No school place despite living practically next door to school! Who should I complain to - please help.

[Moleskine]

Hello,

We were a late application due to our house move, and applied for reception 2014 in mid March. 2.5 months later we still have no school place.

Of 90 places, only one place was not accepted in the 1st round for our closest school but this was given to an applicant who was a 'special case'. I don't know how late their application was received, but I am now told that 2 more late applications who are also 'special cases' will be placed above us on the list.

We are 60th on the list for the next closest school so no hope there.

I would love some help on who I can take this up with, who I should be writing to and what to say .... feeling very anxious about having no school place come September. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Not sure what you a re complaining about really . Your application was late so you missed the initial round of applications. Moving next to a school is no guarantee of a place , especially if siblings and religion are prioritised above distance, but had you submitted an on time application your chances would have improved. Maybe the others have specific circumstances - SEN, are looked after or have medical/social need. If you feel it is unfair that someone else got a place ahead of your dc without proper adherence to the admissions criteria maybe you could appeal ? Where are you on that list now ? Have the LA offered you no place at all , even if further away or out of area ?

I'm complaining about the fact we have been offered no school place at all. We were a late application, but applied through our current local authority and kept our fingers crossed that our house sale would complete before the admissions deadline. As it was it didn't complete on time for the deadline, but we transferred the application as soon as we could.

We are No. 3 on the list now due to 2 special cases above us. I know that sounds high, but if only one family our of 90 declined their place it will be unlikely we get anything now.

So you've not been offered anything at all, not even a place at a school out of the borough?

Don't worry, they have to offer you something, it looks unlikely it will be at the 2 nearest schools but they have to give you a place somewhere.

I'm not sure what the deadline is for the offer though, they might not have to tell you until closer to the start date, hopefully someone here will know if there is a deadline.

Nothing at all at this stage. We have been told simply that they have to offer something before September and that we are not the only ones in this position. Not really very helpful! I don't believe there is a deadline ...

They have to come up with a place for you somewhere. Keep chasing them until they do. You can appeal for a place at your local school (or any other school you want). Your chances of success are low but it might at least push the LA to come up with a place.

How far did you move , did you still have a place in that borough ?

Ask for a list of the schools with places and choose one? But bear in mind if it's not full it probably won't be close and probably won't be particularly sought after (although may just happen to suit your dc if you're lucky)

But if they have others in that situation then they might be investigating a bulge class or something similar.

Have you tried asking the county if there are several in your position what they are planning on doing about it?

The admissions team have just told me on the phone they have not attempted to contact the family with the sibling place yet.

We don't have a place in our old borough, we transferred our application to the new borough. There are 70 children without places currently.

I commented on your other thread (in AIBU).

As there is no sign of a mistake in how the admissions authority are handling offers and waiting lists at your closest school, there isn't much you can do for that other than stay on the waiting list and keep your fingers crossed.

But they need to come up with a place in a timely fashion - not leave you dangling until September (and then dangle again for weeks as they make the reasonable efforts (that once again they are obliged so to do) to discover is no-shows are relinquishing their places or are simply absent). I would be pressing hard for an offer, even if it's a school to don't like much.

If ere are no places, and numerous children without a place at all, then there is the chance of a bulge class. If fewer, then you need to press for them to activate FAP (Fair Access Protocol) but this will only happen if there really are no places at all.

Just totie e strands together this is the thread in AIBU

OP, if you don't get something soon, you can complain to the council's Cabinet Member for Schools, the schools commissioner, your local councillor, your local MP, the education scrutiny committee, and last but certainly not least, your local freebie newspaper. Look at the council website for addresses or use google. It won't speed things up, but it will keep the pressure up and make sure your voice is heard. As another poster said on one of your other threads your LA is sailing very close to the wind on school place provision. Too many people are willing to simply jump ship to the private sector without challenging them.

Thank you icecreamsoup.

Moleskine,

It is essential you go on the waiting list for ANY school you might be willing to accept.

Dont be put off going on the list by how far down it you will be, as for example, creation of a bulge class can have a huge impact on waiting lists.

I think we'll just ask to go on the waiting list for all schools in the borough within a certain radius.

good luck but do let your MP know whats going on, they live in airy fairy land and do not understand whats going on unless we tell them