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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Waiting for offers this week...

149 replies

Marahute · 14/04/2020 12:31

Anyone else waiting nervously for the school place offers on Thursday?

I know we aren't likely to get our first choice really, as we aren't in catchment and it's a very popular school. But until we find out I keep allowing myself to hope...

I know all our choices are fine, and I think we have a good chance of getting our second choice, but I am still feeling irrationally nervous about it all.

Join me won't you?

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TiffanyAtBreakfast · 16/04/2020 11:40

We got our 3rd choice which is our catchment school. Really disappointed as we viewed it twice to try and convince ourselves it was great but I disliked it even more on the second visit everyone I know (including on here it seems!!) seems to have gotten their first choice

Creamcake123 · 16/04/2020 12:13

@TiffanyAtBreakfast we got our second choice (it was best of a bad bunch) and are devastated. Our first choice (catchment school and approx 150m from our house) is the only school in the LA to rate attending the nursery higher than distance from home :-( my DD didn't go to the nursery as we moved to the area 2 months after the deadline for nursery applications. Very unfair as the nursery year isnt compulsory.

Original poster

Marahute · 16/04/2020 12:20

@TiffanyAtBreakfast we got second choice (although we are happy with it thankfully) but I know what you mean, absolutely everyone I know seems to have got their first choice.
I'm sorry you are disappointed with your offer, and you @Creamcake123. Can you go on the waiting list for your preferred school/s?

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Original poster

Marahute · 16/04/2020 12:21

@Creamcake123, that does seem unfair! Especially as you are so close to the school.

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Original poster

Marahute · 16/04/2020 12:23

Actually, does anyone know how waiting list places are allocated? I have asked to go onto the waiting list for our first choice. Although not sure we would swap now if we did get an offer, but will we find out what our place on the waiting list is? And will it be ordered according with the admissions criteria?

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justdontatme · 16/04/2020 12:24

Waiting list is ordered according to admission criteria, yes.

Creamcake123 · 16/04/2020 12:34

@Marahute yes I wouldn't mind if the other schools had the same rule but they dont, so I felt it put us at at a disadvantage when applying for other schools. I've asked to go onto the waiting list and we will have a go at appealing but I understand the likelihood of appeals being upheld at reception stage is very low.

cantkeepawayforever · 16/04/2020 12:50

Our first choice (catchment school and approx 150m from our house) is the only school in the LA to rate attending the nursery higher than distance from home :-(

There are only certain conditions under which attending a nursery class can be used as one of the admissions criteria. IIRC, it has to be 'fair in the local context' and
"Schools should ensure those choosing not to send their children to the nursery do not find it harder to obtain a reception place than those attending the nursery. In this context, whether nursery priority is fair will depend on the location of the school, the availability of reception places in the area and the number of places offered without any reference to whether the child has attended the nursery"

It may be that you can challenge the admissions criteria?

BlueLadybird · 16/04/2020 13:02

@Creamcake123 - I would see if you can get advice from one of the professionals on here (who are so kind in giving their time) about this.

Augurey · 16/04/2020 13:08

Do offers get sent out at a certain time? Haven't had a notification by email yet...

neverknewsomany · 16/04/2020 13:19

Logon to your councils website if you've had no email. We got our first choice.

prh47bridge · 16/04/2020 14:14

I understand the likelihood of appeals being upheld at reception stage is very low

It is due to infant class size rules. If any of the classes in Reception, Y1 or Y2 would have 30 pupils if the school was full an appeal will be an infant class size case. That means you can only win if you can show that a mistake has been made or the refusal to admit your child was unreasonable (the bar for which is very high - a decision has to be irrational to be regarded as unreasonable). It is also possible to win if you can show that the admission arrangements breach the Admissions Code or the relevant law.

I'm afraid you can't argue that the school should have had different admission criteria. They are allowed to prioritise children attending their nursery. I understand your feelings but I'm afraid the information you've posted suggests you are unlikely to win an appeal.

