mid year admission (changing school)

[Lonnie]

I wrote a post yesterday here about my dd2 not settling at all in year 7 and some bullying that is occuring. One of the suggestions I had was to contact another school her best friend from primary is at.

I did this and had a conversation with the PA to the head today. She was lovely and polite but the fact of it is the following

as we are not COE we would not be likely to be considered (dh is agnostic raised a baptist I am a lutherean protestant - the children are christened in this faith)
As we are not regular church goers we are unlikely to be considered

She then went on to say that whilst they were full in the current year 7 at times the governers did surprise her so I was welcome to send in an application and explain the reason why we wanted their school (the pastoral care there is amazing and I think dd2 needs this her confidence is in minus) and to mention that my local church was far away so regular church attendence was complex for us as a family. (now this is the truth it is 1 1/2 hours drive away but I am not convinced had we lived closer if we would go more regular.. - i dont know they do a great lunch after and I used to go when I lived in London about once a month but this was before kids)

She however stressed again it was unlikely. I am left with a question mark Is there any point? or is she simply trying to weed out any who are just trying it on? How large a chance do we have of her gaining a place in a school mid year where we are not of the faith and not practicing the faith? the primary that she went to (COE) is willing to back us up with a letter/conversation saying they believe the school will be ideal for dd2 plus will also provide us with the paper trail needed to show we have attempted to resolve the bullying isues at current school (Senco phoned them for me and has this conversation down in her diary so a fairly easy one even though the current school is paper free)

I havent mentioned this to dd2 at all as I darrent get her hopes up one little bit. other local schools Ive tried all says full the only one I know she may have a chance for is bad for bullying so I am reluctant to even attempt to contact them.

I watch my little girl in tears every day over school and it is so hard to know what to do for the right for her. I would love to have the smily happy girl back I used to see regularly.

How awful for both of you
I would definitely put an application in, with the back up of her Primary school and everything else the PA suggested it sounds like a positive move. You will need to keep calling to make sure it is treated with urgency.
Is there anywhere else she could go - another area, private, HE?

The PA to the head doesn't know what she is talking about. The idea that anyone who is not CofE or a regular church attender would not be considered is wrong. The school is required by law to consider everyone who applies. The PA should not be saying or implying otherwise.

If you apply and there is a space they have to offer it to you. Your faith, church attendance and so on are irrelevant.

As Y7 is full up your lack of church attendance will affect your place on the waiting list if there is one. However, if you are refused entry you can appeal. If you can make a good enough case for the reason your daughter needs to go to this school the appeal panel can admit her despite your lack of church attendance.

You should definitely apply. Given that Y7 is full your application will probably be rejected but you should then appeal. As you have a paper trail as evidence that your daughter is being bullied and the school hasn't resolved it I would say you have a reasonable chance of winning an appeal, but it is by no means guaranteed.

I agree with PRH, apply for a place at this CoE school if you believe that it is the right place for your daughter and then go to appeal if it is full.
I think it would be wise in the circumstances to not tell your daughter as firstly it will take a while to go through any appeal process and there is no guarantee of success. Knowing that you have been rejected at appeal will actually be worse for your daughter than staying at the same school.

I havent mentioned it to her nor do I intend to as it is a long shot in a way. A lottery win would be very welcome right now

thank you very much I will likely be back for more advice at a later time.

I would definitely appeal. The more proof you have of the bullying the better your case for appeal (a diary, and a letter from the doctor about resultant stress as a start).
I know several children who have got into over subscribed Catholic schools near us, despite not being Catholics. I also know the Heads PA was unhelpful and misleading when I asked to go on their waiting list a few years ago.