School won't keep our place - what to do?

[VitAL]

Hi all,
I'm really stuck with a difficult dilemma and would appreciate any thoughts. DC is currently at a very academic pre-prep, we chose it precisely for their leavers' destinations, they send a lot of children to three top selective indies high on our list and some pupils to a couple more selective schools. DC is happy there, but I want to give 4+ a go. I feel I would really regret if I don't, would be thinking all the time about opportunities lost and it's a bit easier to get in at 4+ than 7+. I wouldn't say DC is exceptionally academic at 3.5 but strong-willed (sometimes to the extent of being bossy with even older children), emotionally mature and disciplined/co-operative so I think could do quite well at 4+.

The problem is our school won't keep our place for Reception if they find out we're sitting 4+ and I think they easily can as it has very good links with most of the schools on our list. I have actually sent applications to two schools before I knew about our school's policy (it's not an official policy AFAIK but people talk). I've no idea if they actually ask for references and reports at 4+. I'm still thinking about applying to at least three more schools. I guess (I'm not 100% sure) I could leave the current school's details blank on application forms but I feel bad about it TBH.

If we get kicked out of the current school we might end up with no place at all. We might possibly get a last minute place at a non-selective non-academic indie, but that would mean extra money on tuition for 7+ with less chances and much more uncertainty as we plan to buy a house close to the school if DC gets in at 4+, if not that would be another 3-4 years in limbo.

I'm at a loss what to do and so stressed about the whole situation that I lost sleep. Should I abandon the whole idea and wait until 7+?Please help, I really need to make up my mind.

Sorry ViTAL you haven't understood at all if you think that certificates in making a sandwich with support and using a cafe is the same as however many high achieving you are hoping for (more than 10 I would presume?) GCSE's.

You don't even have to slice the bread to make a sandwich with support

...who wouldn't be able to achieve an AQA certificate for making a sandwich with support...

so this is not insensitive or even insulting in your universe, is it, @Devilish?
yes, DC2 has severe motor impairment and can't make a sandwich. surely lots in this sitiation to mock, now I can see, thank you.

wow. just wow as you yourself said. you lot are soooooo much better, nicer, kinder than us, insensitive autists.

*DC1

I suspect he could make a sandwich to the level required for the certificate. As I said you don't have to slice the bread - you basically had to recognise a sandwich filing and select two.

Could we just drop this now? It's not exactly constructive. Lots of misunderstandings all round...

VitAl you said upthread that you were so upset that it would take you a couple of days to get over it! That to me implies you are pretty upset. Or perhaps you were joking and I just misunderstood you.

Vital I am pleased your ds1 is doing so well at his grammer and that you have managed to get an appropriate level of support in place. I take it he has a scribe in his exams/Olympiad? How does he find this?

I ask because it is am option for my ds.

Good luck blaeberry - many many years ago I was an examinations officer - a good one should be able to gather the evidence required to sort out appropriate access arrangements. Hopefully your son is in a school that is experienced in providing and arranging that sort of support for public exams and it will be fairly straightforward (exam officers do vary!). I'm
afraid I know nothing about maths olympiads though (but yes they must have some form of access arrangements).

The OP asked a simple question, some people at the start who KNOW the school the OP refers to gave advice and this is where it should have ended.

Not competitive disabilities or poor children, think of the children.

The OP asked a question, that was it. This isn't AIBU or even Chat, this is Primary and it was a question about a specific primary school.

"Not competitive disabilities or poor children, think of the children."

Nee-nah nee-nah thread police is here.

It's a public forum OP's parenting is, according to her posts, a bit unorthodox inhumane, ridiculous. Obviously people will feel compelled to reply. Most posts have been reasonable.

Thanks Devilish we are a bit off from it yet and I am not sure if a scribe would work for my ds anyway due to his speech but I just wonder how well it works. My ds is very difficult to assess because of his SLCN, attention and motor skills. It has been a fight to get him out of the bottom groups and make the school realise how bright he actually is.

I would say so talk to your ds about what he would use. I found some of the kids who most needed the access arrangements we arranged then would not use them (it was largely extra time that was refused by the students - more complex needs and arrangements were accessed).