Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

In year transfer

15 replies

ChameleonCircuit · 27/02/2015 18:17

Daughter goes to the school we had as second choice on our application form - didn't get into first choice. The school she got into is in special measures and is going through lots of problems. She has been subject to lots of minor bullying, and doesn't really seem to be progressing or thriving. We'd like to try and get her transferred to what was our first choice school. Is there a technique to completing in year transfer forms? Do they have to let you move if there is a space?

TIA

OP posts:
ChablisTyrant · 27/02/2015 18:24

Contact the local authority admissions team and ask whether there is a place. If there isn't then ask for the form to fill in to get a place on the waiting list.

Sparklingbrook · 27/02/2015 18:30

I went directly to the new school. Had a chat with the Head and took a copy of DS's report. They told me then there was a space.

Original poster
ChameleonCircuit · 27/02/2015 20:57

Thank you. Any more opinions/advice on in year transfers would be welcomed. No-one sent me the manual for this secondary parenting lark! Confused

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 27/02/2015 21:11

There is no special technique involved. If the school has a place available and there is no waiting list they must offer it to you.

Sparklingbrook · 27/02/2015 21:16

Is that only if it's catchment prh?

We did this 3 years ago now Chameleon, DS went from catchment school to one in the same County but a lot further away.

prh47bridge · 28/02/2015 00:19

Is that only if it's catchment

No. Catchment is irrelevant. You can apply to a school 50 miles away and if they have a place they must offer it to you.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2015 08:12

I am not sure about that, but will take your word for it prh.

prh47bridge · 28/02/2015 08:23

Admissions Code paragraph 2.8 - With the exception of designated grammar schools, all maintained schools, including faith schools, that have enough places available must offer a place to every child who has applied for one, without condition or the use of any oversubscription criteria.

In other words, unless we are dealing with a grammar school, if the school has a place available it must be offered to anyone who applies. No exceptions. Of course, you will only have a few weeks to start attending or you will lose the place so applying to a school 200 miles away isn't generally very sensible. But if the place is there it must be offered.

Original poster
ChameleonCircuit · 01/03/2015 22:18

Sparkling - can I ask why you moved your DS? Do you regret it? I'm so scared it'll be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire, even though the school we want has a good rating.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 01/03/2015 22:40

Much the same as you CC. Low level constant bullying plus it seemed he just didn't suit the school, nothing anyone could do or say made things any better.Children he thought were friends turned out not to be. He started to get depressed and not wanting to go. Academically he was doing fine though, it was the local school and he went up from Primary with everyone else.

Three years later I don't regret it at all, he is thriving and about to do GCSEs with a good friendship group. He had a taster day prior to the move and straight away said he wanted to go there.

MillyMollyMama · 02/03/2015 11:33

I actually think it is the children in the particular year group than can make all the difference and not the school itself quite so much. My DD2 was in a year group where she struggled to make good friends because they were spoilt, difficult and fickle. She was also poor at sussing out who was better friendship material! This can be a problem at any school because there is no guarantee of a good year group. However, it is worth a try and I bitterly regret not moving my DD sooner. We waited until she had done her GCSEs but she should have gone after year 8, when several of her very decent friends moved. Their parents were right and we were wrong to stay.

Sparklingbrook · 02/03/2015 11:37

I would agree with that Milly the mix of children and personalities makes such a difference.

In Ds1's case also he found it hard to differentiate between 'banter' (hate that word) and really being got at IYKWIM, and gave up trying to work it out.

Original poster
ChameleonCircuit · 02/03/2015 14:02

Your DS and my DD seem quite similar, Sparkling.

I rang the school we want today. There are no spaces, so we have to contact them in writing and send an in year transfer form to the LA admissions team. Meanwhile we are going to formally document every incidence of her being "got at", however minor, to try and show a pattern.

Thanks for all the replies.

OP posts:
mummytime · 02/03/2015 14:26

My DC have all been advised by the police to keep a diary of events. (The school is very hot on bullying and has an anti-bullying week for all year 7s each year which involves a talk from a local policeman.)

You may need to appeal to move her if there are not places, but if you win the appeal the new school will have to make a space for her.

Sparklingbrook · 02/03/2015 17:25

Good luck Chameleon. I remember it as such a horrible time, and feeling very helpless, just wanted everything sorted and for DS to be happy.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page