Life upside-down, and place at nearest school denied ds3, do I appeal?

[lillochum]

OK, my life is a bit of a mess at the moment, and I am just wondering what other mums would do:- the simple version of events is that my 2 elder girls are at an independent school (the village primary they were previously at failed them for a number of reasons). We moved house in September, nearer to their school, but no sooner had we exchanged contracts than my husband was told he was being made redundant - notice ran out at the end of last year, and there is still no sign of a new job. Funds are running low, so the girls places are under threat. My son is now due to start school in September. Ideally he would go to the same school as the girls, but as a back-up plan I applied to the nearest state school, which is well-rated and has just acquired an exceptionally good headmaster. That school is apparently just 0.2 miles from us, but he has been denied a place because I was "late" with my application. I was in fact about a week late, partly because the place we moved from had a later deadline than our new LEA. When I phoned in a panic I was reassured that they hadn't started to process the applications yet, so not to worry. Anyhow, he has been offered a place at another school, we would have to drive to, in a deprived area. I haven't visited either school, (illness fouled up the arrangements I made to visit my chosen school back along), but I have a bad feeling about the school offered. If I had a crystal ball I would know which way to jump at least, but I just don't know what to do for the best. I feel bad about fighting for a place at the local school if dh gets a job that enables ds to go to the independent, but if I let it go then ds could have a really disrupted time of it at best, (and the poor lamb has already endured 4 house moves in his short life). Incidentally, I had a legal job before dd1 almost 9 years ago now, but even if I went back full-time I couldn't cover either the house or the school fees on my own earnings alone. I am trying to look at various possibilities for contributing to the household income, but unless I win the lottery dh HAS to get a job, (on a par with previous job too). So, whatdya reckon - do I appeal?

I would have a chat to the school secretary and see what the track record is on the waiting list. Given how close you are I would expect that if any space comes up you would get in (and spaces often come up ime as parents opt for independent, or move out of area).

In terms of appeal, if your application was late, then it was late. If the shoe was on the other foot, would you accept your ds being turned down because someone happened to move closer to the school and put in a late application? The gorunds for appeal at recpetion are fairly narrow and you woul dhave to show that the application process was inherently unfair.

Is it worth asking your Independant school if the girls would qualify for any sort of bursary to help you out?

I know a local family in similar situation, the eldest was given a full bursary until she left (secondary) and youngest (in attached primary) given highly subsidised rate so they didn't have to leave.

can i just say that a school being i na deprived area doesnt nesscessarily means its bad. dd1 is at a school i na deprieved area and its actually a very good school which just had a good ofstead inspection.

you can try and appeal.

My friend never got any 3 of her preferences & has appealed, she spoke with someone at the local council about her appeal & was told that people would only win an appeal if it was life threatening circumstances, aparently there is a very slim chance anyone will win there appeals!

If the school has taken valid applications and filled the class then your appeal won't be upheld - because they would have to kick someone else out to accommodate your DS.

I'd look at the school you've been given before deciding. And as Ladymuck says, waiting lists can be very short - my DD1's class had a space straight away last year and so did the neighbouring school due to moves/going private.

When is his birthday? If it's after Christmas you could actually keep him at home or pre-school for Autumn Term and buy yourself some time.

I know it must seem bleak right now but it will be OK. You will have to be positive with whichever school you go with for your sons' sake though.

when we moved to the area after school allocations had been done (and dd1 had been offered best school in old town) i had to call around for a space for her here. our first choice here was full (also was closest), the other two close by i wasnt keen on until i visited them, one was fine, other was a complete no-no. she went to one that was fine, but put her on waiting list for the school we wanted, she got offered a place 10months later when she was in year one. a girl had left, so they had a space. now that girl has moved back to the area (in year 2 now) and trying to get her dd back into the school, but no spaces.

Thanks for the advice everyone. My son has his birthday in early October, so no room really to delay his entry. He is also pretty bright, showing lots of interest in both letters and numbers, so might be as academic as his oldest sister who has scholarship potential. However, he also has a stubborn and lazy streak which could get in the way as it has for dd2 who has had a real struggle catching up with her peers in literacy after going on strike in Yr 1 at the state primary. I am speaking to the bursar tomorrow about the possibility of some help to keep the girls at school - fingers crossed for them.