In-year school transfer in Year 5 - any advice on filling in form?

[QWERTYmonster]

DS1 (9) is pretty unhappy in his current junior school (has been for some time) and we've finally decided to make the move and see if he can be transferred to a different local juniors.

Turns out that because he wasn't on the waiting list, we'll need to do an in-year admission request. Having read it through and looked at the guidance notes, it seems to be a bit political - I suspect there are ninja ways of filling it in/particular things to say that would be helpful (and not result in it being knocked back to us); can anyone advise?

Our reasons for moving him are a) bullying, and b) coming to the conclusion that his current school is, frankly, half-arsed and badly run. But I'm guessing putting that on the form wouldn't go down well...

Be grateful for any advice.

I did this last year as we moved in yr but wasnt happy with the school we were allocated. In the reason for moving section of the form i put 'unhappy with current school.'
Its a minefield isnt it???

Thanks Vajazzler. Yes - one of those forms where you suspect there's a 'right' answer...

Hope it workled out well for your DC

'workled'?

Need more coffee, obviously

I dont think you need to put any reason down at all. If there is a space at the school you want , it's yours. If there isn't you'll be rejected and have to appeal. It's at that point you contruct a case for the appeal panel as to why this school is the only one for your child.

Tbh no it didnt but thats because they really miss their first school

Oh no, sorry to hear that Vajazzled. My DCs were happy as Larry at their infants - drives me nuts that they couldn't just stay there instead of having to move on to juniors. Stupid blardy system.

Thanks Titchy - I think I do have to put a reason though - the form sort of demands it!

It's a form - it doesn't have a voice - how can it demand?!!!!! Leave it blank woman!

I assume the formm goes to the LEA and it's not a supplementary form the school wants (the LEA should deal with all applications, not the school. The old school should not be asked for a reference either).

haha

The guidance notes say 'you will need to provide your reasons for seeking a change of school and set out what you have done to try to resolve the issues with your current school'

I hear what you're saying but I don't want to fill this darned thing in, get it counter-signed, provide 12 kinds of ID and a blood sample only to have them send the bloody thing back because I didn't fill in a box...

and yes (sorry) it is to the LEA - but headteacher of current school has to fill in some bits and sign it as well...

That's against the Admissions code - you categorically do NOT need to complete that bit of the form, or ask your current school to sign it.

Send it in as it is and create merry hell if the LEA doesn't process it.

Ooh, that's interesting! Thank you

Is there a space at the school you want? If there is get the form in now - it should be yours in a matter of days!

No, there won't be - it's massively over-subscribed. This is just an exercise to get on the waiting list.

(and the school we're going for is an academy, therefore has its own admissions process - don't know whether that affects the LEA form)

Agree with titchy. The LA cannot insist on you stating reasons nor can they insist that you get the form countersigned by your current school. They can't even insist that you try to resolve any issues with the current school. If the LA refuse to process your application tell them that you will refer them to the LGO for a clear breach of the Admissions Code.

The fact the school is an academy does not affect the LA form but there may be a supplementary form you need to complete for the school.

Got to agree with others there is no way that this is legal. Yes it is clearly in everybodies best interest to try and resolve the situation with you current school but when it comes to breakdown time then they have no further part in any process to move schools.
It is obviously a policy designed to make it as difficult as possible to move and I strongly suspect that this is not something drawn up by the academy school but is an LA thing.
I would say why you need to move school and then give them the form and see what happens, saying that you do not wish to involve the current school. When they say the school is full then you can go on the waiting list and separately can apply to appeal for a place.

Thanks very much to everyone - MNers never cease to amaze me (in a good way )