The primary school admissions minefield

[mumonawire80]

Hello everyone,

I’m new to mumsnet. I am currently going through the primary school admissions process and trying to get all of the information I need together to make the best choice I possibly can for my son. It's my first time.

I generally end up on the council's website to find what I need but it’s proving difficult. There has to be a better way.

Can anyone out there give me some guidance / where to look etc...

Thanks

Olive

I have scanned the messages above but don't think anyone has mentioned summerborns. If your child is born between April and August you have the right to delay their schooling until the following September. Ie a summerborn 2012 child does not have to start until Sept 2017. This is because compulsory school age (csa) is age 5, not 4 and a bit. You do not have to send them to school until the term AFTER they turn 5.
Local authorities are mostly not very helpful with information about this though some are improving. There is a lot of scaremongering by some parents and some LEAs and it may or may not suit all summerborns.

If you need any help on this if it is relevant to your situation, I really recommend the 'flexible school admissions for summerborns' facebook group. It's very, very informative and helpful

Whilst that is correct, just to clarify something. At present there is no automatic right to wait until the September for 'summer' born kids and have them start in reception. This may be something you get agreed, but you need to investigate at the time of bog standard admissions. Or you risk being an in year application for year one (this may change in the future )

That right does not yet exist, so it would be misleading to put such information into admissions information.

You can wait until the term after 5th birthday, and you have the right to request a reception start, and the LEA must consider your request individually. But they do not have to grant it.

The recent government guff hasn't produced even a proper consultation paper on putting any changes into effect, let alone taken the necessary steps to change the admissions code.

But it would help if LEAs set out clearly what the current position is, and how parents can make the request.

Indeed a general 'myth-busting' information page would probably be the single most helpful thing.

Southwark, Liverpool, Devon and one more LA (cannot remember which one) now grant all such requests. Others are hit and miss but if yours is not one of the flexible ones they still must follow the current code and the current code says that requests to join reception class by a summer born child at csa must be considered on the basis of individual circumstances and must be made in the best interest of the individual child and the reasons for their decision must be clearly communicated by the admission authority. So good luck to those AA who want to force a child into year 1. They may find themselves in a uncomfortable position reversing unlawful decisions if parents push them to justify "best interest "

Oh it's a nightmare we have 2 failed schools i can get mine in. They have both had new teachers/head teachers and one has had no improvement on last hmi inspection last week, fourth failed report in a row. The school may even get shut down. I think we have a 50/50 chance on getting into a good village school just out of town, just scraped in on distance going on this years intake but who knows if that means anything for our year.

Been to all open days and the failing schools do not seem happy places and you just felt like an intrusion on their day. Good village by comparison had good vibes from staff and children.

So yes my top 3 are the good school and 2 failed schools. Every other parent is putting down schools that had a last distance that is at least 3 or 4 times closer than where they live. They are refusing to put down the failed schools and IMO setting themselves up for a lot of disappointment come Easter. Some of these parents are saying things like they have nephews and nieces at the good schools so will definitely get in. Really? Hmmm...

I don't think I'm wrong to not bother looking at schools we are out of catchment for but parents look at me like I'm insane.

On the plus side I know I should get a local school if they are not closed down by September!