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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Secondary school place withdrawn

49 replies

Ang12 · 31/03/2012 16:51

I would really welcome some advice as I do not know what to do next. I have just received a letter from our admissions authority telling me that my son's school place which was offered on 1 March 2012 and accepted on 3 March 2012 (copies of emails kept) has been withdrawn as a result of an error due to him being assessed under the incorrect admissions category for the school. We have done nothing wrong (our forms are correct) and it seems the mistake is the school's or Local Authority. Interestingly whilst everything else to do with admissions has been through email this was sent in the post (no phone call) just in time for the Easter holidays so we cannot contact the school. They have also very kindly told us that his place has been offered to the next child on the waiting list!!

I have a very distraught son, who for a month has thought he was going to this school. Whilst he has been put into the second choice (he seems to have jumped the watiing list for that one!!) I would have asked for him to go on the list for my other choices and I have now lost a month of time on their list.

This is a catholic school which has its own criteria and he is in Category 4.

Help... It would be very grateful if anyone has any advice on how to approach this?

OP posts:

Silverstreet · 01/04/2012 11:10

Ang. I would expect SCC to back down quite quickly. I know of other SCC schools where similar mistakes have been made in recent past and the school has simply offered an extra place as a result, presumably because they couldn't reverse the offer for reasons explained by PRH. Good luck.

prh47bridge · 01/04/2012 12:52

SchoolsNightmare is right. It is irrelevant who made the mistake. Don't let them try to tell you otherwise. Any arguments they want to have about who is responsible are not your problem. And I wouldn't bother reading the LGO case concerned. It is a bit long and confusing.

The basic point is that once an offer has been made in error the admission authority (the school in this case) only has a very limited amount of time to withdraw it. The courts have decided that it is ok to withdraw an offer after one day. The LGO has ruled that three days is too long. In your case they have taken nearly a month which is far too long.

MollieO · 01/04/2012 13:45

Is it worthwhile calling the school tomorrow? Even though it is not term time I would imagine that there would be staff in for part of the holidays. Ds is at private school and the office is open for part of the holidays. I can't believe that state school's office would be closed the entire time.

PestoPenguin · 01/04/2012 19:38

It seems like you've had great advice here from people in the know . Just to add, I'd do everything from now on in writing, not by phone. you need a proper record.

mrswoodentop · 03/04/2012 11:59

Any news OP?I hope you can get this sorted out it sounds lie someone made a big mistake

Original poster

Ang12 · 03/04/2012 18:02

Latest is Appeal has gone into school with lots of questions. Am waiting for a call from school hopefully tomorrow. Will keep informed.

OP posts:

Turniphead1 · 03/04/2012 23:00

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

OddBoots · 05/04/2012 19:39

I've just read this thread, I have they have got back to you with good news by now.

oooggs · 05/04/2012 19:48

Any news op?

Original poster

Ang12 · 06/04/2012 18:20

Nothing yet despite being told by a member of staff (not the office staff) that we would get a call last week. Nothing more we can do now until Tuesday when we will again drive there and try to find someone. We are beginning to wonder what's going on.

OP posts:

PestoPenguin · 06/04/2012 18:27

Did you put it in writing or just phone?

mummytime · 06/04/2012 18:35

Ang12 I wouldn't worry too much it might take some time, but I think they will have to take your child. It is a pretty open and shut case, and there is case law to back it up. It doesn't matter that you child will take them over PAN.

Original poster

Ang12 · 07/04/2012 09:02

Appeal was in writing and we hand delivered it last week which was why we spoke to a member of staff who happened to be there, as the office staff were not there. Office is closed for holidays. We were happy that this person did take the delivery of the letter seriously and did all they could. We plan to take another copy of the letter to the school next week but if no one there, we are going to have to wait until the school is open again.

OP posts:

notactuallyme · 07/04/2012 09:16

Just a quick question - was there an acceptance slip you had to complete and rturn along with the offer? Even by email?

QED · 07/04/2012 09:26

The OP mentions having accepted the place on 3rd March and having kept the email.

notactuallyme · 07/04/2012 09:59

Oh good. Missed that bit.

PestoPenguin · 07/04/2012 14:35

I hope you hear soon. I can't imagine how stressful this is, even if you're confident you're in the right.

Original poster

Ang12 · 07/04/2012 15:20

Thank you everyone for all your words of advice and support, we just have to wait now and its going to feel like a very long wait. On a separate note, I'm new to Mumsnet - what is "OP"? Is it to do with being the person who put the original message on? I'm sure I'm going to be embarrased because its going to be something obvious!!

OP posts:

IShallWearMidnight · 07/04/2012 15:41

OP = Original Poster

Original poster

Ang12 · 07/04/2012 16:07

Ohhh - thank you.

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 07/04/2012 18:35

Although sometimes OP = Original Post, i.e. the first message in the thread. It is usually obvious from the context.

QED · 07/04/2012 19:06

Sorry for confusing with my OP. Think I meant it as original poster although in this case it could have been original post as well. Am hoping that Surrey see sense quickly and you don't have to go to appeal.

Pooka · 18/04/2012 20:00

Any news?

Stroppy40 · 19/04/2012 20:02

Pooka: you must've read my mind as I was about to post the same question!! Ang12 what's the latest?

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