Greenwich council says they'll give catchment area in 1-2 weeks time????

[Amma2010]

Hi there,

Can someone please help me? I am quite stressed as we didn't get any of the four schools we picked though we're very well within one school's catchment area.
However as things could change with regards to distance etc each year called the LEA to find out the catchment area for this particular area but have been told they can't give that information now as the team is busy and we will be given the information next week or the week after.

Is this possible? What can I do please? I've already accepted the one offered to my DD as I don't want her to be without a school and have already sent emails requesting her to be put on the waiting lists for the 4 preferred schools.

I'm quite shocked that the Greenwich LEA is refusing to give the catchment area when we call.

Any advise will be helpful.

Thanks.

Surly catchment should be defined in admissions school booklet 2013/2014 as people rely on that data when choosing their schools.

Lots schools here dont have catchments or areas prime responsability as so many primary schools locally all within 2miles so works on care kids, siblings and distance so distance to school accept a few schools who have defined cathments.

what you need is furthest distance offered to schools you missed out on.

you were right to accept and bank offer can always defer, change, waitlist or find other schools space to apply for,

Hi Amma, whereabouts are you? I'm in maze hill and ds was offered a place in kidbrooke! :(

Yes, this is a question about effective catchment area. Greenwich doesn't have catchment in the 'drawn on a map' sense.

What difference will having the last-place-offered info make? If you think they have calculated wrongly for you, then you'll still be able to appeal when you get the info in a week or two. If they have calculated it correctly then it won't change your position.

I'm not sure which schools you've applied for, but my eldest two are at a school in Greenwich borough and we have various friends at different Greenwich schools. Places do come up - either before the start of the academic year, or during the year if you are prepared to move.

It sounds like you've already done the sensible thing accepting the place and asking to be on the waiting list for your other choices. I guess the council are pretty snowed under with requests for info/appeals etc so soon after allocation. It should all calm down in the coming weeks.

Schroedingersdodo - unfortunately higher up on Maze Hill is a bit of a black hole for primaries and I've heard of this happening before. I'd put your child on lots of waiting lists and hope for the best. As I've said in my post above, people do get offered places late, and during the Reception year.

Pootlebug, that's precisely where I am. I've put DS in 5 waiting lists, and I'm planning on appealing as well.

But I guess since the area is a well known black hole, the Council should be doing something to address the situation, shouldn't they? Specially now with the new-ish buildings in Seren Park and in the future with Greenwich Square.

I wonder how many families are in the same situation.

Loads of families have this. It is one the reasons we left London. Even the bottom of the hill often doesn't get Millennium or Meridian.

Thanks everyone.

I live in New Eltham.

Yes, it's actually not the catchment but the last distance offered this year. It's mainly because it seems strange that we haven't managed to get DD into this particular school and would like to know if being in the waiting list would work. Also if they've made a mistake or something of the sort we would like to appeal.

Thanks again to everyone:)

Schroedingersdodo I'm so sorry to hear about your DS. I hope he gets a school closer to you.