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?

what makes me angry is that this has been the situation in our area for a long time yet the council doesn't address it.

Hi bealos I'm in E9 as well. DD is not going to primary yet, but I'm interested in what to expect. Can I ask what your school choices were?

My choices were: Berger (nearest school), Orchard and Millfields.

First two have intake of 60, 3rd intake of 90.

studentmother, you're welcome to ask me some questions

Thanks. You must be a bit north of me.

I'll probably be in your situation next year. I had Orchard in mind as a "safe" bet, since I'm sure there isn't a chance in hell of getting into Lauriston (which is technically closer), and the other option is a church school, which I couldn't get into even if I wanted to, being from a non-Christian background. Other nearby 'choices' are a former sink school or in Tower Hamlets.

It's really a ridiculous situation, isn't it?

Bealos - Millfields has a pretty small catchment despite the intake size - literally 500 metres, less the past few years - we have just scraped in there and we're nearby, and friends who live just around the corner didn't get a place. I know that doesn't help, but it explains why.

Also, i would give Mandeville a chance, look up the Woodberry downs federation who run it, they have turned 2 other schools around and it's a long term thing, not just dependent on that head as it's administered by that group. It was my back up plan, i went and met the head and looked around and was really impressed by it. So it's not all bad if that is where you end up, and if what Betsyboop says is correct it's a good plan to apply there.

BetsyBoop can i ask how you know this? I need to reassure my poor friend. Is that information on the learning trust site or similar?

schools admissions code confirms that accepting a place at another school has no impact on position on waiting lists (done strictly in admsission criteria order) or on the appeals process. I've pasted the two most relevant bits before.

If you friend is going to appeal it is worth reading both the admissions code & the appeals code on the link before (there is a "parents guide" there too) - but bear in mind as I said before very few infant class size appeals are successful.

Waiting lists
3.19 Each admission authority must maintain a
waiting list for at least one term in the academic year of admission, for every oversubscribed school, and it must include the fact it will do this in their school?s published admission arrangements, making clear that children will be ranked in the same order as the published oversubscription criteria. Waiting lists must be clear, fair and objective and must not give priority to children based on the date either their application was received or their name was added to the list. For example, if a child moves to an area outside the normal admissions round and has higher priority
against the published oversubscription criteria, they must be ranked above those with lower priority already on the list, subject to the requirements of paragraph 3.21.

3.20 As soon as school places become vacant, they must be filled from the waiting list, even if this is before admission appeals have been heard unless an exception applies (see paragraph 2.18). Placing a child?s name on a waiting list does not affect an applicant?s right of appeal against an unsuccessful application.

I had a look today at my friends learning trust Hackney primary schools admission guide from 2008. It gave the max distance away from the school for admissions the previous year - i.e. catchment - shame they didn't do this in the 2009 guide!

Berger - which I am 0.25 miles from - gave it as 0.6 miles. So surprising that we didn't get in this year. But then everyone got into Orchard who wanted to that year too. Obviously there's more demand in the area now.

I did speak to Millfields and they reassured me that it was worth applying, so shame they misled me as I wouldn't have put them down otherwise.

Daubeney probably would have been a better 3rd choice bet. It's such a gamble!

Thanks for all the info betsyboop. Am reading up and prepared to start doing stuff tomorrow!

Apparently London Fields Primary school has places too. Anyone know much about this school?

They did do it in the 2009 guide, at least in the online version - I never got hold of the paper one if there was one! It's worth printing them off each year if you are applying in future so you have a historical sense of the bouundaries. Good luck tomorrow bealos.

you're right. Just looked.

2009 stats were:
Berger was 0.296 miles (I am 0.25 miles away)
Orchard was 0.773 miles (I am 0.57 miles away)

Millfields was an error of a choice obviously. God I feel dumb and kicking myself. It really feels like playing some sort of blind mans buff.

Hi, i know you (a bit) in real life - through N with daughter M and son H ! We went to pub together last summer.. My friend is in same situation as you with offers at london fields, so was on here looking into rules for her.

I can't believe Millfields told you to apply, you weren't being dumb you thought you'd done your research and were misinformed, and you were close enough to the others, you'd have thought. I wonder if this would help your cause although probably not unless it was the learning trust who told you that. Good luck tomorrow, and hoping you are near the top of the list for Berger.

Sorry, i should add i only know that as i saw her yesterday and she mentioned your plight.and i recognised the situation from thread...i just realised that sounded a bit stalkery!

Oh hello! Mumsnet's a small world...

Let me know how your mate gets on. If it all falls apart then I'll be straight on the phone to Hackney Gazette, kicking up a fuss, so be good to know how your mate does.

No-one seems to know if the places at the schools listed (e.g. London Fields, Mandeville) are first come first served or not. All a bit of a nightmare.

The only reassuring thing is looking at at least another 2 threads on here talking about Hackney - and all saying it's possible that people drop out in an area like this.

I really want to find out if I can add ds to as many waiting lists as possible.

Imagine the Learning Trust lines will probably be jammed tomorrow!

unyummy - not stalkery at all! cheers

It isn't clear from Hackney's primary schools booklet how they deal with applications for the schools that still have places. It may be first come first served or it may be that, if there are a number of people applying, they use the admission criteria. Whatever they do, they have to find a place for everyone even if there aren't enough places to go round.

You are entitled to add your DS to as many waiting lists as you want.

Just spoke to them. We are no 3 on the waiting list for my nearest school, Berger.Out of 60 places, 18 were siblings. Our neighbour (3 doors nearer the school, say 10m) got in.

So frustrating!

They say you can put your name down on as many waiting lists as you want and these are dealt with in criteria order. However, I need to go into the Learning Trust to do this - and also if I want to appeal I have to go in and see them too.

That sounds promising.. my friend in stoke newington was 18th on list when they applied a few years ago, and went up to 8 by the time the places had been accepted so here's hoping.

I would deffo consider putting him on the list for daubeney if you are near enough, we saw it and really liked it, it's in special measures but on the up, we applied even though it was a walk away from us. The Learning Trust do make you jump through hoops don't they. Good luck x

That's reassuring. We are no 10 for Orchard too.

I have just calculated the distance we are out of this years "catchment" for Berger and it's 21 metres. ouch!

Right, off to the Learning Trust for me then. Glad I am working from home today.

I should go check out Daubeney too, thanks.

I've heard local chatter that London Fields is on the up (there was a thread on here too). No idea if it's true, but if you consider the proximity to Broadway Market and regeneration of that area, it seems promising. Might be worth checking out.

Are the Learning Trust making you physicaly go into their offices to register on the waiting list and for appeals?

You should be able to do this by email or letter. If they are putting a barrier in front of people to go on the waiting list or appeal that is very naughty. Also intrigued to know what is said about getting on the waiting list.

yes they told me I had to go in, which I did.

But you are right, I then spoke to another person on the phone who told me I could email.

Great I wasted a hour of my work day to go and join a bonkers queuing system to speak to someone face to face who pressured me to put my ds down for a school I hadn't seen yet. The headteacher of ds' nursery said this was very bad of the Learning Trust.

The head teacher is right. The Learning Trust is really pushing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

You can accept a place (and it can be seen as positive to do so) and still be on waiting lists for others. You can also appeal any schools you want to, but if it is infant class size you are unlikely to succeed.

mustrunmore - 'child of a teacher employed by the borough'
My local primary had a similar rule, but it was chucked out as it breached the admissions code.

I feel sorry for you. It is pity that these days we still have bad schools. I know that there are parents who do not care about the rating of their school but most of us do.