Having said that, I would still encourage you to appeal. You can't lose anything by appealing and you may strike it lucky. Sometimes something emerges in the hearing that shows a mistake has been made.

Rhayader · 16/04/2020 15:02

Still nothing on our portal here but that’s expected - London LA. I expect it will be after 5....

JoeExoticsHusband · 16/04/2020 15:24

We got our first choice, although I knew we were one of 6 children applying so it was pretty certain.

Now I want to buy the uniform and a book bag I know it's too early and that the school will contact me about that.

UhKevin · 16/04/2020 15:34

JoeExotics I’m ordering some of ours later Full uniform policy and link to supply for required badged items is on their website so I figure I may as well! Plus the supplier has had to down tools during the crisis so they’ll be working to even tighter timeframes when they get back, so no harm getting in the queue now.

Talcott2007 · 16/04/2020 15:59

Very relieved to have been offered our 1st choice School! It was somewhat stressful morning wait - as everyone and their uncle seems to have their emails though at 9AM - Ours didnt come through until 2PM!

BillyAndTheSillies · 16/04/2020 16:03

Still waiting here. We were told evening but I'd hoped it would be sooner.

JoeExoticsHusband · 16/04/2020 16:12

@UhKevin that's so good, I'm not the only eager one! I'd rather get it early and know I have it. off to find the uniform policy

happymummy12345 · 16/04/2020 16:32

We got our first choice, couldn't be happier. I just want to confirm about accepting the place.
I applied online and it says I have to email the school that I've been offered a place by within 10 days from today to confirm if I will be accepting it or not. So is it right that I just email the schools admissions email and say we wish to accept the place?
We have already provided proof of address as the school require applicants to fill out the online Local Authority form as well as their own form. I gave them the school form and all documents needed when submitting the online form. Both were done the same day last year. So I know I don't need to worry about that. And we have all policies as they were also given to us at the open day so not waiting for anything like that.

Rhayader · 16/04/2020 18:35

For anyone stalking this next year our London LA put it on the website at 5pm on the dot, still not email at 18:35.

First choice here :)

worriedmama16 · 16/04/2020 22:17

Got our first place! Way out of catchment too, I had a thread on this months ago where basically was told that my reasons for requesting the school I chose were ridiculous, not a proper reason, pie in the sky etc.
Well we got it, all the people in 'the know' who told me I'd no chance actually know fuck all, delighted!!

metellaestinatrio · 16/04/2020 23:19

We got our first choice too - very happy . Had to wait until 5.30pm to find out though, so cruel!

Dottydoodoo · 17/04/2020 01:20

So nice to see so many getting their first choices

We on the other hand didnt get any of our three preferences, and got offered a place in a very unpopular school not anywhere near walking distance with not great reports that we didn’t even go and look at because we knew we didnt want DS to go there. I am devastated. I know we need to accept the place but I have got him on the waiting lists for the schools we asked for too. My friends have all been saying to appeal but I don’t know on what grounds we would appeal? Surely we can’t appeal because we just don’t want it can we? Would we need a more solid reason? If an appeal will help then I will because I need to know that I have done all I can to help my DS to not go there.
This school has an intake of 75 and there were 33 of us who were allocated it like us who were given none of our preferences. There must be a reason for this, that’s a whole class of children whose parents did not want them to be there!!

Osirus · 17/04/2020 01:33

We got first choice too. Not our catchment school either but it’s just lovely.

stickwoman · 17/04/2020 04:58

@Dottydoodoo I could of written your post! That is exactly what has happened to us. I'm gutted and so sad I can't sleep. I absolutely do not want to send him to that school. I'm going to appeal on the grounds I know others that have got in that live further away. No siblings, SEN etc.

When you say you are on waiting lists already is that automatically or have you listed yourself? I didn't particularly understate the guidelines explained on the website. I was going to call the schools tomorrow in the hope someone might be there to help. Like you I just want to do everything in my power not to send him there.

Also, how do you find out the info re. who got a place etc?

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