Primary School Allocation Day: Thursday 16th April Thread 2- let the positive vibes continue!

[MTWTFSS]

I only want good news for all of you- Do not disappoint me!!! :P

I remember this time last year I was devastated that Ds had not got a reception place at the lovely school in which he went to the nursery. I appealed, along with lots of other parents, the panel were lovely but we were unsuccessful. So off he trotted to the allocated school, with me fretting for his safety due to its awful reputation. From day one, he has bloody loved the place and continues to flourish. He has a teacher who is worth her weight in gold and has gone above and beyond the call of duty on many occasions.He is happier than I ever imagined he could be.
When I look back, I think I had become obsessed with the outstanding school and genuinely believed only this school could educate him.I had judged the allocated school without even giving it a chance and never in a million years did I believe it was right for my boy, but I was very wrong, it has been the making of him.

First choice. can't believe it. She's in. sooooo relieved

Great news Giles!

Gileswithachainsaw

Thank you

I'm still in shock I can't believe it.

Still have my fingers crossed for all of you still waiting. x

We're in to first place, but it was awful at playschool drop off this morning with other mums in tears as their children haven't got in.

Just by way of reassurance to those waiting or those who are unhappy with the result, I think the comments from others who were unsuccessful demonstrate that we actually have a bloody good education system in this country (despite what we're told by media!) that puts the child at the very centre. If you are loving, supportive parents (and i have been bowled over by the depth of feeling on here) your child will flourish. School is important, but not as important as the home environment which provides the foundation for a happy child who is ready and willing to learn. Good luck with your appeals if you make them but remember to keep perspective - often the 'worst' schools on paper are the best for many other reasons. Keep positive, find whatever benefits you can in your situation and focus on that. Your child has you, and that is what will see you all through it ok.

Woo hoo giles! You must be over the moon. Celebrations for you tonight!

Well said littlelion

Just to echo mumofthemonsters can I say please don't despair if you haven't got your first choice.

My eldest is in his final term of primary. During the time he has been there the school has gone from grade 1 to grade 2 and all of the key measures have worsened too and it now appears to be a trend rather than a blip. A number of changes to key staff have taken place and not for the better. Staff turnover generally seems to have increased. I would imagine if Ofsted walked in tomorrow it would be lucky to score a 3. The school has a very different feel to when I sent my eldest there seven years ago (seven? really? how?).

Conversely, the school which was traditionally seen as the large "overspill" school has gone from a 3 to a 2 in the same period and seems on a very upward trajectory. A new Head was installed a few years ago and she seems to be a force of nature who has transformed the school. Last year it filled its 90 child intake for the first time in years, mainly with first choice applicants and I'd put money on it being oversubscribed this year. Parents have really bought in to what she has brought and there's a real pride when parents are talking about where their children go now - this absolutley wasn't the case when I was choosing some years ago.

Schools can and do change very quickly - a change of head, a set of bad/good exam results can be very immediate catalysts for change.

Bearing this in mind helped me to be relatively zen when waiting for my eldest's secondary allocation earlier this year!

Nonetheless, fingers crossed to all who are waiting!

Still waiting in London, luckily I'm at work!

I've just checked the stats for our council and our school take 35 and 21 of them were siblings 27 applications not offered a space and the catchment reduced to 440m.
In fact more people applied to our school than the outstanding school 3 streets away

I have 3 DC and over the years from starting the school has gone from outstanding to satisfactory to good, i would say the standard of education has been mostly the same. My only problem has been with 1 dc who was way behind in the infants and the ongoing battle with the SN dept/teacher to get something done. She moved into the juniors way behind classmates, que a new head in yr 4 who recognised there was a problem with the SN dept, all kids struggling were assessed. My dd was tested and has some sort of mild processing disorder but nothing specific, she got help from outside who would come into school, lesson's were explained to her through the assistant to make sure she understood andshe was sat at the front away from windows. Now in yr 6 she is predicted to get 5's in her sats. Head said she has never seen a kid go up so many reading levels in a year or come from so far behind so fast.

A lot can change over primary years, a school which on paper is not very good can change, a new head or teachers can change it. I bypassed my catchment outstanding school to go my primary on the off chance i would get in as she was in feeder nursery, the next was good but is now in measure's so a lot can change. Just because a school is outstanding or poor now doesn't mean it will always be that way.

Something always stuck in my head reading the ofstead report of my old primary which takes kids from 2 really bad council estates. The kids feel safe and the school has a lovely warm feel to it, the children are happy. That's what i remember from being there years ago, i loved it.

Yeay Giles. What a relief!

Thanks folks. Kitty - have they published the data yet to show how many got in under each rule and the distances involved? There might be a mistake and grounds for appeal. I feel for you, I really do.

Thanks everyone! ! means alot.

I'm thrilled for all of you with good news I really am. and still have fingers and toes crossed for everyone still waiting.

so sorry those of you with the worst news

We got our first choice. I wasn't really in any doubt, as we are very close and have siblings there, but I still stayed up until midnight to make sure! Sorry for those who haven't got what they wanted. I know it is really stressful, as I went through it with dc1. We got there eventually in the end though, so good luck to everyone!

I have approx another 3-6 hours until I find out I feel beyond emotionally drained and I still have to take DS1 to nursery :(

MTWTFSS I know how you feel, we are in the same area I think. I have to take my DS1 to hospital later for an appointment with a pediatric surgeon - so all in all it will not be a relaxing afternoon!

I got my first and only choice. I feel so blessed. I hope that everyone has good news, I feel for those who don't. The whole process can be so unfair. Xx

MTWTFSS I'm the same - can't focus on anything and keep checking email etc. Driving me round the bend!

I'm so sorry to hear some of you haven't got any of your choices! That sucks!!!!

Good luck with appeal applications etc.

Can I please join in? Waiting to hear on DD's place. I'm reasonably confident as the school has been under subscribed the last few years (DS ended up there as it was the only school with a place when me moved 8 weeks before he was due to start reception!). But we are out of catchment and school prioritises catchment over siblings. Worst thing is we live in Surrey but the school is the next county so all my friends ALREADY know and I have to wait. Aaargh

This wretched London system so conveniently timed for when the council offices close at 5pm.

I'm so nervous - it should be ok with sibling priority and the school is close by, but it's still no guarantee.

It feels as though there should be a better way than this.

I think London system is timed on purpose to release the results at 5pm, so people can sleep on it instead of ringing LEA straight away.
Waiting for my DC2, DC1 already at the school but DC2 is in 5th category with sibling priority, fingers crossed there are no more than 60 siblings.