Failed kent /gramar school appeal - no school for sept 2012 !!

[swimmer1971]

hi am desperately searching for any other parents in kent(or elsewhere) who's child has not been allocated one of their 4 preferred schools ?? My situation is that all of our 4 nearest schoold are heavily oversubscribed. We were allocated a dire school almost 6 miles away (which we had no alternative but to decline). My son sufferes from sever travel sickness so is unable to travel any great distance. My son sat the 11+ and fell short by 7 points in his maths. Listed grammars as they are our nearest local schools and my eldest son attends one of them, also the shortfall in maths was not indicitive of his normal standard, has just sat his L6 sats in maths ! Have been through the whole appeals process and FAILED , now taking it to local government ombudsman. Anybody out there with similar experience ? Please help ........

Holidays and day trips, I wouldn't think of as reasonable comparison, as they are almost certainly going to be greater than 6 miles. Does his sickness stop you from travelling that distance with him?

Do you have any medical evidence regarding yourr son's extreme travel sickness? Because without that, I doubt any appeal would succed on the grounds of 6 miles being an unreasonable distance to travel to school - in general terms, the maximum journey time deemed reasonable under the law is 75 minutes. (DSD travels 11 miles to school every day and our nearest secondary school is 5 miles away in any case).

Can I ask, whereabouts are you in Kent? I teach at a school in Kent and I think we still have places.

Why did he not get into th all ability schools? Were they faith schools?
Is there a school he could get to by train?

Really hope you find a school for him that you'll be happy with. Its such a stressful time.

Kez100- yes it means he is unable 2 get 4 buses a day 5 days a week 35 mins there & then back , ,
Tiggtape- have letter from gp saying severity & unable to travel. As a parent i have not been told what is deemed medical enough ?!
Dollydoops - im in dartford
Talkingnonsense - all ability schools do a lottery random selection ! Obviously would have more chance of actually winning the lottery than getting him in 2a local school !

So are the 4 schools you selected all within walking distance of your house?

Ladysucre - yes 4 schools all within walkig distance 2 all abillity 2 grammars ! We did think ahead and considered this when moving to the area 15 years ago !

What will you do if he doesn't get a place in one of the 4? Home ed until one comes up or go back to the school you turned down. Sounds a nightmare, and you must have thought about a back-up plan?

60 million dollar ? .... Defo wont b accepting 1 that was offered ! Only qualifications he wud gain from that place wud b a criminal record b4 the age of 13 ! Havent got a back plan b ....... YET ...... Only 5 weeks left 2 sort this 8 mth long nitemare !!!!!!

Any chance of a private school with/without scholarship?

I didn't know anywhere had selection and lottery. Train any good?

Ladysucre - looked at that already was offered a MATHS scholarship & part bursary but just not in a position 2 pay :-(
Talkingnonsense - yes random selection from various bands ! Any form of transport sets him off so needs 2 b able 2 walk

Ah I misunderstood your OP, swimmer, sorry. I thought you had applied for 4 grammars. 2 grammars and 2 all-ability sounds quite sensible. My apologies.

As it happens I have friends in your area and I think I know the exact schools you are talking about.

No advice though, sorry. A friend of mine's DC went to one of the grammars, they live in Bromley! It does make me spit that people who live really close don't get a look in.

What do your appeals focus on - the grammars or the all-ability schools?

So does he never travel anywhere?

Swimmer,
Thanks for the information on your son's maths capability. If he achieved 5a in the year 5 written assessment test then yes I would agree with you that he would appear to have the general level of ability to take and pass the 11+ test. The problem is that for what ever reason he did not pass during the actual test and the "Powers that be" obviously do not see him as of appropriate ability.
You still chose to put down 2 grammar schools on your application when having not passed the test you could not possibly be given a place at either of the grammar schools. You have been unlucky if you have failed to get into the two all ability schools if you live within walking distance.

Does he ride a bike, out of interest. I am interested as I know children who are travel sick, but not one to the point that they cannot travel a few miles. just wondered if a bike set him off. i.e any motion sickness.

I understand why you put grammars on your list- you can't appeal for a place at a school you haven't applied to. It sounds as if the only thing you did wrong was rejecting the place you were offered. What has the LEA said about finding him a place somewhere?

Balloonslayer - yes very frustrating that people who live miles away get in2 out of borough schools even more so when they have theirownnborough grammars !appeal basis was on accademic results sibling link 4 grammars & distance/ feeder school for all ability
Admisions - is there not a recognised level at which one would recognise a child to be of grammar ability ? If that is the case then it should be avn easy decision to make for "the powers that be" as there would be some sort of guidelines. I ask as u said u have previous experience of appeals panels. Also in order to be able to appeal the grammars had 2 b on preferred schoolslist so maybe the system should b reveiwed so that u choose ur 4 schools and get the option to appeal grammars if the child just fails ?

Ladysucre - yes motion sets the sickness off !can normally last about 15 mins b4 being ill . So bike not an option as wud take him 50 mins 2 cycle also wudnt b a practical solution when we have sum of our mental weather. Sounds like whatever any1 suggests im disregarding it that honestly isnt the case, i really do need a solution . Thanks
Seeker - may seem crazy but the one thing i did right was turning down the offered school - seriously the travel issue aside the school is like a zoo !

If the school 6 miles away was a grammar would you be able to find a way of getting him there?

Could you HE for a couple of years and see if you can get him a place at Cranbrook as a border with 13+ entry?

We are in London, but DS1 was one of 70 children in his year not offered a place at secondary school. We finally got him into Cranbrook after a year of out-of-borough secondary mayhem.

Best thing we ever did for him.