School capacity issues East Dunbartonshire

[pinguini78]

Hi there, I just posted the message below on the education board, but didn't realise this board was here and might be better! thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi there, new member here, hoping for some advice....

We have just relocated from England to Scotland due to DH's job. We have 2 children aged 11 and 13 - so they are in P7 and S2. We knew about this move for most of last year and decided to move to the East Dunbartonshire area due to 1) location for both of our jobs and 2) we knew that there was an excellent schools music service/bands/orchestras and our kids are both mainly into music (in non-Covid times obvs).

We weren't tied to a particular area within EDC and wanted to consider all towns/all school areas. Since Sept last year, I tried to find out what the capacity was like in secondary schools as I know many of them are oversubscribed; however, I was repeatedly told by the council and schools that they couldn't discuss school places and capacity with me at all until we were resident and had an address.

We ended up buying a house in Bishopbriggs as we found a nice one in our price range. Moved in early January. DS who is 11 has got a place in P7 at the catchment school. However, we have been told there is no space in the catchment secondary (Bishopbriggs Academy) for DD. There is likely (but not guaranteed) to be a place in S3 due to the timetable changes. The options we have been given are: redirection to Turnbull High (Catholic, we have said no to this as we don't want a faith school); redirection to Lenzie Academy; or homeschool (not a brilliant option as we both work and I'm frontline NHS so not able to WFH).

In addition, DD has some issues with anxiety and had to have some intervention from the GP due to eating issues when she transitioned from primary school to secondary school in England (and this was a very well managed transition with her cohort of friends). It was nipped in the bud but she's already showing signs of mental health issues again now and I think multiple school moves will not help.

The worst bit is that the Bishopbriggs have indicated they could probably manage to have her in the school now until S3 when she should officially get a place. They could do this with a bit of staff jiggling, and of course it's all online just now anyway. However EDC saying no to this.

I don't want to move her twice (e.g. Lenzie now and then Bishopbriggs for S3) as I think this will tip her over the edge. I don't really want her going to Lenzie as her friends won't be local and it's going to involve a lot more travelling. DD doesn't want this option either. I'm so cross because if we'd known that Lenzie had capacity and BA didn't then we would have just bought a house in Lenzie!

Contacting the GP today to discuss support for her mental health (not easy as it's a new GP of course and we don't know them) and have also been reading GIRFEC guidance to see if there's an argument for the council to do more to support her wellbeing. I do feel like we've been let down by the council a lot and that they should be doing more to support DD (they have already apologised that we weren't given info on capacity in schools earlier and that we should have been told this).

Sorry for rambling post but any advice on what to do next would be appreciated. Just don't want to make a poor decision that will adversely affect DD's mental health - I feel like she's already at breaking point :-(

God, what a nightmare. I am also in East Dunbartonshire (Bearsden) and we have the same problem rapidly developing here. We have lived here for about 12 years, when we moved first Bearsden Academy and Douglas in Milngavie were packed with kids from all over the place - West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Stirlingshire... Not any more. They demolished all the big, old schools and replaced them with much more modern, smaller ones.

Fine if you live in catchment, but it means you'll be exceptionally lucky to get a place at senior school if you are not in catchment in East Dunbartonshire, if you live outside the council area you have no chance. I know the situation is even more acute in Bishopbriggs and this has developed very quickly over the last couple of years - two schools merged in the 2000s, new campus opened about 2010, massive building since then all over East Dunbartonshire (bloody Cala).

You have a few options. Lenzie Academy is a great school but I understand why you want her making friends more locally. Agree that input from your GP might help make a difference. You say your S2 child is 13 - when is her birthday? If she's only very recently turned 13, would deferral into S1 be an option? Might take the "learning" pressure off if she's going over new stuff, better chance to find her feet. I wouldn't rule out Turnbull High, the faith aspect would bother me too but from what I've seen the religion is a lot less full-on than at primary school.

Get stroppy. Get your local MSP involved, the local councillor, anyone who will listen. Get involved in all the local campaigns to stop them building any more bloody houses.

You have my every sympathy, it's a shit situation and you won't be alone.

I would email the council asking for confirmation of their appeal process as you will appeal, also ask for details of the next stage if the appeal is unsuccessful (Sheriff court), you need to be clear that you will follow this route as it is in the best interest of your DD. Also highlight that the school itself have stated that they can fit your dd in without the need to employ additional staff, or additional significant expenditure. The main issue is that the council could easily drag this out for sometime. Good luck.

Going from bishy to lenzie used to be fairly commonplace but I can understand if you don’t want that.

Especially since Bishopbriggs has come up the rankings, why have the hassle of going to Lenzie.

Also, they don’t enforce uniform standards anymore in Lenzie, I swear If the skirts got shorter they’d be tops!

I agree with @RaspberryCoulis, the squeaky wheel gets oil. Kick up a fuss.

Bishopbriggs is massively over subscribed, last year they didn’t accept any placing requests, so if they can offer your dd a s3 place best to take it.

That is unfortunate. Can I ask why you chose to settle in Bishopbriggs? Lenzie is a much nicer area with better schools.

