Didn't get in to any of my local schools in Hackney

[bealos]

Just found out this morning that my ds didn't get into any of the 3 primary schools I applied for. Quite shocked, upset and not looking forward to the palaver I now imagine I'm going to have to go through.

Choice 1 was our nearest school, Choice 2 another school nearby, choice 3 a school a little further away but with a large (90 pupil) reception intake, so I thought I was playing it fairly safe with my choices.

They have said we will be on the waiting list for our 3 choices (I'd like to know ifI can be added to the waiting list for other schools nearby too) plus we have the right to appeal.

They have also sent the list of the approx 12 schools that do have places left in Hackney (read: unpopular and therefore bad OFSTED etc). The nearest is a good 25 min walk away.

I am a single parent, I work full time and my ds goes to a childminder + nursery. If he ends up at a school further away I just don't know how I'm going to manage as the childminder will not be able to drop him off as she goes to 2 local schools already. Panic!

Has anyone else been through this - esp appeal - and succeeded?

Realistically, you'd have to change childminder then. I'm sure they'd be several dropping off at your school.
But many many people get offered a place on second round, when other people have turned down places in favour of others etc. Thats how we got ds1 into school; actually, because someone filled their form in wrong, so they forfeited the place.

Btw, 25 mins sounds alot, but it really isnt. Ours in 25 min walk at child pace, and its fine. Would be a prob if you were taking to school then going to work, but I assume you'll take to childminder?

yep I'd have to take to a childminder. Our current one lives on our street which is brilliant. I drop off at 8am and pick up at 6.15pm latest.

Childminders are like gold dust round here hence it's not easy to find alternative childcare.

I guess breakfast / tea club is a option, but hate the idea of my ds being in school for such long hours.

Breakfast/afterschool club isnt really like school tho. Yes, in school building, but its fun; your child would prob be doing what they'd be doing wih a childminder anyway.

Do you drive? For me, taking to a childminder on the bus would be a killer timewise, unless they lived en route to work.

I would suggest strongly that you make a rapid decision which of the schools with places is the one that you can get to easiest/prefer or whatever else you want to base your decision on and ask the LA for a place at this school. You are then at least guaranteed a school place as a backstop position.

I would then confirm to the LA that you want to be on the waiting list of all three of your preferences (don't rely on them putting you on the waiting list, confirm by email). You can also put yourself down for any other school that you wish to be on the waiting list for, there is no limit.

You then need to consider whether it is appropriate to appeal for any of your three preferences or any other school you want to. The 90 intake school will be an infant class size regs appeal as will any other ones that have an admission number of 30 or 60. Unless you suspect that there has been a mistake made in not offering you a place the chance of success at such an appeal is slim. The most likely one to have any success at is the nearest school, as you can argue that it is your nearest school. You do need to establish why you were not offered a place at the school, was it simply distance or were you not in catchement zone or what?

yes it's possible. I think I've always been happy with the home environment of a childminder and being with the same small group of kids every day since he was just under a year - they feel a bit like his siblings really as he's an only child.

No I don't drive. Only cycle, which could be an option. As you know, every minute counts in the mornings - I already get up at half six. Any earlier would kill me!

bealos, I'd be worried too, but honestly don't panic. Wait and find out where you are on the waiting lists - Hackney's a notoriously fluid place and I know lots and lots of people whose child didn't get into their chosen school at first who found they had a place by the time term started. Depends on where you too - if you're Stoke Newington it's harder as the catchment's are tiny. Is that where you are? Also is your ds a January starter?? If so that gives you even more time. Believe it or not lots of schools find the allocated kids don't turn up in September leaving more places free.

Thanks for the advice.

I'm in Homerton, E9, Hackney. So not as competitive as N16. He's a Sept starter.

I feel like I don't want to take a place at one of the schools which is left with places. The two nearest ones on the list are both totally rubbish and feel like I'd be giving up if I did this. Surely they would take me off the wait list for my preferred school/s if I took a place somewhere else? (need to find this out).

Very keen to find out why I didn't get into my number one choice school. It's 0.25 miles away. It's unbelievable to think there's 60 other kids nearer to the school than us. He currently goes to an independent but LA run nursery which is 0.24 miles away.

Am going to chat to the nursery on Tuesday. They are very good and I'm sure will help the process where they can.

Painful that they sent our results on a bank holiday weekend and have to wait til Tuesday before I can do anything...

