Admissions

[itsaboojum]

My neighbour's DD is due to start state school this September, and they’re expecting offers to be out next week. She put the full complement of schools (I think four) on the application, ranked in order of her preference at the time.

She is reasonably confident of being offered her first choice, as she meets the main criteria such as catchment, etc. Also, although it used to be oversubscribed, in recent years it has gone the other way and been less in demand, due in part to its Ofsted grade having fallen significantly.

She is now having second thoughts and regrets putting this school down as first choice, because a number of serious issues have come to light since she applied. Mum would be happy for DD to go to any of the other schools on her application but is worried that, if she turns down the first offer, she might then be offered something even worse or somewhere miles away.

I have suggested she could take the place at this school, then apply for a transfer if things are as bad as she fears. But I think she wants to know what her options are before committing.

If she is offered her first choice and turns it down, will she then be offered an alternative from the other schools she listed on her application (assuming she meets at least some of the criteria)? Or will she have put herself into a position where she has to wait and see what schools have places left over once all parents in the county have responded to the initial offers?

If she turns it down she would just be offered anywhere with space, her previous choices are irrelevant.

Her best option is to accept and then go on the wait list for the others.

She'd be better gong on waiting lists for other chosen schools but accepting offer in meantime. If they meet criteria closely they should be near the top.

Thanks for the replies.

Could she accept the offer, then defer the start date until DD reaches compulsory school age, whilst going on the waiting lists for other schools?

The girl will be five sometime around Easter next year.

Yes, she can accept the offer and defer starting until the summer term next year.

She should accept the offer and go on waiting lists for all the schools she would prefer including both those she originally put on her list and those she didn't.

She should accept tne offer and go on waiting g lists. She should under no circumstance reject the school offered because the education authority will be under no obligation to find her another place if she does this meaning tne child would have no school to attend on September.

Definitely accept the school offered before you do anything else. Then you have options you need to consider.
Firstly go on the waiting list for each of the other schools that you feel are appropriate. You might get a bit of negativity from the LA as you are asking to go on waiting lists when you have been offered your first preference school but just explain that you now consider that school not to be an appropriate school for your child.
Secondly you can separately appeal for each of the preferred schools.You have to understand that given for many schools the infant class size regulations will apply that it is possible there is more chance of getting a place of the waiting list than there is from an appeal, unless you have some very good reasons.
You do also need to consider whether there is a reasonable chance of getting a place of the waiting list if you waited starting school through to Easter. What you have to do is inform the school you have the offer of a place from that you intend to defer entry till Easter. That may seem at present a good route to take as places do come up frequently early in September from people changing their options over the summer break but after September the level of movement on the waiting list does reduce as parents come to terms with the school they have been offered. It is important that you inform the school ASAP that you are deferring so that they can make appropriate arrangements if this is an option you want to take.

I think your friend was on here last week, or somone with the same dilemma.

Accept place, go on waiting list for other schools.

Please suggest schools in North west London with SEN facility

Best start your own thread with that question, San75, as it could be lost here.