No school place AT ALL in my county. I have to apply to neighboring county

[gaba]

We moved into Hertfordshire, and applied to the county council for places for the two DCs, only to be told, nothing is available, please try Essex?

Their last school is over 30 miles away so it isn't an option, but I have four schools within walking distance from my new home. I had no idea things were this bad, I thought I would be given a choice!

I have spent weeks reading through miles of legislation and can find nothing that defines what a reasonable distance should be, or what exact rights to an education there actually are. (It is all very vague, there is little or no detail in the laws on this that I can find).

If anyone has experience with this sort of problem, I would really appreciate any help.

[prh47bridge]

Hockerill is a state school (to be precise, an academy), not a private boarding school. The funding they receive per pupil is broadly the same as other academies in the area in addition to which parents pay a fee for boarding. No rich kids are getting high fees paid by the taxpayer.

[prh47bridge]

I think the OP mistakenly thinks Hockerill is a private boarding school. It isn't.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Sheredes from bishop Strortford is one train which takes approx 15 minutes. It's a 10-15 minute walk to the school from broxbourne station.
Of course there are buses in the morning from the station- how on earth do you think other children get to school?

Where are you getting 7-9 changes of train and bus from?

It would only take 2 hours if you planning to walk there.

My DCs travel from north london to hertfordshire every day for school on the exact train that your DCs would use.
It takes them 14 minutes on the train.

[gaba]

Are you sure it is only 15 minute walk, maybe I was looking at the wrong station, but that doesnt change much it would still be 5 changes.

It would be slightly quicker on the train than car even before, particularly in the morning, but an absolute nightmare, and still too long.

I have a school yards from my house, 3 more in walking distance, and a half dozen more 5 minutes on the bus. They are clearly having a wind up offering this.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

How is it 5 changes? I don't get it.
Train from bishop Strortford to broxbourne
Walk or 310 bus to school, 15 minute walk or short bus ride.

Where are the 5 changes?

[gaba]

prh47bridge There is no mistaking what it is.

The kids in that school have well connected parents, or are genius level to keep up the scores.

It is not a 'private' school where the parents pay a fee, it is a 'exclusive' school where rich kids magically get a top but free education.

[bruffin]

My ds has an after school job at sheredes pool and walks from Broxbourne station do walks it regularly. Why have you 5 changes from Bishop Stortford.

[gaba]

Well tantrums, how do they get to Bishop's Stortford,, grow wings and fly?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

But, gaba there's no spaces at your local school.

And that's because you have just moved into the area.

That's not the councils fault, it's not the schools fault, it's not the children's fault. It just is what it is.

If you make a late application surely you have to accept that, chances are you won't get the school that you want?

[gaba]

Hey tantrums.....

""My DCs travel from north london to hertfordshire every day for school on the exact train that your DCs would use.
It takes them 14 minutes on the train."""

Your kids going to Hockerill or one of the others by any chance?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Did you not say up thread that you were in bishops Stortford?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

No, they go to school in cheshunt.
A state secondary school in cheshunt.

Because my dd was bullied so badly at the school in north london that she attempted suicide. And because the girls that were making her life hell had friends at every other school in our local area. So she needed to get out.

Sorry if that's taking a place away from a local child.

But it's just an ordinary state school in cheshunt so I doubt anyone really gives a toss, do they?

[gaba]

Assuming it is a 15 minute walk, and its not, more like a half hour treck, they would still need to change twice before they even reach BS station.

Each time you wait 10 - 30 minutes for the next bus or train, it can take 2 hours even by public transport. Besides I said 2 hours for driving, hopefully less for public transport but still too far.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

gaba I thought you said up thread that you were in bishops Stortford. Obviously I was mistaken.

But it really is a 15 minute walk. It's my old school. I walked from broxbourne station to school every day.

But, if you aren't actually in bishops Stortford or on a direct train line, it's irrelevant really.

[shushpenfold]

......muses on the fact that the OP has managed to offend both state and independent school parents in one thread......talented lady.

[gaba]

If you make an application that is inconvenient, then I am sure the council will want to retaliate, by being awkward.

However they did not offer a school for 4 months then offered one so far away id need a helicopter. This is the council being belligerent, or just saving money on not educating children.

[gaba]

"muses on the fact that the OP has managed to offend both state and independent school parents in one thread......talented lady."

I try my best.

[shushpenfold]

[gaba]

"Did you not say up thread that you were in bishops Stortford?"

I didn't say at the station.

As for your kids Tantrums I wasn't arguing about the poor children that have to travel for miles every day, I am saying it would be nice if less kids had to.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Or maybe it's the council genuinely not having any school places in the school you want and finding you an alternative.

They aren't doing it to piss you off. They have found a place at the nearest school with 2 places.

Yes. It's too far away. I get that. I also get it isn't the school you want.

But there is nowhere else. They cannot magic 2 school places out of thin air. You aren't the only one in this situation.

You are acting like you think this is a personal slight against you when it is not. It's logistics. A late application or an in year application means the "good" schools are already full.

Surely you must have expected this?

[LIZS]

Agree with tantrums this is not personal or just the council being awkward. Are you insisting on both at same school ? Can understand a year 10 may be hard to place as most would commit to stay for 2 years during GCSE but Year 8 might more likely to get somewhere closer. Could you drive them part of the way so they don't have to change trains/bus ?

[gaba]

Tantrums

"ut there is nowhere else. They cannot magic 2 school places out of thin air. You aren't the only one in this situation.

You are acting like you think this is a personal slight against you when it is not. It's logistics. A late application or an in year application means the "good" schools are already full.

Surely you must have expected this? ""



I am not at all taking this personally, yjats what everyone seems to think, I am more horrified at the thought that I am not the only one in this situation. If it were just the odd one or two occasions that would be acceptable.

I have never said I only want a good school, just not one two dozen miles away, and no I DO NOT think that is too much to ask, and no I certainly didn't expect anything like this.

Just because the timing is not convenient kids get a poor education, thats OK is it?

In my case it means no education at all, just because the timing doesnt suit some of the many staff in the council office responsible for equal opportunities to receive education.

[gaba]

Tiggy tape..... Every council does the same i.e. slots newcomers into whichever school has a space leftover and often finds that this does not tally with any of the schools the new parents actually want. It is just the way it is."""

The school I have been offered is the 27th closest school. I have dozens of schools on my doorstep.

Are you seriously telling me they are not just being bloody minded?

[gaba]

If this genuinely is the closest thing they can offer me, and there really is not anything else they can do to squeeze my kids in somewhere, and I am not the only one in this situation then, I think they should be building a new school here and fast.