Not offered our Secondary school choices -What to do next?

[PositivelyThinking]

Hi,

I'm sure there are other parents out there in a similar situation, so i'm calling upon you guys for advice.

We applied for our selected secondary schools, but wasn't successful with our 'choices'. Unfortunately the appeals wasn't successful either.

My child now has no school to go to as i had refused their choice of school, which was Harris Academy in Peckham.

Other than home tutoring, are there any other schools you can suggest? We live in Dulwich, so nothing too far out but willing to consider if the schools are good.

Many thanks in advance,

Rachael

Presumably you are outside the catchment of The Charter School and weren't lucky in the Kingsdale lottery?

Have you considered Elm Green school? or, depending where you are in Dulwich, Sydenham Girls or Forest Hill Boys?

If you would consider Kingsdale, stay on the waiting list and keep asking. They find lots of last minute places as other children drop out, etc.

Thanks for the replies..

Kingsdale was our first choice, followed by The Charter. We are within the catchment area for The Charter School, however, there are 125 children who live closer and are before my son on the waiting list. We are 100 for Kingsdale :(

I should also mention that we recently moved to the area in September 2013 hence me asking for advice on good schooling around here.

I'm sure like many others, i want to be sure that my son is safe not only in school, but also on his travels - this is something that worries me awfully!

Why did you turn down the Harris academy? It has a good ofsted report.

The first priority is to check again that you are on the waiting list for every school that you would be happy with. I think then you are going to have to compromise if you do not want to home educate and accept a school, which might not be one you would normally have expressed a preference for.
You need to go back to the LA and ask them where there are places available. You have to get son into a school for september or formally tell the LA that you are home tutoring, as you cannot just ignore the situation. The LA have offered you a place which you rejected so they have completed their legal responsibilities, it is your problem now to find appropriate education.

That is a lot ahead of you in the waiting lists.

You can go on the waiting lists for lots of schools now. Are you closer to the Lewisham or Lambeth border of Dulwich? Have you gone on the list for Harris Boys East Dulwich? If you are closer to Lambeth you could try Elmgreen, or even Dunraven if you are in W Dulwich, or Hilly Fields if closer to Lewisham.

Ask Lambeth where they have places, too.

Bacon's College?
Deptford Green?

Bishop Thomas Grant if you are catholic?

These are all schools which get good word of mouth from parents.

Heard not very nice things about kingsdale so maybe lucky escape.... Charter, dunraven are meant to be great. Is Pimlico Academy too far?

What was wrong with the Harris academy? Look at it again (with your DC) and figure out if it is a possibility. Look deeper into the school eg, management, policies, school improvement plans, what the kids are like around the place. If it is the OFSTED that is bothering you then half the time they need ignored anyways. Does your DC have any friends going? If the problem id transport then the council must provide free transport as its the nearest school they could give you. If its not a possibility under any circumstances then so be it, if it is feasible while your on the waiting list for other schools then you should take it.

1. Make sure you are on the waiting lists for all the schools you were rejected from.
2. Try and get on waiting lists of other schools that seem suitable (a long shot but can be worth it).
3. If you can afford it, and your DC agrees, consider state boarding. There are plenty of outstanding state boarding schools that take up until the last minute.
4. Don't make any rash decisions that you or your DC will regret.
5. If you do take a place at another school whilst on waiting lists, please remember that waiting lists usually end at Christmas and you need to ask if you can remain on the list after this.

Remember that the council has a responsibility to educate your child and must do everything in their power to get your DC a school place. Don't worry it can be sorted, even if it means a year in a school you don't particularly want.

Sorry tiggytape, hadn't realised that the school place had been rejected. They should still help though.