc2 into dc1's school. I found out today that we are 3rd on the waiting list. I am very down about this as dc2 is a shy and timid child and assumes naturally that she will go to the same school as her sibling. The school has 45 per year group.
Anyhow, i feel your pain!!!!
Oh, and i have dc3 who is due to start preschool in September-three places at 9am? Oh yeah, i AM Mary Poppins!!!!

puffylovett · 26/04/2011 23:52

Hey jiltedjohnsjulie - from the other end of the spectrum, I am in Staffs applying for a Cheshire east school. On the one hand, yes I know what school we have been allocated but on the other, it's totally wrong for us and we are now having to wait to find out where we are on the waiting lists and what chance we might have of getting a school that we want :( so you're not alone! Frustrated as hell over here too.

Original poster

thetideishigh · 27/04/2011 07:39

retiller spooky ! Both of us sitting at third place.

I found out on the parental gossip grapevine tonight that one of the successful applicants will be pulled out after year 3 to follow her brother to prep school, parents use local primary for infants and moved the brother at the end of year 3. Annoying that they are taking up a reception class place to save on the overall total fees cost but they are in catchment area and obviously have the right to do this !

Another child has clearly got in by using the father's address which is in catchment even though mum and dad have separated since first child started at the school and the mother now lives further away than we do. The mum does the school run daily, the dad maybe only once a fortnight.

Haven't said anything to dc2 yet as I really can't think what to say.

OP posts:

Pinkjenny · 27/04/2011 08:57

We got our second choice, which is absolutely fantastic, considering we live outside the catchment, and we were equally happy with first or second choice schools.

Thank God.

retiller · 27/04/2011 20:30

thetideishigh-Isn't the parental gossip the best way to hear all the news (even if it drives you mad)?!
The head of the school has told me one place has not been taken up and one almost definately won't be due to Special Needs. So essentially, i could be first soon. HOWEVER, the bit that drives me truly nuts is that any dunderhead who didn't fill in their form in time gets to go ahead of me (if in catchment) and of course anyone who moves into catchment during this hideous waiting time. Grrrrrr.
I too have said nothing to her. I feel so sad that she can't enjoy the big build up of going to big school. I am so angry that someone in an office can decide whether my children go to the same school or not. Sigh.

sprinklingsparklesOnACorgi · 28/04/2011 00:12

Sat up, i know full well i will be tossing and turning if i go to bed now.

Cant believe how this is making me feel. so stupid.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 28/04/2011 08:00

Puffy didn't you get your choice then? We can log on and find out from 3pm today so will finally put my nerves at rest.

puffylovett · 28/04/2011 09:44

No ... We are in the process of moving house and they have refused to use our new address :( fair enough I suppose. We got allocated a school 3 miles across town instead of the one 300 m up the road from new address :(

Fingers crossed you get your choice! Does that mean after 3pm I can ring for info re waiting lists? (hopeful)

MarionCole · 28/04/2011 11:04

JJJ the decisions are in for Cheshire East. We got second choice which I'm happy enough with. I think it's better to go with that one, even though it's slightly less convenient, than keep on the waiting list and not be able to tell DS which school he is going to. It's an Ofsted good school after all. Phew.

sprinklingsparklesOnACorgi · 28/04/2011 11:35

I got my email at 6.20! 1st choice for both of them, im so happy.

Theres a glitch with the response emails. but hopefully its not going to affect anything.

MarionCole · 28/04/2011 12:12

Excellent sprinkles!

MarionCole · 28/04/2011 12:19

So far, we seem to be the only one in DS's circle of friends who hasn't got their first choice. Starting to feel unnecessarily peeved!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 28/04/2011 14:42

Marion I would feel peeved at that too. Perhaps all the others and the Head are Netmummers and have beeen giving one another group hugs

We've got the school we wanted, but there wasn't much doubt, just wanted it in writing. Great school, outstanding ofsted and very caring.

Sorry to all of those that didn't get you choice.

NinthWave · 28/04/2011 15:47

We got first choice which I'm very very happy with - Outstanding school, lovely place, DS1 is at the preschool there and has a cousin in YR5 so we're confident he'll be happy there :)

What a relief!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 28/04/2011 15:52

Ninth glad you got the place you wanted too. In our town there isn't much doubt if you live locally as they all seem to take children from the next county too, don't know if its the same where you are.

Pinkjenny · 28/04/2011 15:53

Marion - I'm in the same boat as you. We've decided not to bother with the waiting list either, would rather be able to prepare dd and tell her which school she is going to, and which of her friends are going there.

MarionCole · 28/04/2011 16:05

At the moment I don't know anyone else who will be starting school with DS. I am crossing fingers for one friend whose mother is currently at Drayton Manor and unable to check her emails! I do know other people with older children there though so I make be able to track down some other new starters. I would feel a lot more relaxed about going for second choice if he knew someone else who was going to be in his class.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 28/04/2011 16:07

Marion think our school is doing a coffee morning for new starters in June sometime. Perhaps you could suggest something like this?

MarionCole · 28/04/2011 16:10

I do actually know the reception teacher, she is the mother of one of DS's nursery friends. I intend to collar her at DS's party in a couple of weeks to find out what they have planned.

Pinkjenny · 28/04/2011 16:10

Yes, our school have a day for new Reception children on 22nd June.

Pinkjenny · 28/04/2011 16:10

Oooh, get me, 'our school'!

MarionCole · 28/04/2011 16:12

When did you find that out? I could do with knowing before I plan summer holidays etc.

Pinkjenny · 28/04/2011 16:14

It's on the school website, looked at the 'Key Dates' section.

MarionCole · 28/04/2011 17:13

Just done the same - 'new reception visits' down for every Wednesday in June. I assume he's not going in for all of those!

AbbyLou · 28/04/2011 21:52

Still waiting......
3rd May still seems such a long way away. Dd is so excited about going to the same school as her big brother. I have no idea what I will say to her if she doesn't get in. It's her birthday on 8th May so if it's bad news we won't tell her until after that. I'd hate to ruin it for her. I hate the thought of her having to leave her adored childminder who's looked after her since she was 5 months old and where all her friends are.
I just can't stand the wait.

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