Out of Catchment placements

[TallTreesShortWoman]

Hello, just looking for a little bit solidarity I think - school placements.

We were homeless a few years ago and I then managed to buy a house, just the first one that came along that accepted my offer and I could afford. The house needed structural work i wasnt aware of and too tired to notice before buying, it has truly been the worst years of our lives. It's just my son and daughter and I. This move took us out of Catchment and I have been driving them to their schools since. My son has several diagnoses, including ASD. He has only ever known the HS his sister attends, and that is where his PS feeds. The placement for out of Catchment pupils seems, to me, to be absolutely brutal for all families, but for ASN families is unbearable. My son is becoming unwell, as am I with not knowing. I am trying to mentally get ready to move (with no savings left) because he absolutely cannot attend his current Catchment HS. We have absolutely no ties to it. He has said some scary things to me about it and is becoming more withdrawn. He has had no transition days because they only do these to Catchment. I can't sleep, I feel sick, I'm in a constant state of panic.

I don't know who to talk to that would understand. None of this is his fault and the guilt is a lot. I had an email today to say we won't find out until the end of April, I just feel sick.

It shouldn't be the case. Can you say the school? They should definitely do transition and it may be that they can attend also. Have they definitely said your ds can't? Does his sister not attend the HS then?

Sorry just re read your post l. You should be fine in April, it's not like England.

Here (Edinburgh) if you don’t get in you can appeal the decision and then you can detail your grounds for appeal more thoroughly. Good luck OP.

Hugs - it sounds rough.

I presume you made an out of catchment placing request before the December deadline?

Do you know if the high school is oversubscribed? Or how many out of catchment applications were successful last year? It's difficult waiting, especially when you have a child who doesn't handle uncertainty well

But the fact that you already have a child at the school is helpful, as siblings are given priority in allocating places. Children with exceptional circumstances are given even greater priority, so if the panel find your son in this category you should get a place (assuming there is room)

Yes, I think you have an extremely strong case for an appeal OP.

my child is in P7 and transition days en masse are for catchment only, with the expectation those going elsewhere arrange with their own catchment school

I feel for you and your DS, it must be an anxious time.

But I agree with PP, you’ll have a very strong case (based on sibling and needs) for a place at the HS out of catchment.
Are you in the correct local authority for the school you want? Are you just out of catchment area?

We’re in Glasgow and our experience was that most children in the year group went to their catchment HS, however the couple we knew that appealed did actually get their request granted on appeal. As a result they missed the transition exercises, but soon settled in. (One i knew did have ASD also.)

Don’t be hard on yourself about events leading to this, you found your kids a safe secure home and should be proud of getting through those difficult times.

Thank you everyone who took the time to post, he got in!