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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Year 7 in year transfer, urgent help and advice needed pls!

74 replies

DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 09:42

Hi Parents,
Hope your little stars are settling in.

Please can you help me, I am knew to mumsnet.

My Son has started school, the school in question was his last choice on eAdmissions, now we originally only selected 3 schools all outstanding by ofsted, I read all the reports for each. My Son was happy with those.

A week or so later I get a reminder from eadmissions saying its a good idea to select more schools in case my son does not get any offers. I felt forced into choosing a school, as we couldnt think of any other, top 5 on my list were all ‘outstanding’, the very last has ‘requires improvement’ 5 years running!

Low and behold my son gets an acceptance email for that last choice and then they advise to accept it as he may not get another offer though we will go on the waiting list for others. Still we have had no calls backs and my son was forced into a school by the council, a school that has seen its highest years of exclusions due to ‘really bad behavior’ (god only knows what these kids did to get kicked out!) there was in class bad behavior where teachers were unable to control them (or couldnt be bothered), and teachers not aligned across classes!

My Son is super bright, for e.g he knows algebra, fractions at GCSE level, upto 35 times tables off by heart, he is very smart however is very soft hearted and fragile.

I saw him come out the school gate, bottle knecked in a tiny gate with older years pushing through, he was so scared my heart sank!

He told me in his first maths class they went over the 12x tables! I was like EXCUSE ME! What the hell is that! Of course my son knew it all but reiterated to me he knew 12x tables back in early primary school! What sort if education is that!

I really am shocked, the council forced my child into a school we did not want, the very last on our list and one with the worst result! Additionally I can sense the hostile enviroment, the school is agressive, there is bullying even though the school states a policy, I can see my sons education going down hill very fast and getting bullied!

I have written a letter of complaint to the council advising all of this, going on to discuss peer pressure to select the given school!

Does anyone know how I can go about in year transfer? how best to approah and attack this appeal? I couldnt sleep a wink last night worried. I know many of you are or may have been in similar positions and may be able to share your success!

I will move homes if I have to, thats how extreme it is, I simply cannot let my childs education go to waste.

Bullying is a life changing experience, ive suffered it myself so I can see the early signs.

Thank you all in advance

J

OP posts:
twoheaped · 07/09/2018 11:27

stella he may wear the bandana for medical reasons, to tell him not to wear it is a bit off.

We had a boy at the school I work at wearing a cap due to chemotherapy. All the other children were warned prior to him coming back that they were not to draw attention to it and to certainly not touch it!!

Dadknows good luck in getting up those waiting lists. I hope your son is okay where he is for the time being and copes with the changes of high school.

Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 11:28

What you are suggesting is for my son to change who he is for the purpose of "fitting in", no thanks!

OP posts:
steppemum · 07/09/2018 11:29

The interesting thing about RI is that it is usually the moment when a loads of money and help are thrown at a school.

It might mean a change of senior leadership team, or new head, or the school is taken over by an academy chain etc.

I do understand your reluctance, and I guess none of us would be happy in these circumstances. But I do also know schools which get an RI and then get turned around. It will take a few years for the results to show the effect of the new measures.

So, it had an RI in May2018, and I am guessing from what you said, this is a repeat inspection, and they had an RI before.
So, the question is, what has now changed? Ofsted will give a school time to change, but the reason for a repeat inspection is that if there is now change they can insist on some (eg change of head)
Did the May 2018 inspection trigger some big changes?

Do give the school a chance. Do find out more about it so you can talk to them informed (eg about maths sets) Do be prepared to work with them, not antagonise them.

And at the same time, do work hard to get him in elsewhere. As someone else said are there any other schools you can apply to that weren't on your original application?

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 07/09/2018 11:30

Oh come on Grin

steppemum · 07/09/2018 11:32

it is unusual for a school in UK not to have a uniform, and in every school I know a bandana would not be part of uniform and would attract comment form kids and staff UNLESS it is for a religious/medical reason, and then I would expect the school to protect the kid and their right to wear it.

So if it is not for religious medical reasons, he should not be wearing it. If it us, then you can have a quiet word with his tutor and say there is a problem, and they should help.

Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 11:34

Thank you very much, very much appreciated.

Actually shocked that a parent would advise another to get their child to fit in to be accepted! goes against every bullying campaign there is!

OP posts:
Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 11:36

it is not a bandanna one would think is associated with given off the wrong message i.e. patterns, colour.

it is a plane black bandana that goes with his black uniform for the purpose of covering his bald patch. teachers didn't even question it.

OP posts:
Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 11:40

The schools currently has an interim head teacher until they find a new one.

I've read their past inspection reports and each one is similar, the schools leadership team is working towards improvements. They can't be if they don't have an head teacher, there is no leadership to start with.

OP posts:
cloudtree · 07/09/2018 11:40

Actually shocked that a parent would advise another to get their child to fit in to be accepted! goes against every bullying campaign there is!

Leaving aside the medical issues, this is actually very sensible advice. If your child does not stand out they are less likely to be a target. The trendy advice about 'don't try to fit it, be yourself, you're not a sheep, you're wonderful and precious and amazing' is all well and good on a very superficial level but not ideal when you're getting picked on because you stand out.

cloudtree · 07/09/2018 11:42

About a boy

Year 7 in year transfer, urgent help and advice needed pls!
Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 11:42

Good question, I spoke to the admission and they did not have the answer and request I write in and await a response that can take up to 14 days.