What were the entry criteria of the close school? We didnt get into our closest (6 mins walk away); I'm glad now, altho thats another story! But my point is, we didnt get in as the criteria were... SEN, member of that church, siblings,member of another church in parish, memeber of another church anywhere, then proximity. Our neighbours got in tho, even tho they had no kids here and dont go to church

Criteria is: SEN, siblings, distance... i think

All the church schools are super oversubsribed so didn't even try for them

The one non church school close to us has replced th e church attendance criteria with 'child of a teacher employed by the borough'
Well, if you're only after SEN and siblings, I'd agree its most odd you didnt get in. Cant be that many siblings, surely??

Was your nearest school voluntary-controlled? Looked-after children or those with a SEN normally get priority, then siblings. But I agree, it seems reasonable to expect to get into your nearest school (mind you I don't live in London).

X post.

Agree it looks odd.

It's probably sibling preference that's scuppered you bealos. still doesn't mean you won't get in. Go to The Learning Trust - a mate of mine did that with her son and found them really helpful, though am guessing it depends on who you get iyswim. They can tell you where you'll be on the waiting lists, then hold tight.

mustrunmore - 'child of a teacher employed by the borough'

shocked that it's possible to set that kind of criteria, even for a VA school. Part of their recruitment policy I guess.

It suprised me too. But we didnt want that school anyway, so not an issue!

Yep going to Learning Trust.

I have an interesting link - my neighbour (3 doors down) also works at the Learning Trust. She also has a child who goes to same childminder and applied to the same school as no 1 choice. They're away this weekend so waiting to find out if their dd got in. Would be well shonky if her dd got in and my ds didn't. Tho her dd is Jan start.

mustrunmore - they are definitely not allowed to do that - admissions code is very clear :-

2.16 In setting oversubscription criteria admission authorities must not:

j) give priority to children whose parents are
current or former staff or governors or who
have another connection to the school,
subject to paragraph 2.18 below;

2.18 In addition, the prohibition in 2.16(j) does not prevent an admission authority from
offering a place or places to the children of
a new appointee to a post at a school after
the published offer dates for primary schools, or the national offer date in secondary schools, where there is a demonstrable skills shortage for the vacant post in question, even where this will be in excess of the published admission number, provided that all other relevant law is complied with (see paragraph 1.17). Alternatively, admission authorities may,
in these circumstances, place the children of
new appointees at the top of any waiting list
for places at the school (see paragraphs
3.19 to 3.21).

Maybe its changed? THat was when we were applying for ds1 who is now yr 1. But does it depend on type od school? Like church schools can still set their own criteria, even tho admissions is under the blanket of the LEA. I still think its odd that you have to apply to school and LEA for the application to be valid!

Lots of people seem to have missed out in hackney this year. I think you will stay on all the first waiting lists even if you accept one. You can postpone to a jan start even if your dc is old enough to start in sept , if that helps.

The same thing's happened to my friend in hackney.

Does anyone know for definite, if you don't get any of your three choices and apply for one of the schools they offer you instead as a back up, as someone suggested above, would this ruin your chances of appealing for your first choice? The first choice was nearby, the schools offered are further away and rubbish.

It makes me think that Hackney does not really have enough primary places to go round. They can't really keep up with all the people producing sproglets!

Just found out my nearest available school is Mandeville Primary. New Ofsted not actually that bad - came out after the schools applications had to be in. They've obviously brought in a superhead and replaced all staff with new ones. Sounds all good, but you never know how long this sort of turnaround is going to last esp if there's no permanent head:
www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/display/%28id%29/118937

if the ofsted for available school doesnt sound too vbad, put them on speed dial for tuesday 9 am and hot foot it down there for a look around.

if it is possible/doable and you can accept a place there and keep your spot on waiting lists then you have a strategy and a back up plan

best of luck -sounds really tough.

agree seems rubbish sending this out over bank holiday weekend.

Hi bealos, I'm currently doing a research project on school addmissions criteria for my teaching course. I would really appreciate it if I could ask you a few questions on why you child didn't get a place at a primary school.
thank you xxx

Does anyone know for definite, if you don't get any of your three choices and apply for one of the schools they offer you instead as a back up, as someone suggested above, would this ruin your chances of appealing for your first choice? The first choice was nearby, the schools offered are further away and rubbish.

Applying for & accepting another school has absolutely no effect on the appeal for your preferred school(s), nor on your position on the waiting list(s) for your preferred school(s) (assuming you are on it of course!)

In fact it's a very sensible course of action to have a "plan B" as if the appeal(s) for the preferred school(s) are "infant class size" appeals then your chances of success at appeal are slim unless you can prove a mistake was made.

studentmother, i'm in the same situation as bealos, although i don't live in hackney.

my dd1 didn't get a place at any of the 3 schools for the simple reason that there are too many children and not enough places.