All a bit quiet considering today we find out about primary school places

[MindySimmons]

Just thought it was quite strange that here and in the media, it's been rather quiet, considering there is a significant shortage of places and many of my friends throughout the area didn't get first choices (mainly in Bristol City, I'm out in South Glos and have been OK).

How did everyone get on?

Hampshire here. After what felt like a very sleepless night (plus lots of MNing to console self that I'm not the only worried parent), found out that DD got first choice school. Very pleased as it's quite academic which suits DD. Understand it's oversubscribed so goodness knows how we got in as not only it's one of the CoE schools that gives preference on the faith criteria (which we don't qualify) but also because it's slightly out of catchment. It's been a bit crazy here as I just talked to another mum who lives on the same road as her preferred school but ended up getting a school in another town!
At least i can catch some sleep now. Best of luck to all those still awaiting the results x

Sidge Interestingly when I was a school nurse covering a huge patch, my favourite and IMO the nicest schools tended to be the ones in the 'worse' areas. Many of the Ofsted Outstanding and highly coveted schools tended to be a bit up their own backsides and coasted on their laurels of their Ofsted report a bit.

I completely agree. In fact, when visiting the schools to decide on our preferences, I actually discounted two 'outstanding' schools on the basis of the visit. I found the schools with the 'good' or 'satisfactory' Ofsted reports were, in many ways, better. I have some close friends who are primary teachers and they said, whilst they glance at the Ofsted report when chosing a school for their DC, they would not choose a school on that basis alone. You get a far better idea of the school by visiting and seeing it in action.

We also picked the 'good' school over the 'outstanding school, partly because the good one is closer and we can walk which will make all the difference, and partly because we have heard things about the outstanding school which suggest it is pushy and not as friendly. My teacher dad reckons there is a lot of 'box ticking' that goes on in outstanding schools.

I think that is one of the problems with Ofsted. It appears to be in 'lay terms' ie everyone thinks they know what 'good' and 'satisfactory' mean, but actually the framework that judgements are passed within are complex, bureaucratic and change a lot.

A 'satisfactory' school is exactly that - it's doing its job of educating children in a sound way, but some many people see that as on the brink of failure, compared to the box-ticking, paperwork-loving Outstanding school down the road.

Totally gobsmacked to find that some schools in Winterbourne and Frampton Cotterell are undersubscribed!! Think they'll be a stampede for places given what's been going on further down the road

Rang the school and Hampshire CC admissions team and they wont tell me anything - they wont say how many applications they had in total, where on the waiting list we are or anything. They both said that information wont be available until after 12th May when the acceptances have to be in.

Have had a look at the as the crow flies distances and we are 640m from the school and one of DD's little friends that did get offered a place (but was out of catchment) is 510m so we are not that far out which gives me some hope she might be quite high on the waiting list

They also wouldnt tell me of any schools that were undersubscribed around my area so I cant even see if any schools further away but better are an option. What a nightmare this all is!

Anyone from Portsmouth found out yet?

whatever, your LEA should be able to tell you now how many applicants they have had, how many of these are siblings if this is relevant, how far the last place offered on distance was and how far exactly you are. You should be provided with these first 3 pieces of information when you receive your letter.

Thank you Rosebud - will call them again next week then as they told me that they couldnt disclose any of that information. We are only 640m from the school!!

Hampshire here too, we got our first choice out of catchment school :) such a relieve, I wasn't looking forward to having two children at different schools.

I got the email at 6.20 I got up to use the toilet at 6.15 and heard my phone beeb and there it was I thought I would be waiting all day.

I chose a "good" school over an "outstanding" one.
Still got none of my preferences!
I have found out that someone near me who put the "outstanding school" as first preference got the " good" school and is appealing so am hoping they win that and I get their place.
I dont know though, another parent from nursery lives 5 mins from the "good" school and it was her second choice, and her dd is being sent to the school my ds has been allocated on the other side of town!
Is it really all done randomly by computer??

northernrock, no primary admissions aren't usually random allocation. Check your LEA's admission criteria - it's usually looked after, SEN, siblings, distance, though some schools have catchments so it's siblings in catchment, others in catchment then siblings out of catchment.

Call the LEA on Tuesday - they should be able to tell you how many applicants there were for each of the schools, how many siblings admitted and distance of last place offered. They should also be able to tell you how far you are. Even without the acceptances/declines this'll give you some idea of how close to are to getting one of your preferences.

Attention South Bristol parents!
I've set up an informal meeting with BS3 Councillors re the disastrous school places that lots of people in BS3 have been offered. If you know any parents that have been offered a place in an awful school miles away, they can join us at the Tobacco Factory this Monday 2nd May at 11am for a coffee and constructive discussion about possible ways forward.
We have been offered a place at the 2nd worst school in Bristol and it's miles away in Knowle West. There are quite a few people in this situation.

Please spread the word.

Cheers, Barry "Mel" Pinches

Very Worried Dad! We've applied for the RC Primary school for our Son that our 6 year daughter already currently attends....and have been turned down for him :( We can't believe it!
Our Son even attends the nursery at the school and they've still turned him down.
We have been offered a different school for him that is the worst school in the town and is failing in all areas, So have refused the place in that school.

I can't believe they want us to send our two children to different schools?

For the last 12 months i've been seeing the Institute of Genetic Medicine to try and diagnose a severe muscle disease that i found out that i have. I have been issued with a wheelchair because i can't walk very far because all my lower leg muscles have been destroyed by the disease. Me and my family are trying to come to terms with this disease and not getting our son into our daughters school is stress we can really do without with everything else thats going on.

We are going to appeal.

My wife drops our children off in the mornings to nursery/school before going to work. But with children in two different schools she will only have time to take our daughter to her school. This would mean that i would have to try and take my Son to the other school and pick him up. I'm in so much pain i don't know if i could do it. We are very worried.

Edward73 please stay positive...in your circumstances you stand a very good chance of a succesful appeal.

We are trying to stay positive, I truely hope you are right. Thankyou for your comment.

I'm going to get letters from my GP, Consultants, Muscle Disease Professors and occupational therapist to support my case....I hope it will help.

My son has just been offered a school five miles away from our home. We missed out on all of our three preferences, one by just 60 metres. We haven't fully done our sums yet but reckon we could just about afford to go privately. However, I am naturally adverse to this, particularly at primary level. Does anyone know of any pressure or support groups being established in Bristol for parents in a similar situation? I will naturally appeal but in reality the only likely means of achieving a solution will be responding at political level.

Sorry, I should have said that I am in North Bristol (Redland/Bishopston) area.