OP posts:
Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 11:46

I here what you are saying I do, but I still disagree.

If those children have iphones, wear designer clothes and wear latest trainers am I as a parent expected to spend £££s in order for my child to fit in? What are we doing here, they go to school to learn.

I must be missing a trick, let me get onto to carphone warehose and footlocker.

OP posts:
maz99 · 07/09/2018 11:48

I spoke to the admission and they did not have the answer and request I write in and await a response that can take up to 14 days.

What is this in relation to? Is about getting on waiting lists for other schools?

BertrandRussell · 07/09/2018 11:50

What I meant was-sisbyou meet the entry criteria for your preferred schools? Did people icing near you get places last year?

cloudtree · 07/09/2018 11:51

If those children have iphones, wear designer clothes and wear latest trainers am I as a parent expected to spend £££s in order for my child to fit in? What are we doing here, they go to school to learn. I must be missing a trick, let me get onto to carphone warehose and footlocker.

Its a contentious view amongst some I know but quite frankly it has always been the way. You of course don't have to spend a fortune to be the trendiest but at the same time blending in and not being the one who stands out can be helpful if you think your child might be a target.

However clearly in your DS's case there are medical issues and so its different.

Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 11:53

I do understand you though, and get exactly what you mean, I just don't like to give in.

Appreciate it.

OP posts:
RedSkyLastNight · 07/09/2018 11:59

It's not about you "giving in" though OP, it's about making your son feel comfortable at school. No one is saying you have to buy all the latest "stuff" to fit in, but there is a difference between not doing this and deliberately doing something "different" (unless your child is happy with this of course). It doesn't have to be the most expensive stuff either. I offered to buy my daughter a reusable water bottle and she refused saying that everyone just uses the cheap plastic ones (and do reuse them until they fall to bits). Likewise she has a very plain pencil case, rather than, say, one from Smiggle, which would scream "look at me, I'm different".

Of course other children should accept him for who he is, but generally secondary school children haven't quite learnt that life lesson.

(my parents were of your thinking; I had a miserable time at school).

Original poster
DadknowsBest · 07/09/2018 12:03

Thanks for your message, appreciate it.

I wouldn't give in anyway, I don't have the kind of money, just an example.

Appreciate all the responses and I opened this thread to get exactly the response I received from all views.

Thanks

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 07/09/2018 12:04

Yes Red, ds cycled to school today with carrier bags on both arms, one with his packed lunch and the other with his PE kit (despite the fact he has a proper kit bag and lunchbox.

steppemum · 07/09/2018 12:11

hmm, your admissions department isn't very helpful are they?

You can try phoning schools directly and asking if they have any idea what the waiting list for their school is like, a sympathetic secretary may help, but they can only give you an idea

steppemum · 07/09/2018 12:14

Can't see the school changing until they get a good head. Once they get a head, there should be big changes.
But there is a shortage of heads at the moment,

What I would expect is that DofE would ask a local academy chain to step in, and they would bring in a head from another school. Especially as this has gone on for a while. That is what has happened around here.

But in the meantime, there isn't any likelihood of change. Sad

TeenTimesTwo · 07/09/2018 12:17

Regarding the maths.
It might shock you, but my y9 doesn't know her 12x tables. In fact she doesn't actually know her 3x and 4x confidently. (And believe me we have tried extensively). But yet she can factorise quadratics. She isn't bottom set, or even one up from bottom, but just below half way.
The school can't take it as read that even top set children will know all the basics fluently. They need to find out where the class is so they can set the teaching appropriately.
Plus they want to give them a gentle start while they are finding their feet with the bigger school and bigger kids etc.

Bombardier25966 · 07/09/2018 12:49

Did you look at the oversubscription criteria for the outstanding schools you chose? If you did this you would have had a good idea of whether you were likely to gain admission or not. For instance, you could have been behind those with siblings, those in feeder schools, those with a faith connection to the school. If you're right back in the distance category, then even if you're on the doorstep you may not have gained a place.

rainingcatsanddog · 07/09/2018 12:51

Every school year starts "gently" do you need to calm down about the maths. Are they in sets yet? If the class is mixed ability and your son performed well on SATS then maths will be easy for him.

Big kids are massive compared to y7 but it won't be long until your y7 is one of these big kids. My child has just started y8 and his sister and him were talking about how small and innocent y7 are.

Did you research how far away successful applicants for the schools that you wanted live from school? It's unusual to have 5 Outstanding schools to truly choose from. My son had a choice of 2 Outstanding schools (or grammar if he'd taken the test) and I thought that was unusual. He had the choice of 2 because he was at the feeder primary for one school and we live in the priority catchment area for another.

What you should do is check the waiting list positions for the 5 schools and see if there's any other acceptable schools that you want to be on the waiting list for. His brain won't shrivel if he goes to a Good school. Or consider home schooling.

clary · 07/09/2018 14:00

Op with regards to Ofsted, a school cannot have more than two RIs in a row. After that if they are still not "good" they go to special measures which IS when they have money or at least new initiatives chucked at them.

So your son's school can't have had five RI in a row. Also five years between Ofsted is unusually long if RI.

Anyway: you don't say why you didn't get your first preferences. Do you live too far away? Are you on the waiting list of your catchment school? If not, what is it like, would it be better?