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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

Just received notification of Primary School allocation (Herts). Anyone else? Pleased with allocation, accept allocated school or appeal?

35 replies

FunkyNora · 17/01/2008 13:44

My DD has been offered our 3rd choice. Pretty disappointed, but not too surprised.

I also applied to a neighbouring borough, so will wait and see.

A gutted to be honest!

Anyone else?

OP posts:

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Lazylou · 17/01/2008 13:49

Our forms only went in on Monday just gone and we don't find out until March whether or not we have the place we want.

Tbh, I can't see us getting either first or second choice, but am keeping my fingers firmly crossed. Third choice on our list was the school that covers our home address and it wasn't very nice at all.

I too would be gutted but here's hoping you get offered another one you will be happy with.

GrapefruitMoon · 17/01/2008 13:51

Got mine too today - but ds2 has two older siblings at the school so no surprises there!

princessosyth · 17/01/2008 13:51

Still waiting. I hope we get into our first choice as ds is already at nursery there but I doubt it, hopefully we will make our second choice as it is our closest school.

Misdee · 17/01/2008 13:53

herts always does theres early. i am waiting for nursery allocation.

funky, what area are you in?

Original poster

FunkyNora · 17/01/2008 13:58

Hi Misdee, Im in Borehamwood.

OP posts:

princessosyth · 17/01/2008 17:11

Well I have been allocated a school in another town and I don't drive. Looks like I will be home educating. Normally everyone here gets their local school, I am totally gobsmacked.

Original poster

FunkyNora · 17/01/2008 17:16

Does that mean you didnt get ANY of your choices?

Will you wait to find out which schools have places available or will you definately home ed?

Really sorry to her that.

OP posts:

princessosyth · 17/01/2008 17:47

No, I didn't get any of my choices. There are 15 schools closer to me than the one I have been allocated. The one I have been allocated is under threat of closure because of falling numbers, it all smells a bit fishy to me.

Oblomov · 17/01/2008 17:56

Herts ? Already ? I am in Surrye and I am sure they don't rlease till mid Feb !
Sorry about no choices.

nzshar · 17/01/2008 17:59

Got 2nd choice here not really surprised even though 1st chioce is my nearest school it is heavily over subscribed and one of those schools that people will do anything to get into eg local childminder or rent locally.

southeastastra · 17/01/2008 18:02

why gutted fn?

kkey21 · 18/01/2009 00:08

I'll join in there then. We too are in Herts and we didn't get any of our 3 choices. We also got one in another town.

LoneStranger · 18/01/2009 00:27

Hi. close friend of mine got none of her 3 cloices either. Offered one of 2 worst, in special measures, and one of only 2 schools with places. Not 100% sure what her options are, any advice? Pls. [hopeful emotion]

ScoobyKeys · 19/01/2009 22:49

We're in Herts and didn't get any of our 3 choices of schools either. We were offered a school which has just come off of special measures so have provisionally accepted whilst appealing and being placed on the CI list.

