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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

Wha if we don't get in???? What then.........

8 replies

runtus · 17/01/2010 15:03

Awaiting DS's school application on Friday, applied out of catchment as local school has bad reputation for bullying and poor leadership by Head. Fingers crossed for out of catchment school but what happens if we don't get a place?? How do we go about getting him in somewhere we are happy with??

We have accepted we may have to move but how do we find out which schools do have places available, in order that we can find a house near it?! Also, will that school accept him while we move??

Questions questions - my head is spinning now the date is getting closer. HELP!!!

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OmicronPersei8 · 17/01/2010 15:15

If you don't get your first choice, get on their waiting list. Sometimes people move or change their mind - you never know.

The LEA might have a list of schools with spaces, or you might have to ring each one up (it depends on the area).

Original poster

runtus · 17/01/2010 15:18

We applied online so if we don't get the one we want, maybe email they send to inform us might have some info?

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Pancakeflipper · 17/01/2010 15:25

Did you get a big booklet which gave info on each school and stats for last yrs intake - that gives a good indication on how many got in out of catchment and what schools are likely to have places and which ones only fit in catchment pupils.

Also phone your LEA tomorrow and ask them what to do if you don't get in. They will tell you the process of appeal. It's a time consuming thing and the panel doesn't meet as frequently as parents would like - so you need to prepare if that's that track you have to go down.

I don't know if it is the same in all areas but our LEA seem to have control for reception year on allocation but once in Year 1 it's the schools decision....

Original poster

runtus · 17/01/2010 15:38

I'll find out the number now and call LEA tomorrow, better to be prepared I guess.

The school is really small with an intake of only 15 each year which doesn't sound great for us out of catchment. Met the head and she seemed to be positive towards us and said she wasn't aware of too many sibilings and new starters from within catchment for this new year, so we decided to take the risk and apply as first choice.

Not sure how the land lies for enrollment for yr 1, might be something worth investigating too........

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SE13Mummy · 17/01/2010 20:16

How many other schools did you apply to? You may well be given a place at one of those or else will be allocated a place at the school closest to you that has a vacancy.

Did you go and visit the school with the 'bad reputation'? It's always worth trying to put aside the word on the street/KS2 results/Ofsted reports and judging a school by what you see when you visit; it's possible to tell a lot from meeting the Head and having a look round. I say that as someone who has spent years working in a school with the age-old poor reputation but it was undeserved; the teaching was great, staff were dedicated and the education that the children received was tailored to their very many and very individual needs and yet people I know still wouldn't consider sending their children there because of its reputation. When my daughter didn't get a place at any of our choices and was allocated a place at a school miles away I went straight to my old school to find out if they had vacancies and, had a place not come up locally, that's where I'd have sent her.

Original poster

runtus · 17/01/2010 20:53

We only get two choices here so not that many chances of alternative allcation.....the closest school to us is the one we really don't want so not sure what we'll do if that one comes up.

To be honest I didn't look round it but then I personally know 4 people that have removed their children due to bullying.

I don't know - can't get my head round it all!

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fernie3 · 18/01/2010 13:50

we didnt get into either of our top two choices and got allocated a school. We did ask for her name to go down on the waiting list for the others but so did pretty much everyone else who didnt get in!.

The school she is at is ok, not great and we have had one or two problems but really after a while we just had to accept if you dont get in you dont get in.

Starbear · 18/01/2010 14:05

Runtus We didn't get our first choice school.
We put our name on the waiting list. We were 3rd In September we were 2nd as a family moved. We wrote to the school (after September intake they run there own waiting list. I think they sent a letter asking if we wished to stay on the list. We said yes.
In October we wrote again to say we were still interested. He got in this January. So things can move (or not) If you don't get your first or second choice stay on the waiting list.

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