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Secondary education

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Original poster

Secondary place withdrawn today please help

449 replies

Middleoftheroad · 13/06/2017 15:50

I am still shaking

I have equal ability twins. One got into grammar one did not. We moved closer to be near the grammar and to secure my other twin a place at the local school, which we did at the start of March.

We have been through much heartache as this is a new area and a new school and my boys have been sad. I worked with the LA to secure the place after we moved. because we moved around offers day we were originally offered a failing school in our old LA which we declined once we had the new offer at the local school.

We did also appeal the grammar place for the comp bound twin - we proved his academic ability and the HT (presenting officer) said we gave a very persuasive case, but we were unsuccessful as they never allocate places on appeal. The boys wanted to be together but we were safe in the knowledge that whatever happened we had a comprehensive school place.

The twin who is going to comp has previously been under CAHMs for anxiety. He started to display these signs again so we took him to the doctor and have been working really hard to gee him up.

Tomorrow was meant to be a special transition day at the new school (he watched his twin go off to the grammar one yesterday) and we were looking forward to it.

out of the blue the HT of the comp calls me today to tell me that the LA has made a mistake in allocating its places and have withdrawn the place. The school wanted to let me know before the LA letter arrives so we don't go to the event tomorrow.

I have emailed my contact at the LA (ironically she is in appeals) the last place offered was 1.02 miles we are 1.04. I suspect they are currently allocating appeals places which we have missed the right to appeal. she says she is looking into it but as of right now we have no school place and I have a son on his way home who will be broken if we tell him.

We've had such an ordeal to get here. Aside from being morally bankrupt, is there a legal leg to stand on here? Apparently the LA messed up on quite a few offers made.

I just don't know what to do. I took the call at work and had to leave early. we have bought the uniform and built up to tomorrow. I am in total disbelief and feel sickened that my son is being messed around this way.

I have emailed the school again to ask that they intervene. Please help Tiggytape anybody?

OP posts:
Original poster
Middleoftheroad · 27/06/2017 21:54

Thanks guys. I feel all fuzzy with the support (could be the wine) Definitely MN at its finest 🥂

I have told him they made a mistake with us and the first induction. He is so sweet that he has taken it well.

There are so many good people out there to listen and help and remind you that what has happened isn't right. I hope to be there for others on here who need that support 😆

Thanks again for thinking of me and my boy.

OP posts:
NigelMolesworth · 27/06/2017 22:06

Fantastic news FlowersGin

EllieFredrickson · 27/06/2017 22:29

Been following your thread. Great that your son has got the right result. Good luck for September!

confuugled1 · 27/06/2017 22:37

So glad to hear your ds has got his place Grin that's fantastic news and must be a huge weight lifted from your shoulders.

If your son has his induction day tomorrow and you only just found out about the offer of the place, can I suggest that you make sure that you take a copy of their offer and your acceptance email and letter with you when you drop him off - you don't want him to get there and be told that he shouldn't be there if they haven't updated their system in time... Just in case somebody prepared all the group lists and name badges and whatevers last week - would be horrible to get there and not be included! Fingers crossed this won't happen and they will be on the ball - but given what's happened so far, might be better to armed in advance!

And anyway, if you take it with you, you won't need it - if you don't then you will - as dictated by Sod's Law - so another good reason to take them!

Hope he has a lovely day at induction tomorrow and his brother has a great induction day too!

admission · 27/06/2017 22:52

Glad that it all worked out in the end but as others have said, totally unnecessary if rather than diving in and making a poor decision the admission authority had asked somebody with suitable knowledge what was the best way forward.
MN had about 6 "experts" who all knew the answer but admission authority did not apparently have 1 who knew what they were doing. That is really worrying and begs a question about how many other such travesties of justice are happening.
Time to have a well earned rest and look forward rather than backwards.

wheresmyphone · 27/06/2017 23:14

Yay! Great news!

MaverickSnoopy · 28/06/2017 06:55

Congratulations! I have been following, hoping so much that this would end well for you all.

This is what happens when the powers that be taken on a mother scorned and her sidekick mumsnet.

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/06/2017 06:59

Hope you managed to get some sleep last night. Hope he has a lovely time at the induction:)

smellylittleorange · 28/06/2017 07:27

hope your son enjoys his day ! Flowers for you x

Original poster
Middleoftheroad · 28/06/2017 07:57

Cofugglrd1 - it's his twin's induction today. Thankfully we have another week and I will most definitely be checking that his name is down!