Katiestar · 19/01/2009 23:00

We don't hear til the end of April

mummyeme · 20/01/2009 09:54

I didn't get my choice last year and joined the continuing interest list and appealed. I didn't get anywhere with either.
The continuing interest list in herts imo is unfair. dd was at no.2 originally for 1st choice school, 19 for 2nd and 30 for 3rd. herts cc being the way they are then open the list up to anyone who fancies joining it in feb time (I think) so whether or not you applied to any of the schools originally becomes irrelevant, anyone can choose to join the list for any school they want, dds postition then dropped to no. 6 for first choice (child at no.1 got in) school and slightly moved up for the other 2 (not enough to make much difference).
As that stands she is now back up to 3 for 1st choice.
I also appealled, it was the most stressful time I think I've had, if you have a valid arguement one way the council seemed to find another obstacle to put in your way. For herts there are appeal meetings at county in an office, I think monthly to hear additional evidence you have (but they can seem to cancel them and they become 2 monthly). I sent in additional evidence on several occassions and it wasn't submitted to the meeting for several reasons relayed to me: not enough staff in the office to open the post daily / documents from 2 sources apparently were never recieved. In spite of my emailing to confirm receipt (again they never replied to emails either)
The parent isn't treat with any respect at all and your childs welfare is no concern of theirs either, you are just another number on the page.
In the end I got absolutely nowhere and don't think I ever would.
I also went to the appeal hearing, that too was unsuccesful.
As others on here advised me at the time, go and have a look at the school you've been allocated. Be completely open minded and go in with a positive attitude to it, when I visited I was met by the headmistress and she was lovely, very keen to reassure me about the school and was quite open to discuss any fears I had. Most importantly she was really keen to have my daughter at the school. Yes I went away and pursued the 1st chioce school (head was informative but not particularly helpful when I contacted them).
Ultimately dd started at the school she was allocated 2 weeks ago and is having the time of her life, she is so happy and looks forward to every day there. She has friends from her nursery there too (I'm lucky for that). But the school she's at has been fantastic for her, the other mums and children are so welcoming and down to earth. DDs getting on so well and she's learning so much, I'm glad it worked out this way in the end.
You're welcome to ask me any questions, but don't despair straight away as I did, it could work out in the end.

SparklyGothKat · 20/01/2009 09:56

i am waiting for secondary schools placements in march, I am dreading it (am in herts too)

cory · 20/01/2009 10:01

princessosyth on Thu 17-Jan-08 17:11:02
"Well I have been allocated a school in another town and I don't drive. Looks like I will be home educating."

Looks like they'll have to pay for transport then. Noone can be forced into home education. If you want to do it, then fair enough. But not because they can't be bothered to provide.

SparklyGothKat · 20/01/2009 10:05

as I understand it, if you has to go to school at a school that is not your nearest school (or within 2 miles walking distance for primary school kids) then they have to provide transport. I had to apply for schools that is not our nearest school due to Ds1's disability, the nearest school is not adapted) so have been told they should provide transport... we applied under rule 2 though for Ds1 (secondary school)

weepootleflump · 20/01/2009 10:16

Got my allocation 2nd week in December for 1st choice (not catchment) in Beds.

I'd have been happy with any of my choices tbh, but this is a small C of E school recently given straight 1's by Ofsted so I'm really pleased.

Squirdle · 20/01/2009 10:45

We get ours on Friday apparently. I'm not worried as DS2 is already at the school and we live just down the hill from it, so I can't see any reason for DS3 not to get in.

Parents at the nursery are already worrying though. Mind you, there isn't much you can do about it until you know for sure!

LoneStranger · 20/01/2009 12:56

Hi Scooby, do you mind if i ask which school your dc was allocated? My friend was offered OW and is more than a little nervous about it.

NewTeacher · 20/01/2009 14:24

OOh I feel for all of you as I was in this exact same position last year. Seems to me nothing has changed!

My DS didnt get any of the 3 schools and our nearest one was 348m from our house. We were allocated in the same town unlike most of my other friends who got out of town schools.

The school we were allocated was under special measures and is improving slowly..we went to visit and the head was very encouraging BUT I came away in tears. I put my name of the CI list we were no4 no luck! Even though the council had measured our distances wrong!!! No luck with appeal either.

I tried everything getting into local paper and a national one too but to no avail. We had to go private in the end.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you all as I know just how stressful it all is...

seb1 · 20/01/2009 15:01

God I feel for you guys, It is so different up here. We went to our local school last week, filled in the forms, school tell you can apply for a placement request if you don't want your catchment school (hardly anyone does a placement request), DD was asked what friends from nursery she would like in her class, DD went off round P1 classes, got a sticker and pencil, her P1 teacher will come and see her in nursery after easter, parents night in June and 2 settling in afternoons in June for DD. School starts in August. It seems they try for max stress for you guys.

furrycat · 21/01/2009 09:39

Do people get the sense that there are more people applying this year because no-one can afford to go private any more?

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