How do you appeal primary school place

[babakeri]

Hello, we got offered a school that was not even on out list of 6 school choices.Please can anyone advise how to appeal or how joing waiting list? I am clueless but I want to do something about it.

You guys are gold!!! I totally get it now, sorry I'm a foreigner to the UK and I have no communication with local people who can advise me on realistic chances and expectations from their experience. I've read the council guidelines but though I could still be "lucky" and get a place.

I did accept the school which is close by, it totally makes sense and the convenience is so important.

I didn't set realistic goals, and I realise my ambitions were foolish.

I would recommend getting on local facebook groups aimed at local parents and/or local groups in general. They can be great places to pick up on some local knowledge. It's a while away, but you could start thinking about secondary schools and what your catchment school is, and what the chances are for places for your preferred secondary schools.

If a school is four form entry then they are four form entry because they are in an urban area with a lot of houses, lots of families and lots of children. So many people will have been applying to those schools purely because it was their nearest school and the one that their other children already attend. Some people , like you, might have applied because they liked the schools reputation, but to have got a place they would have been in a higher admission category than you were, sibling links, and closer distance probably. If you are in London then driving for ten to fifteen minutes means you are driving past a great many schools, in my area I could drive past about primary six schools in 15 minutes with no effort at all. I am pleased you have accepted a place, stay on the waiting lists, you have nothing to lose if a place does come up.

Btw many outstanding schools have not had an inspection for ten, twelve or more years, in which time not only have all the children changed ( and possibly the whole social demographic!) but probably most of the staff and the senior management team too. Not to mention the curriculum. It’s a bit like the saying you can’t step into the same river twice, things move on.

pleased you accepted a school place - personally unless the school is awful I think going to a local school is a really good idea both from the pov of transport and also your kids having local friends. It also really helps getting to know people in the local community.

You've been lucky, not being British I'm not surprised it wasn't entirely clear to you how it worked.

Hope it works out at the local school and anything else that comes up like this do ask around locally (or on here!) before diving straight in!

Nice response OP- I hope your family are child are very happy with their allocated Primary school