Fixed catchment area, a terrible school - what do we do??

[escorchio]

We moved our children 500 miles last year, to slow down the pace of life a little, and we thought, improve their quality of life. We've gained masses of space, grandparents on the doorstep and lots of fresh air. Two of the three children are really happy and settled. The third has had a truly awful teacher, and is very unhappy. Their old school was brilliant in every way. We took it for granted that in this day an age, all schools were by and large like this, but now know better. At their new school, the children are not respected by the staff, they do not even come close to following the curriculum, and the teachers seem to be allowed to pick and chose what they do, with no continuity from year to year - ie with no subject leaders/co-ordinators there is no one to ensure that they do not cover eg the same bit of RE every year. School catchment areas are fixed, and going private is not an option. We could request another school, but have been told we won't get in. We're in Scotland - what should be do?

You can apply for a different school, there is a chance you'll get it, why did they say you wouldn't?

The other option would be move.

The only other walkable school, which looks great, is new and has a bizarre catchment area - children living on the same street as the school gates are not in area! So there is a massive waiting list, with some siblings apparently not even getting in.

Not able to move really, half way through a complete renovation..... it might come to that though!

You can apply for schools outwith walking distance but you'd be responsible for travel costs. Otherwise there isn't a lot you can do.

We're going to think about putting them on the waiting list, and see what happens. Apparently the decision is made by the council, not the school. So we'll see. Thanks for your help, starting to feel like we're a going a bit mad!

Put them on the list, never going to get in otherwise. The decision is made by the council but they have criteria to stick to. There will be a list of priorities available somewhere.

As above-make sure you are on the list. your local council should have a list of order of priorities on their website, or you can call them and ask them to send you a list.
is there any other school in the area that doesnt have a long waiting list that you would be prepared to send your children too?
from what i can make out from my own councils website, you can apply to almost any school in the area, but you will be responsible for transport costs if you are outwith catchment. and you can still be on the waiting list of your prefered school too.

Good Luck!

How long has the school been bad? I only bring it up because schools can reach a point where they turn around as happened to my cousin. Unfortuantely she went through masses of time getting her dd into a "better school" only to wish she hadn't because about 6 months later the school in her area was on the up and is now so much better than the one her dd goes to. You never know.

Could you become a governor? It sounds like the school needs some guidance from parent governors.

Schools up here don't have governors.

I was a governor at the kids old school in England, and that is possibly part of the problem. I was very involved, knew exactly what the schools priorities were, and knew that they had the best interests of the children at heart at all times, treating each child with respect, and as an individual. The new school sees the children as what gets in the way of a good job. The staff is more or less static, apart from the odd maternity cover, and they never, but never change year group - so they've been using the same lesson plans forever, and think the new CfE is just a plot to make their lives difficult. Schools are not inspected here as often as in England, and they don't seem to be as thorough. We had doubts at the start, but a newish head had started and seemed like a decent bloke. He just doesn't seem strong enough to stand up to the old guard though. Locally, it is thought of as a very very good school, but I realise now that that is because it has the "easiest" catchment area. I think we'll give him the opportunity to show that things are going to change, and at the same time put their names down, and cross our fingers.
Thanks again,

If this new school is as if you describe it, how come it is not in special measures.

Does Scotland have a different system?