Need urgent advice - 2 DC without a school

[Matilda031]

I have two DC in years 8 & 10 and due to the MoD cut backs their boarding school allowance is being withdrawn and they have to leave their State BS at the end of this term. We are based in Westminster and after enquiries I've discovered the following :

I have to use the LEA to apply for In Year places, the LEA have informed me all schools within and surrounding our borough are full, the only schools who 'possibly' have places are under performing schools (some are schools in special measures) and all schools are miles away - some even on the edge of London.

It's looking highly possible that my DS who has started his GCSE's may not even be offered a place.

I have 5 weeks to find them both schools. If I appeal in order to get them a place at a local school (still would still be below national average) I am worried I don't have strong enough grounds (my grounds will be their current above average ability, their emotional state due to being forced to leave school, they are not use to travelling by themselves in London and will very scared if they have to commute long distances, both are doing well at sport : My DD is at County level for Athletics and my DD is doing triple science and is playing rugby at a high level (rugby is his world) and the schools on the available places list don't even offer triple science or Rugby on their curriculum.

1. Do I have any grounds for an appeal?
   
2. How long do appeals take?
   
3. If an appeal fails should I keep the kids at the home on a waiting list for a school in our borough or at least near our borough or give up and send them to a special measures school miles away?
   

This is making me ill - I constantly cry, I'm so upset and full of guilt as we are letting our children down, we have not told the children yet as we wanted to limit their upset & worry.

[ruddynorah]

You need to sort the money for your eldest to stay on. You need to plead with the mod and your mp for this. What happened with the remortgage application? Can your parents stump up the money? Your dc in yr 8 will go to a local school, there's time for him.

[annh]

I think the OP means £24k per year for the two of them, i.e. £12k per child?

[ilovemykitchenaid]

The MOD are still paying BSA for families. Can you explain what has changed in your circumstances to have yours withdrawn

[FrumpyintheFrost]

What are the schools like in your home town in Wales?

Would you be able to consider moving back, you and the children, for the sake of their education?

[goinggetstough]

Hope you get this sorted. CEA (continuity of education allowance) is usually continued once a DC has entered an exam period. As a previous poster enquired why have they decided to withdraw it in your case? If you are accompanying your husband on his current posting they surely you are entitled to claim it. Good luck!

[Boardingschoolmum]

Hi I am a mum of 2 dc in BS with the assistance of CEA.

We are watching closely the developments with the cutbacks and your case has really shocked me. We have also recently been sent that ridiculous survey to complete which shoots all CEA claimants in the foot.

Is there a reason other than the cut backs as to why your CEA has been stopped so abruptly? Are you in breach of any of the CEA rules?

I think we came close last year to being under investigation because our last posting lasted 4 years. We were only ever meant to be there 6 months and then spent the following 31/2 years being told by the MOD - you are deffo being posted again soon. Said posting took 4 years.

This is a fairly new ruling that if you spend more than 4 years in a posting then they question the need for CEA - which is fairly logical I suppose. I was annoyed by our situation because had I known it was going to be a 4 year posting I would have held onto my youngest DC at home for a while longer.

Either way, the way they are ordering you to remove your DC in the way they are seems to not add up with the guidelines re CEA - esp in the case of your eldest DC in yr 10.

If they were in an independent BS you would be expected to give a full terms notice of withdrawal - or forfeit a full terms fees. So for us - with our DC in an independent BS we would have to give a full terms notice at the start of the summer term, so we would still need to pay next terms fees. This is standard practice in all independent schools boarding or day. I know you are in the state sector but expecting your DC to leave at the end of this term is quite shocking.

Its the lack of notice that would upset me more than the moving schools. I do personally find that my kids lead a little bit too much a "shelterd" life at BS and cannot wait for the day we are settled enough to have them in a local day school. However, that said, to move them like they are expecting you to do is horrid and I full understand your stress.

Have you tried contacting the AFF - there is a whole section on their website atm about CEA. Look at that today and then get on the phone to them 1st thing tomorrow.

I am really disgusted at how you are being treated because unless there is some other reason they have withdrawn your CEA, this is appalling and unfair treatment for your DC. Throws into question the Goverments commitment to the covenant imo.

I think I would be inclined to get the year 10 child sorted to stay where he is by any means possible but look for the next best place for your younger child.
Is DORYMS not free to MOD kids? Have you ever served in Scotland? If so have a look at the Dunblane Military school. I have no idea if these have fees or not or their full entry requirements.

Christs Hospital is another to consider.

If CEA is withdrawn you could do unaccompanied and move back to Wales where you may find a better choice of schools.

[belledechocchipcookie]

It may be worth your while to look for private schools in London which offer bursaries or discounts to service personel. Christs, as someone else has said, work on a needs blind basis so they will reduce fees in par with income.

I know a few journalists if you want to go down a different route, it's barbaric to disrupt a child's education like this.

[Boardingschoolmum]

No idea how the funding works at these schools

www.qvs.org.uk/

www.qvs.org.uk/

www.christs-hospital.org.uk/

You probably already know this site - but are there any cheaper options www.sbsa.org.uk/

[Boardingschoolmum]

Sorry try this one too

www.doyrms.com/

[Boardingschoolmum]

Just spoken to my DH and he says as far as he is aware the CEA is currently under review and no actual "Cut Backs" have yet been made. There will inevitably be cut backs, but none yet in place. So why have you been told this?

The only cut back inplace atm is certain travel claims to and from school - which only apply depending how far you are posted away from the school.

