Getting LOs into ‘good’ state schools [Glasgow] - how hard is it?

[Bbbfurever]

We have an 15 m old DS and we’d eventually like to move house to get him into a ‘good’ state school. However, we’ve heard that getting into such schools is actually not as straightforward as moving within catchment because these schools have their own criteria such whether DC were born in that address, house number odd vs even etc…

Is this really so? I am suddenly feeling quite anxious about it all but surely good areas (Bearsden, East Ren) would have good school options all round? So if we don’t make it into first choice, then the other schools in the area should be reasonable alternatives surely? Or am I deluded?

TIA!

It depends. The schools are close to max role but it depends on the year group. If it were full, you’d get offered a place at the next closest school and placed on a waiting list until a place is available- this usually takes a few months/end of year. I’m in ED, but I imagine it’s the same in ER.
You can call the school to get information and go for a walk round. You might also be totally fine.
But, jordanhill is absolutely full and impossible to get into but moving to the catchment.

these schools have their own criteria such whether DC were born in that address, house number odd vs even etc

I’ve never ever heard of this. You’re either in catchment or not, esp in GCC. Schools definitely don’t set their own criteria.

FWIW, you cannot rely on placing requests. Everywhere is full.

@Pammela2 thanks for this. What do you mean by ‘max role’? Also, when would we need to apply to avoid waiting lists?

@MeredithOliviaSwift that’s what I had thought but our friends are saying otherwise…

We are in East Dunbartonshire. We have been here 16 years, my kids were pre-school age when we moved and now 2 of the 3 have left school.

When they started, it was dead easy to get a placing request into an East Dunbartonshire school not just from other parts of the county but from Glasgow, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire. It has gradually got more and more difficult because of various factors - lots of new house building being the main one, but also rebuilding of secondary schools at Douglas, Bishopbriggs, Bearsden and Boclair with a lower capacity. Now, if you do not live in catchment you have no chance. There will be admissions criteria stated clearly on every local authority website if you google. The situation is getting so bad that they now have a procedure for deciding who gets a place in the event that not all catchment children can be accommodated - never mind placing requests.

I would say that all schools in this area are pretty good. It really depends where you want to live though, school is a huge factor but not the only factor. One thing which I always caution against and parents still can't get their head around is that a successful placing request for P1 does not mean your child gets a secondary place - you have to then go through placing again. Or if you (as some people have done) move into the catchment for a particular school to get into P1, and then move out at some point, you lose your right to that catchment secondary. Massive gamble.

Agree schools do not set their own admissions criteria - this is done on a local authority level. If your wee one is not due to start for 3 years @Bbbfurever you have time. You apply for school the January before they are due to start in the August. At that point you will need to be moved in, and have a council tax bill for your address.

You can also google to see the details of successful and declined placing requests, have linked to the East Dunbartonshire ones, I'm sure there are similar for other councils. Interesting reading but it's a constantly changing picture and schools that appear "easy" to get into now might not be easy in 3 years time.

https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/residents/schools-early-years-and-learning/school-placing-requests/placing-request-details-202324

Sorry, I meant ‘roll’- basically the capacity for the amount of pupils in the school year group. So usually up to 33 per registration class, but more likely to be 30.

I work in a school where there are some pupils who are on the waiting list having moved into the catchment for another school, but they do end up getting in fine- this is secondary.

Placing requests at primary level aren’t usually successful, but I think if you move to the area with a toddler then you’d be fine.

these schools have their own criteria such whether DC were born in that address, house number odd vs even etc

This only really applies to Jordanhill.

Never heard of place of birth used. If you live in catchment area then you would be granted a place even if they have to make a composite class. I think it’s 25 max in P1 classes. If you are outwith catchment then put 2nd choice as alternative.

Yes, this applies to jordanhill but not the others. They run differently from other state schools in Scotland... need to live in the catchment (but not in the newest homes within the catchment) and if you don't get your kid down in the list soon after they are born it's very unlikely they'll get a place.

Thank you all for your elaborate replies - this has made me less anxious! I really did think catchment is catchment but you hear this and you hear that, you're just left feeling unsure when you're not originally from Scotland. Appreciate your insight!