School allocations coming up!

[Inyournewdress]

I was wondering how everyone is feeling about the upcoming allocations next week, and if anyone has any intelligence about how this year looks?

From what I have heard from a couple of friends who work at primaries, applications were way down which could bode well for some of us. But so many local factors!

No, not that I could see on admissions have anything regarding the borough, just comes down to distance as the crow flies.

I saw the Barnet info realised, the schools you chose from there do they all have shorter distance offers?

not faith schools I am assuming

@Pred02how did you find out your waiting list number, did you contact the school directly?

I emailed the council - Southwark.

@Poolsidle We're in a similar situation though not at the prep nursery. Thinking we will accept our 1st choice offer and stick with state school, just a pain it's the Easter holiday as ideally we would have more conversations with both schools. But if we wait until term starts then we'll be liable for a terms fees at the private school.

This happened to us 3yr ago with DS. We decided to go with the prep school before we knew for sure about the VAT situation. As it happened, VAT was introduced and we had a 3rd child and despite LOVING the prep school, we honestly just didn’t think it was worth 3 children’s fees with 20% increase vs the outstanding state school he could’ve got into. We ended up moving him last October and can honestly say he has thrived just as much in the state school as he did in prep. If anything, possibly more. I think prep schools are fantastic for some children and in some areas, but if you have an outstanding state option then in hindsight I wish we’d have gone with that from the start and saved ourselves 2.5yr of school fees!

We live on near the border of two local authorities so I called two this morning to find out waitlist places for first and second choice. One said waitlist information not available till after May 19th 😑 and the other said can’t give it out over the phone, email another office and they aim to respond within a week. So that’s helpful.

I’ve been going through the ofsted report for the school we’ve been allocated - not one I’d heard of before. The rating is ‘requires improvement’ and the report itself talks about how the teachers seem to lack subject knowledge and therefore are unable to pass this on to the students effectively. The phonics provision is also deemed inadequate. Can someone explain how a school who is deemed incapable of imparting knowledge (literally it’s entire purpose) is allowed to stay open and take on new pupils? Mind boggling.

There will be movement but it can be quite late eg at the start of term dc just don't turn up.

@ett4 is it in the process of getting taken over by a academy?

How old is the report? A report like that will often mean a school has support from the LA or an academy to improve, or be in the process of changing heads. My good friend is a headteacher who took over an Inadequate school and has been working to improve it. But you wouldn't know that just from the report on the ofsted website. You can ask on local FB groups or go and visit the school and ask the head themselves.

@towelonfloornot as far as I can tell, will do a bit more digging though. Would that have an impact?

Yes, a primary school near my DMs went from RI to Outstanding when it changed academy trusts because the new academy put in a load of training, new resources, tools for teachers. Obviously that's an extreme example but Academies can drive big improvements.

@CrispAppleStrudelsreport is from 2023, looks like they’re between heads atm as there’s an acting head in place. Will def try and book a visit to find out more and also do a bit more local research

@CrispAppleStrudelsreport is from 2023, looks like they’re between heads atm as there’s an acting head in place. Will def try and book a visit to find out more and also do a bit more local research

Would that have an impact?

Definitely so and often very positive

[Post edited as I asked a question which I now realise has already been asked and answered.]

Two years is a long time and a lot can change in that period. Definitely contact the school after the Easter holidays to visit and find out what changes have happened since the last Ofsted. You might be able to find out when the next inspection is due; usually for "requires improvement" they have to inspect again within a certain time frame.

The birth rate is definitely down .. I know of two primaries that have now got to merge due to them both having very low numbers

In London not so sure. A lot of people I know only got their third or fourth choice. I got 4th choice. I wonder what would have they done if I only gave out 2 choices instead of 4!

there’s a brand new school in my area that quite a few people have opted for. So doesn’t look like birth rate has dropped around here.

@ett4 just echoing others, don't be too disheartened by a poor ofstead without viewing the school/meeting the head. Our third choice was a school that was requires improvement but I went to see it anyway as it was close to home. I was SO impressed, they had had an injection of cash, so had wonderful new facilities, new head teacher who was really passionate. I would have been delighted for my DD to go there, especially if it was our closest school.

We say that but for well sought out schools in popular areas in London it’s hunger games with catchments. Some people did not even get any of their top 6 choices.

It's a fact though, birth rates falling doesn't mean the most popular schools will not be oversubscribed.

Some people did not even get any of their top 6 choices

But that will get a school place just not necessarily one of your preference. It's very rare to not get one of 6 choices unless you live in a blackspot or put options that are unrealistic down.

I'm a Londoner