Am I overreacting?

[Orinoco]

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Are you near another LEA? If so, its likely that schools in another LEA would take them if they still have places at this stage of the year.

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Orinoco - try the 'full' schools anyway. Don't quote me on this one, but my brother who has been a teacher for the last 30 years, says that a school can't turn down a pupil on the grounds that the school is full.

Other teachers on here may know better, but that's what he said.

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Saturday? Will the students be in?

We've been contemplating a move to Derbyshire/Notts and finding good schools is tricky. Have made a note of a good independent though just in case!

Can you not get on the waiting lists?

The issue with your youngest child is serious and maybe you can use that to exert some leverage with the LEA?

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look at them all. I've just moved my kids from a school which is not perceived as desirable to one which is, (not for that reason, but because we moved) and I think the quality of the education is much better (and the children treated much more humanely) at the former school. You really cannot go on hearsay.

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Have you asked your LEA to search for you? From what I understand, you need to ask them to tell you about the vacancies in schools that exist (and then you go and have a look at the schools and decide); rather than formally offer you a place (in case you want to turn it down).

Go through every single school. And don't be too taken in by Ofsted reports (especially old ones). Sometimes Ofsteds are actually taking place whilst you are looking around, and you later find that that 'satisfactory' or 'good' school has just become an 'outstanding' one.

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Nice work Orinoco - keep us posted of your progress.

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Well for the record both my DDs are mad about unicorns and they would have definitely been on the list!

Have just caught up with this thread. If this was happening to my ds I wouldn't bother having another word with the teacher, my next meeting would be with the head. Neither of your dc are getting proper support at school so it isn't just about one cr*p teacher.

Good luck. It is a big decision to move schools but from what you've posted I can't see how you'd stay at the current one.

I heard somewhere that an LEA can force a school to take a child, even if they are full. I don't know how this works, and whether or not this applies to your 3 chosen schools; or whether it is simply a case of the LEA deciding which school they will force (IYSWIM!). I understood that one of the criteria (under these circumstancces) was if the child had just moved into the area. I may be completely wrong, but have definitely heard this somewhere!

The LEA can force a full school to take a child if there is a special reason why this child should be admitted to that school ahead of other children who have been admitted. E.g. dd got in because she should have been given priority for medical reasons and wasn't. Emotional reasons could be another cause for priority. Otherwise, you'd expect the LEA to look for the nearest school with places.

Have just read the OP again and realised that it was the YEAR TWO SATS that this ghastly place allowed the OP's dd to get so worked up about. Mock papers for Year Two SATS!!! That is disgusting! Our school didn't even tell the children that they were sitting an exam- half of them never knew! They thought they had been called into the hall to do a fun quiz. There is no reason for them to know. It's not like state junior schools are selective and they have to do well. And the Sats is supposed to check the general level of the school's teaching, pre-coaching.

My experienec of transferring schools is that it is organised largely by the schools themselves rather than the LEA. I had to fill in an LEA transfer form but I think that just got sent directly to the school in question. I then had to wait for a place to become available, then they contacted me and we moved a few weeks later - LEA not involved at all.
So I would negotiate with the schools first and find out what they advise re the process. Its worth putting your name down even if they are full as places do come up throughout the year.

to hear your story!

I believe that you can apply to any state school you like, and appeal against the decision if your application is turned down. The main problem with admissions for this age group is presented by the the regulations on infant class size, which impose a maximum number of pupils in each class and might make it difficult to find places in another state school especially as you have two to think about.

Nevertheless, if you are turned down and decide to appeal you would have the opportunity to put your case to an independent panel who would consider the circumstances and come to a decision which is binding on both sides. The general rule of thumb for school appeals seems to be to explain why your child needs to attend that particular school and not to offer negative comments about the school they have been offered or are currently attending... though in your case that would be difficult! You would however have some good points of reference, e.g. you are able to show why you would prefer a larger school. I know that appeals are sometimes upheld in cases where a child is moved due to bullying issues etc.

The independent school option is another possibility as there is every chance that you might qualify for a bursary. It is certainly worth looking into.

Good luck! Your children really should not be having to put up with this kind of thing.

Yes - Elliot is right - it is worth going on the waiting lists for other schools. It can take some time for place to come up, though - and you might have to move one child before the other one - but if the school gives priority to siblings then the other child would presumably move to the top of the waiting list for their year.

Forgot to mention - have you considered a letter to the chair of governors for the school? There really are some serious issues here that need to be addressed!

I'm sorry you're having such a rotten time! When I went through an appeal for a place for dd1, the advisory centre for education were very helpful. They have helplines where you can talk through your options with an advisor - it's a charity so all free.

Will your lea not give you a list of schools that have places in the age group that you require?I changed dd,s primary school earlier this year due th the head refusing to acknowledge that bullying was taking place in his school.I rang the lea, who gave me the names of all the schools with vacancies and within a week dd was at a new school and fingers crossed is much happier.

I also recommend madamy,s link,they were fantastic when I rang them and talked me through the ahole process,good lucl and let us know how you get on.

I have to say I'm not sure that the appeals procedure is relevant for a transfer place.
For my LEA, the 'official' procedures really apply only at normal school starting times and transitions (e.g. primary to secondary). My LEA generally discourages transfers at other times, and if you are already at a school, (and thus 'sorted' as far as they are concerned), but just want to go somewhere else, I can't see that they would be interested in getting involved at all. I think you're only 'entitled' to a place if you move into a completely new area and have no school to go to.

I think this depends, Elliott. When I attended dd's appeal hearing to secondary school, a couple of the appeals heard were for children wanting to move into Yr 8.

If reasons which would normally be grounds for an appeal arise during their schooling (e.g. medical and emotional reasons) that were not apparent when they first started, then surely that would be grounds for admitting the appeal?

Dd got in on medical grounds (disability access)- I imagine if her disability had arisen during Yr 7, they would have reconsidered?
Dd's friend got into her school for emotional reasons (mother terminally ill and school offers counselling)- again, I imagine they might have taken changing circumstances into account.