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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

Did not get any of 3 choices of primary school - help with appeal please

57 replies

HCqueen · 11/04/2011 16:11

My daughter has not been offered any of my 3 choices of primary school, on the basis that they are all over-subscribed this year. The school she has been offered gets a Good Ofsted but it is also in a disadvantaged area. Apparently the majority of children starting the school are below average intelligence and they only bring them up to average by the time they leave. This is now what I want for my daughter - she is a clever girl and the last thing I want is for her to be held back.
Since I applied for the school my partner and I have split up and his new flat is very close to the school I'd like her to attend. This will form the basis of my appeal. However, I'm concerned that this will not matter as they base the distance on the address of the parent who claims the child benefit (which is me).
Has anyone had any success in a similar case, or can offer me any advice? Appeal forms are not available until 3rd May so I have a few weeks to prepare.
Thanks, Helen

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

clam · 11/04/2011 18:02

Why not? Is there some MN rule that I've been unaware of? Do you not stand by your posts?

PollyParanoia · 11/04/2011 18:10

Op, I'd also be mindful about describing your dd as a 'clever girl' in rl too. I think aged 3 or 4 it's too early to make such a judgment (see also thoughts on those children of 'below average intelligence'). It's a statistical impossibility that every parent who thinks they have an exceptional child is correct

StewieGriffinsMom · 11/04/2011 18:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kaekae · 11/04/2011 18:28

I would also suggest visiting the school. Found out today my DS wasn't offered any of the 3 we put down (all 1 ofsted) and at first he wasn't allocated an alternative! Thankfully, we've now been informed that he has been offered a school with 3 rating with Ofsted.

However, when viewing schools I had a look around the one we've been offered and actually thought it had fantastic resources but as it was a newish school (first ofsted report) I didn't list it. If I had 6 choices like my neighbouring borough then I would have put this school down. I must admit the ofsted probably put me off a bit, but once I'd seen it I actually quite liked it and a lot of my DS?s nursery friends are going on there so I have a good feeling about it. I am hoping once the school becomes more established its report will improve.

I know it is so disappointing when you don't get your preference, I felt sick and slightly angry at the system! But we have no grounds to appeal so I just won?t waste my time but like others have said there will be a lot of movement between now and Sept. I am still on the waiting lists for my preference schools but I have weighed up the pros of the school we've been allocated and think I will stick with that. I hope it all works out for you.

Kaekae · 11/04/2011 18:34

Also, like others have mentioned Ofsted isn't the be all and end all, I visited two of my local schools with outstanding Ofsted reports and I absolutely hated them. In one the teacher had to stop the class and switch off the computers because they were being so disruptive and a few of the classes were held in portacabins which to me didn?t feel like a nice learning environment. Everyone is different and you can only judge a school once you?ve taken a look.

asdx2 · 11/04/2011 19:22

I wouldn't make any judgements on the school until you have actually viewed it tbh. We drive from our village, past the OFSTED outstanding school to a highly deprived area and the community school there. This is classed a good school with outstanding features according to OFSTED but I think it is the best school in the area and OFSTED did say they were excited to see what the school would be when it was next inspected (new school, first inspection)
I believe my dd benefits by mixing with children from all different backgrounds, they have lots of resources at their disposal and a high staff ratio. Lots of children have SEN and some have profound disabilities, the HT describes my dd as exceptional yet they manage to differentiate for all abilities seemingly effortlessly.
If pupils enter with below average attainment but leave with average attainment then surely that is a positive as the school manages to enable the children to make more than the expected progress

whomovedmychocolate · 11/04/2011 19:49

Shiney we don't hear till May up here. It's only in the chav counties they get them early

mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 19:56

mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 19:58

also - I'm not aware of helenbicari's posts, but it is childish to simply badmouth another MNer on other threads because of differences in opinion

Northernlurker · 11/04/2011 20:04

Probably worth bearing in mind ladies that the ofsted report won't be teaching your child. Go to the school and meet the teachers. Then you'll know what you think.

whomovedmychocolate · 11/04/2011 20:07

Mylovelymonster is right on the point of etiquette. But seriously, threads like this - excellent practice for all the bitching and whining that will take place at the school gate so feel free to chase each other round Mumsnet for our continued entertainment

mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 20:16

oh dear God no!!! Is The School Gate something I need to go into training for?? Diplomacy course? Leadership & influencing Skills perhaps? A martial Art? HELP ME!!!!!

mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 20:17

Do I need to look up all previous Style & Beauty threads????.......................

whomovedmychocolate · 11/04/2011 20:18

I believe there is an intensive course in backbiting, bitching and the art of selective deafness available in August at your nearest Centerparcs mylovelymonster.

clam · 11/04/2011 20:22

I think it's a fair question to ask if the OPs on two very similar threads are one and the same, particularly when both appear to have the same name and have similar concerns about schools they deem to be poor.

mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 20:24

Ah, well, I might just be ok then

mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 20:28

I know many parents who have exactly the same concerns, so no, not fair to vilify or throw spotlight on one person, IMHO

clam · 11/04/2011 20:38

Where's the vilification? I asked if this was the same poster, that's all.

Clary · 11/04/2011 21:44

I think clam's query was reasonable - the OP seems to have the same first name and similar concerns re her child being bright and not wanting her to go to a school perceived as not being good for her...

BTW what has happened to that thread? Has it been pulled? If so then I am sorry because a lot of people were wishignthe OP well and hoping for a good resolution for her - me included - and it contained some good general advice.

whomovedmychocolate · 11/04/2011 21:56

The reason we are poking fun is that what you are doing is technically trollhunting and it's not good really. Whether or not the OP namechanges is bog all relevance to anyone. If you think she's a troll then report the thread, don't follow them round prodding them for clues as to whether they are who you think they are. If you are wrong you just end up looking mean. And if you are right you end up looking smug. Tis not a good path either way. :)

Clary · 11/04/2011 22:30

I do apologise - have just spotted thread - for some reason not appearing on my "threads I'm on" hence my silly assumption.

Sorry.

mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 22:31

I think I have found the thread to which you refer; is interesting read

builder · 12/04/2011 14:00

My dds go to our local primary school that has many disadvantaged children.

However, the behaviour is excellent and the expectations on my children are far greater than at other nearby 'middle-class' schools.

A school with lower than average sats results that gets a good ofsted is doing well. Also remember, that these are averages - not what your child will get, unless average themselves.

crazymum53 · 12/04/2011 14:22

This school you are so unsure about sounds similar to my dds school. Yes there are many children from a deprived area at her school BUT there are bright children there who do very well.
My dds school wasn't the most popular area at the time she started in reception but it has improved a lot over the past few years whereas some school that were perceived by parents to be better have not done so.
Go and visit this school - you may be surprised by what you see.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 13/04/2011 19:09

Go and see it, then judge. Are the children motivated? Happy? Learning? Socially cohesive? Really, what more could you ask for your child?

Well said, NorthernLurker and exactly my attitude.

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