In Year School Admissions

[Shay01]

Please can someone help.
We have moved to Redbridge and my son will start Year 9 in September.
He is on waiting lists for all the schools we applied for and has not been allocated a school place. When i spoke to council they said he will be allocated once a space is avaliable. I said schools reopen in 2 weeks and its his GCSC year and options need to be sorted out - what if we do not hear anything until September. They said he will have to stay home until a space becomes available. As you can imagine i am very worried - please can someone advise what i can do.

As schools are out at the moment they may be having trouble getting responses from schools so that they can sort out a place. However, if one isn't forthcoming very quickly after schools return you need to push Redbridge hard and threaten to refer the matter to the LGO if they don't come up with a place.

You could also appeal for all your preferred schools. That should force Redbridge into action. They will want to have an offer in place before any appeal hearings.

Year 9 isn't a GCSE year, so don't panic. In most schools they don't need to make their choices until January, so you have plenty of time.

@FluffyPJs - thanks thats good to know. In his previous school they had already chosen their options for Year 9 in Feb when he was in year 8.

@Shay01 Can you ask on your new local Facebook page in which year group the children make their option choices? Or have a look on the website of the school you want?

Have they not assigned you a school at all? What is the date that you have applied for in-year admission?

I live in Redbridge and know some of the schools, many schools are oversubscribed, but not all. Looks to me as if the council is waiting to see how things settle when schools open. And please don't panic - although it is possible that your DS might not get all his choices for GCSEs, it's also possible that a pupil who has been at the school since y7 doesn't get all the desired GCSEs.

Which schools did you put down out of curiosity?

Our school (Wanstead High) GCSE choices are towards middle of y9. I also believe that's the case for many other high schools.

@QueenBlueberries - hi thanks for the info. I applied in June then they said all applications expire end of July so i applied again 01.08.20.
I have put down, Woodbridge, Beals and Wanstead as i wanted schools not too far from us due to the move and making friends etc. All on waiting lists and no other allocation provided. I do understand that it is August and no one at school etc, but its just that when they say things like if no spaces are available he will just have to wait for one and they can not guarantee a place and he may be school less in Sept and we cant say how long for - its frightening.

The school isn't processing the application initially. I think the council has a list with the number of places available, assigned a place, then the pupils name is automatically put on waiting lists for all the schools on your list. There is a possibility that your DS will be assigned a school that is not on your list, then when a place becomes available in a school of your choice they will offer a place. It's a right pain. I hope you get to hear soon.

I could be wrong but I thought the council has a legal obligation to offer you a place unless you don't reside in Redbridge?

I could be wrong though.

Oh sorry, another point. There will loads of changes in September, many pupils will be changing schools, starting new schools, some will be leaving to be home educated. Even if your son starts a few weeks after the others, I genuinely think it will make very little difference to him making friends or to his education in general.

Most schools will be back from Sep 3rd, for inset days, but pupils probably won't start til the following week. My son will be in year 10 and he is starting on the 10th. They are getting the younger kids in first. Keep trying the schools admissions office from Sep 1st and you may get a place for your son quite quickly, and he might not even miss any school

Thank you all for all your help. I have used a lot of the advise on here - very much appreciated!!!! Fingers crossed x

Any update? We’re in the same position but for Primary!

The admissions team are blaming coronavirus for their lack of communication but they could at least explain the process.

I contacted the EWO because I didn’t want to get fined for no attendance and she was angry with the Admissions team.

@Sunrise85 - no still no news for me. I am so anxious but the schools go back this week so just seeing what happens this week now. Good luck and please let me know if you hear anything

@Shay01 the Education Welfare Officer has given them a kick up the arse because I said “if he isn’t in school - I won’t be fined for poor attendance!”

Can you email / call the Education Welfare Officer in your local authority to say the same thing?

We did get an email today after the EWO got involved so we’re 1 step closer.

The fine is for failure to secure regular attendance of a registered pupil. If your son is not registered at any school, you cannot be fined. Equally, you cannot be fined if he is registered at a school more than 2 miles from home (3 miles if he is 8 or over) and the LA has not provided transport or if he is registered at a school that is too far away for your child to travel.

@Sunrise85 - will have to try that. Did they by any chance tell you when you can expect an allocation by?

No, nobody seems fussed about getting the kids in school.

@prh47bridge brilliant info! thank you! That’s the type of information that would be excellent to have on the local authority “Attendance” or “Admissions” web page. How are parents supposed to know without asking? How can they find out when nobody answers the phones or replies to emails within 5 weeks? It’s a worry if you don’t know the answers! Thank you

Hey @Shay01 Admissions told us to chase the school ourselves so we did and our place was confirmed.

@Sunrise85 awe well done!!! The school office will be closed now so will try and call them tomorrow. Were you on the waiting list - we are on the waiting list for all the schools we applied for. As we have moved they have to legally offer us a place at a school in the borough so waiting on that. Will give the schools a call tomorrow - thanks for that :) Great news for you, really wish i have some soon x