[3littlebadgers]

No advice to give sorry but I am wishing you and your children all the best keep us posted we will be thinking of you x

[Longtalljosie]

Have you approached your school for a bursery? When my Dad left the navy my school offered one to my sister (but she was at end of 5th form and wanted to leave anyway)

If that's not an option - MP, and then call the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail. They'll bit your arm off.

[Longtalljosie]

bite, not bit!

[Matilda031]

Boarding school mum - your DH is not correctly informed I'm afraid as the cut backs/changes are happening now. I have written notification to prove it. Our Headmaster has two other families in the same school who are in same situation.

To others in a similar position. My DH is based in London and has always faced the possibility of having to move and over the years we have. In London we face being moved within a 25 mile radius so previously we were entitled to claim. As part of the cuts they are now widening the relocation range so if you have to relocate within 50 miles you are no longer entitled to claim or if you are on a posting which will last longer than 3 years (previously 4 years) then you cannot claim.

So we are now expected to move every two years within 25 miles between two different bases and change our childrens school every two year because the MoD will no longer pay for our childs consistant education.

This is just the start of the cut backs to the education allowance (the first phase). They will be making even more changes to the criteria in the future. Basically they will be making it impossible for anyone to claim.

Re the questionnaires we have been asked to fill in - this is reactionary to all the people complaining about the changes they have brought in NOW and the bad press received. They may on the back of the bad press change their minds but that is not going to help my children right now.

Re continuing to support children who have already started their GCSE exams. As part of the cut backs this no longer is a given and you have to submit an appeal and justify your childs place so fingers crossed for our son.

[Matilda031]

I'm in contact with AFF and CEAS but there is nothing they can do about the changes to the MoD rules on boarding school allowance. The best they can offer is to read through my appeal forms before I send them to a Westminster School and attend an appeal hearing with me.

Their offer to help at appeal stage is gratefully received but I'm annoyed as hell that I have to a. take them out of their current school and b. be at the bottom of list for getting a state school within our borough.

I can see them both sitting at home without any school and my son is in the middle of his GCSE's

I'm livid!

[bigTillyMint]

Have you looked at Pimlico?

Looking at further out, you could try Kingsdale - West Dulwich or Charter - North Dulwich. Both are very popular with the chattering classes and if they have spaces, would probably be great for your DS's

[Matilda031]

bigTillyMint

All the schools you have mentioned are full and over subscribed. It seems in Westminster they have over 100 children without school places waiting on lists. We have been offered a possible school on the edge of the M25 and only just classed as London - which is miles away and the school is so poor the results read like a horror story. I'm not sending my 12 year old daughter, who has led a very sheltered life, off to school on tubes and buses by herself.

To anyone in the MoD system - the changes became official in December. We found out in January because we had to renew our certificate and it was turned down.

I understand cuts have to be made, but at least let the kids already in the system finish off and complete their education until at least 16.

What's also shocking is the lack of any responsbility the MoD/government are taking to ensure my children are not left with impossible choices as they have now been left with the worst pickings out of all the under performing schools.

As I've previously mentioned - we could have sold our house in Wales to release some equity, we could have been on waiting lists for school places, my husband could have resigned from the army and we could have moved. All choices we could have made as a family if we had been given more notice.

We have not even told the kids yet as our Headmaster recommended the ideal time was around 3 weeks before this happens. At the moment we can't even tell them where they will go to school as we don't even know if we can get them a suitable place. We are willing to accept an under performing school in our own borough but even they are all full.

All round from the way the MoD have behaved to the poor options and lack of interest/support from our local education authority is just wrong!

[Happymummy2011]

Any journos reading, please pick up this story!! The OP has valid reasons for not wanting her children in the press but this situation is just WRONG

[bigTillyMint]

Really? I am quite surprised that they are all full for that age-group.

Have you spoken to the schools directly? I know that Kingsdale would most likely respond well to a request for help from someone in your position - ask to speak directly with someone from the Senior Leadership Team. It's worth a try.

So sorry for your and any other children in this position, through no fault of their own.

[Dozer]

Do you work? If not, it should be poss to get a job and make 12k for yr son's Y11?

[Matilda031]

Yes I work - full time. Both my DH and my salary are needed to pay for living expenses, a mortgage and the cost of two sets of utility bills, council tax, etc on both our army married accommodation and our mortgage home in Wales. There simply isn't any spare money - as I previously mentioned we had to give up the car as we needed to cost cut just to find the extra cash to supplement the MoD boarding school allowance each term and its been 3 years since we have been able to afford a holiday.

I know - perhaps we should both give up work, let the house get repossessed, make ourselves homeless and then maybe my DC's will be put at the top of the list at some of the best schools in the borough or even be given a school place because there will be seen as more deserving or in more need of a good education than they currently are.

Sorry......... I'm letting off steam as I'm so annoyed. I really appreciate all of your very helpful comments and suggestions. Its just you do everything right, play by the rules, be a good tax payer for 25 years, husband defends our country and then this - all doors closed to our a children!

[CarGirl]

In addition to state boarding schools look at Christs Hospital in Horsham and ask if they have any spaces for both years. They consider social need for prioritising allocation of spaces.

You need to make clear that you would need a means tested assited place not a full fee paying one.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I don't think their ability and sporting prowess would be grounds for appeal to an oversubscribed state school TBH.

Can you rent out your Welsh house?

[FrumpyintheFrost]

Or live in your Welsh house and put the DCs in a local school in Wales?

[goinggetstough]

Hope you don't mind me asking but do you all live in London at the moment or do you live in your house in Wales. I ask this ruling could affect us in the future. Obviously previously you could claim CEA and live in your own house without moving if the military partner was posted to London. This has now changed. Does this rule affect you?