Thanks so much for the helpful replies. I had been minded to push it further to try and get the best outcome for DD, so this has given me confidence! @RaspberryCoulis I had wondered if deferral into S1 would be an option. She just turned 13 in December, so possible. I'll call the school today and ask what the capacity is like in S1. I have no issue with Lenzie as a school, I know it's good and I'm sure she'd be happy there, it's just not the local one!

@celtiethree and @Isawthathaggis also helpful advice, thanks. DH thinks that EDC have scrapped their appeals process for school placements as too many people appeal (!!!) but will double check. Had considered local councillors, will investigate further and maybe MSP too.

@DreamyDreamer333 I think the Briggs and Lenzie are both nice neighbourhoods from what I've seen so far. We looked at houses in both, but the housing market was very competitive in the autumn and the house we ended up offering successfully on was in Bishopbriggs. We like it so far although I'm sure Lenzie is lovely too!

I don’t think they can just cancel appeals, my understanding is that you have a statutory right to an appeal, there are temporary rules in place re extension of timelines and remote appeals. I found this that may (or may not!) help, I know it’s not a placing request but is still a school place appeal:

www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-school-placing-requests-and-appeal-hearings/

@DreamyDreamer333

That is unfortunate. Can I ask why you chose to settle in Bishopbriggs? Lenzie is a much nicer area with better schools.

Actually Bishopbriggs Academy is much better than Lenzie Academy now.

It's interesting to hear that Bishopbriggs is considered a better school because when I was a teenager, Lenzie was far better. I agree fully with the pp who commented on the uniform standards. I'm really shocked by what I've seen when I'm back home visiting.
Op several pupils from my year at Lenzie commuted from Bishopbriggs. It's a quick jump on the train. They didn't seem to suffer socially at all. I'd accept the place at Lenzie.

[quote celtiethree]I don’t think they can just cancel appeals, my understanding is that you have a statutory right to an appeal, there are temporary rules in place re extension of timelines and remote appeals. I found this that may (or may not!) help, I know it’s not a placing request but is still a school place appeal:

www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-school-placing-requests-and-appeal-hearings/[/quote]
Thanks, but I just checked and unfortunately they have no appeal process:

"The Council appreciates that parents may be very disappointed that their child
cannot go to the school they desire because the year stage at the school is full.
The Council will then apply the criteria contained in the relevant admissions
policy to allocate places. There is no appeal though the Council will apply the
applications criteria consistently to ensure fairness in all cases."

I think the appeals process applies to placing requests, not situations where it's your catchment school.

However, I've called the school this afternoon and they are looking into whether S1 enrolment might be possible. Fingers crossed as I think that would be our best option just now....

@MissEliza

It's interesting to hear that Bishopbriggs is considered a better school because when I was a teenager, Lenzie was far better. I agree fully with the pp who commented on the uniform standards. I'm really shocked by what I've seen when I'm back home visiting. Op several pupils from my year at Lenzie commuted from Bishopbriggs. It's a quick jump on the train. They didn't seem to suffer socially at all. I'd accept the place at Lenzie.

Thanks. I agree that if we can't get a place at BA then it's probably our best option. But DD is super distressed about it and I really don't want our kids at different schools, so just trying to exhaust all other options before we take that one!

Not that it helps but I think it’s disgraceful that there is no appeal there should always be a right. Why can you appeal a placement request but not catchment - failure to be allocated catchment is far worse IMO.

Just heard back from Bishopbriggs Academy. They can accommodate her in S1, which is the best option we have had! Thanks again for all the advice and ideas :)

@StarryEyeSurprise
What are you basing that on?
They’re pretty much of a muchness on league tables.
I assume Bishopbriggs has a uniform policy which, as I’ve said, Lenzie has abandoned in favour of letting their children look like hookers.
But ‘much better’?

That’s great that you have got a place and I’m shocked that EDC have stopped the appeal process. I know our primary is full but I think that some managed to squeeze in as they had a sibling in.

East Dunbartonshire is quickly becoming like East Ren for schools.

@pinguini78

Just heard back from Bishopbriggs Academy. They can accommodate her in S1, which is the best option we have had! Thanks again for all the advice and ideas :)

Awesome. That's brilliant, there will be lots of kids turning 13 in Jan/Feb so if she's the oldest it will just be by a couple of weeks. My DS is currently in S1 and a boy in his class was 13 between Christmas and New Year.

I think it's a great option - pressure off academically, coast with the work for a year and concentrate on getting used to the Scottish system, settling in and making friends.

@Isawthathaggis it's really disappointing. Kids grow up too fast these days and I'm glad my dc's schools have held the line regarding uniform. Lenzie has a really smart uniform and I was proud to wear it. Has the behaviour gone downhill as well?

If your DCs are very musical they could audition for the specialist music school within Douglas Academy (Milngavie) Applications will still be open. When my DC were there the council provided free transport to it for pupils who live more than 3 miles away.

She wants them attending a local school though, Rogue. Good as Douglas is, it's not local to Bishy.