Ex partner contesting school as RI

[rainbowdash24]

Ex partner is 1.5hrs away & it was agreed last year that she would school with me.

She didn't get the school id like around here so we have decided to move closer to family on new partners side & also to child's father (closer by 30 mins) so that we do it before school year starts. Quick summer move!

However the school we've been allocated is RI & now her father is not happy & is going to take me to court as he wants child to move to him & school with him at outstanding school.

However we also know that she's number 1 and number 2 on waiting lists at two other schools near me, that are both rated Good. So hopefully she'll get a place & all of this can go away! But also maybe not as waiting lists might not move!

Anyone have experience of this?! If so, what's your thoughts?

We currently have a flexible arrangement as she's not at school so can each spend more time with her. It's about 60% me, 40% him.

He says he's called the school, they have intake of 60 but only 40 places have been filled. He lives less than a mile from the school..

Still no reply today

Is there a reason an outstanding school is so undersubscribed? Why are parents not choosing to send their children there?

It it worth checking our catchment secondary as well? 'His' local secondary may be crap.

Funnily enough his secondary is RI, but I think there's more local secondary schools he can apply for

The outstanding primary is only a small town with 60 in take.. Only primary school there

But also my niece is there, in year 4 & has just had the worst year of her life.. A teacher that has been very mean & strict to all the kids.. Lots of parents not happy - so shows it can be like this anywhere

I'd point out that you have serious misgivings about the outstanding school if it has such a large number of vacancies and tied in with people you know that have had bad experiences at the school (have any of your neice's friends also had bad experiences?)
Then at least you have in writing as part of the paper trail something that's got bad points about the outstanding school.

From experience it will cost well over 1k to take you to court. Much more if the judge has to rule. Unless you are an appealingly bad mother the court is unlikely to give him main custody as you are providing for her adequately. Sounds like a threat to me to get you to agree with him. If you let her live with him and go to his choice of school you are very unlikely to get her back as court will say she is settled into school etc etc. Then when the play dates, weekend parties etc start you will see her less and less as well...

Appallingly bad that should say