Admissions, once the experts confirmed this really was wrong I knew I wasn't going mad. But yes, it is a worry that others may be going through tge same injustice but without any tools.

I was fuming at the start and did not go quietly. I had a water tight paper trail, took time off work and most of all help and support. But not everybody has that.

Admissions, Prh47bridge, Tiggytape, PanelChair,
Appeal (and others!) this is why we need experts like you!

OP posts:
mateysmum · 28/06/2017 08:08

I have been lurking on this thread from the start and what a roller coaster it has been. I felt outrage on your behalf at first and tried to imagine how you would break this to your son, then fear that the appeal panel would side with "the establishment", admiration at your determination and the utter joy at your triumph!
How any sane person could consider the actions of the school reasonable I do no know, but you are right. You are clearly a capable, intelligent and determined parent who, with the some support, knew how to get the right result. So many other parents wouldn't be capable of this or would just have rolled over and the school would have got away with it, hiding their incompetence behind bureaucracy.
Middle you are my new hero. Your sons are so lucky you are their mum. Be proud of yourself.

idsisatwat · 28/06/2017 08:25

Have been lurking on this thread. Am so happy for you and your DS.

TwoBlueFish · 28/06/2017 08:58

Been lurking on this thread but I'm so happy that you won!

whatwouldkatyactuallydonext · 28/06/2017 09:19

Watched from the start (but with nothing useful to add) and am so very pleased for you - it must have been unbelievably stressful.
You should feel very proud of yourself! Especially as your DS hasn't suspected a thing! StarWineCake

Seeline · 28/06/2017 09:24

So pleased for you and your DS. It should never have got to the stage it did, but well done on your perseverance. At least you can now enjoy the summer and get excited about September.

Original poster
Middleoftheroad · 28/06/2017 10:37

Thanks all! Matesymum - what a lovely post!

Today we have a letter detailing the main induction. He has been allocated a form so it must be official!

I will however drop the school a line. He missed the induction for children like him who do not know anybody at that school. I want to make sure he's not sat on his own in class if everybody else knows everybody. I keep thinking he missed the chance to meet a 'buddy' at that special induction and now others have paired up too Confused

OP posts:
QuackDuckQuack · 28/06/2017 12:25

Congratulations - but also so sorry that they put you through this.

It is a real concern that this happens to others whose parents don't have the means to challenge it. There is (very rightly) a focus in schools on provision for disadvantaged pupils, but no real protections to prevent this sort of thing happening to them.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 28/06/2017 13:51

De-lurking to say how pleased I am for you and your DS! Wine

Floralnomad · 28/06/2017 13:57

Had this thread on my watch list and just wanted to say congratulations . I wouldn't stress too much about him not knowing anyone when he starts , friendships change very quickly when they get to secondary school , even if they go up with a big group and I'm sure he'll be fine .

Mulledwine1 · 28/06/2017 15:06

I've just been lurking too - so pleased and relieved for you.

Original poster
Middleoftheroad · 28/06/2017 16:50

Thanks again - how thoughtful of everybody on this thread to send us congratulations and share our woe over the whole mess.

It's my birthday the weekend so there will be big celebrations with the family Wine🎂

OP posts:
NightCzar · 28/06/2017 20:34

So pleased for you. I wonder what happened to the other families. If their spots were re-allocated too, perhaps their sons will also be looking for buddies!

Original poster
Middleoftheroad · 28/06/2017 21:57

Yes I was hoping that. Fingers crossed they got in too. No child should have a place taken away after 4 months through no fault of their own Shock

OP posts:
TestTubeTeen · 28/06/2017 23:08

Very relieved that this has been sorted out. Well done for persisting, especially after they had so many goes at trying to knock you back.

It is outrageous that such incompetence and ignorance of correct procedure endures in such important matters. Outrageous that they made you wait for slow mail, outrageous that they apologise for 'inconvenience '.

I hope they send themselves for some training before they ever put any other families through this'

EduCated · 29/06/2017 08:21

Just caught up, having seen your thread at the start. I am so glad you won, but so cross and frustrated for you that it even got to the point of you needing to win! As TestTube says, this has been outrageous at every stage.

Agree with others that your son is incredibly lucky to have you fighting his corner, and for MN to be fighting yours.