Its 2018....countdown to 1st March secondary school allocations!

[Hersetta427]

Well two months down and two to go to 1st March. I have been fairly chilled since applications were submitted however now that 2018 is here it is creeping into my thoughts more frequently.

We are truly lucky to live in a town with very good secondary schools but I know DD would be heartbroken if she didn't get her first choice (a top 10 non selective girls school).

Realistically we should be virtually sure of a place as if we don't qualify on distance within our feeder school group then she should get a sports aptitude place (she score 10 percentage points higher than the required score for the last 3 years). However a part of me is still nervous as I imagine what if all 200 girls taking the aptitude test got amazing scores too. Logically I know this isn't the case as other girls at her school score 20-25 marks lower than DD but there are only 9 places available so the margin of error is small.

Anyone else beginning to get jittery? Please tell me I'm not alone.

Sorry Gemm - by Latymer Grammar (which everyone calls it round here) I obviously mean The Latymer School. But it’s not clear whether you are saying he was put through to the second round or not, & more generally whether you think a mistake was made of some sort which affected the outcome of his application.

Hi he did invited of second round of the test we are also inner area he also got grade 5 Music certificate which is not distinction they haven't invate him for audition is well when I phone school they said his grade 5 pass they just invited who has merit in grade 5

I mentioned upthread that I knew a few people who only put one school on the preference form. Unfortunately one of these people has the message "X was not given a place at X school" when she logs in to view the offer, it doesn't give her a place at any other school. How does she now go about getting a place somewhere?

This time last year I was devastated. Ds1 had been allocated a single sex academy we hadn't even considered let alone put as a preference - we made the error of not putting catchment school down as he had been bullied by one of the children from his primary for years only to find out he wasn't going there. We changed preferences and got nowhere so we appealed for catchment school and somehow managed to convince the appeal panel that he should get a place. When we won the appeal he was 3rd on the waiting list and there is still a waiting list with 43 children on it. There is hope even if it doesn't feel like it right now, just make sure you appeal and make the strongest case you possibly can.

This year, we put the catchment school as number 1 preference for dd2 and she was allocated a place straight away. Massive lesson learned from the previous year and a very happy and relieved family!

Gemm in case it helps you (or helps others to help you), here are The Latymer School’s published admission procedures for 2018 entry.

You will see what it says about the (up to) 20 places available for Inner Area applicants with “exceptional musical talent” at item 4 of the oversubscription criteria on page 2.

Hope that helps somewhat.

tiggy

Could I possibly pm you the school.

I just want a second opinion in how far to go. I have looked through first choice school and there is nothing to appeal for really. Im toying with appealing for a schopl I haven't even seen once I've looked through prospectus properly and seen.if I can.find something but an opinion on an.ofsted woykd be useful if that would be ok? Would give a sense of urgency and whether appeal is worth hassle

Hi again does anyone know if winchmore is good school

We offered place at winchmore also he is in position 122 waiting list on southgate school which is not possible to get in southgate I prefer souhgate

tiggy thank you

I am currently wading through schopl web sites to try and find a way in for appealing that's my plan for the next few days.

I really wanted secind opinion on the school Dd got allocated as I didn't really expect her to get it so only really sought an opinion on the other one which had put my mind at rest a little thanks to the amazing poster who checked it out for me.

So I will pm the allocated school and await your verdict

I just want to be prepared for what to watch out for etc thank you

Can I just drop by to put in a massive shout out to Tiggytape and others on this thread?

Year after year, she (?), Prh47bridge and Admissions give up what must be hours and hours of their own time to calmly and professionally advise countless worried parents about their differing appeals and situations. It must take enormous amounts of time to research and advise on each situation, yet Tiggy et al always answer clearly, honestly and without judgement.

Tiggy - you are a proper MN hero.

Thank you tiggy for your advice I can see you ve got very good knowledge about education I ve got another question it s too late for my son to get in ashmole academy coz I couldn't find 2 bedroom property to rent they all 1 bed or 3 I can't manage to pay 3 bedroom if I rent 1 bed flat and leave there for my daughter to get in ashmole would Addmision ask me how comes you leave with 3 kids in 1 bedroom flat

Gemm1 i dont think admissions will ask you that but you need to ask the school for information as some schools require that u live in the catchment area for a certain amount of time.

Haff Agreed - they are an incredible bunch of posters who have made a real genuine difference to so many people on here.

Thank you dippsydoo22 I know my friend rent it year before the Addmision my daughter is in year 4 now so we have another 2 years

Gemm1 - the important factor are that the address is the child's permanent address at the date of application. So in Oct of her Year 6, you need to have a provable address and it needs to be your permanent residence. So yes you can move now, or sometime in the next year or so, to another home and use that address. The council aren't going to be in least bit interested how you manage 3 kids in a one bed flat - however, given you are going to have to actually live there for some period of time, it may not be the best solution!

I will definetly leave in the address if I can find 2 bed by next couple month I will rent 2 bed thank you so much for all advice is been giving

Hi tiggy

One of my friend has been offered a place in bishops in Enfield and she has another child in year 2 which goes to latymer all saint in Edmonton. There is big a distanc between the two school. She is going to make appeal because there is no way she could take both child on time. And also his bigger child is so upset doesn't want to go bishop. Please can you give me a advice.

Gem. Secondary school children are expected to be able to travel independently so it won't matter so much that your friend has children at schools some distance apart. Was Bishop’s (Bishop stopfords?) on their preference list or were they allocated a school not in their list at all?

Thank you tiggytape for your reply and advise. I have contacted the council and they are working on a place in the borough for DD. Still lots of movement on lists. Smor.

Hi tiggy basically when she telled her son that he has to go school by bus since than he was crying and refusing to go to school and he start wake in up at night and crying if she gets letter from doctor is well would that help with an appeal