Anyone else in Preston?

[HerRoyalCarbyLess]

Could you give me any info on corpus Christi

Of course we looked around the schools and researched first, and decided which would be easiest for travel too etc, and based the choices on where DS1 felt comfortable and what not. But.
This was DS1s second choice and the one we've been offered.

He's a bit gutted to be honest, but I'm hoping to cheer him up.

Are there any parents who can give me a proper insight into the school? I would really appreciate it.

Or am I best appealing?

Hi - I'm the other side of Preston so don't have any direct experience of the school I'm afraid. Saying that, I know of a child that goes there and I've never heard anything bad about CC.

I think call LCC school admissions and they'll advise you on what to do. When my friend's DD was not given any of their choices last year (they got Fulwood Academy instead), they were told to accept the place and then they appealed for the three schools they didn't get, plus did a lot of research on all the other schools they hadn't applied for and went onto their waiting lists. They ended up with a place at a school which hadn't been on their original 3 and the DD is really happy now (it's a trek from where we live but they'd say it's def worth it).

If your first choice was AT then I've only heard horrendous things about admissions there for the past few years so I'm not sure an appeal would succeed unless they actually got something wrong :(

Sorry I should've said, but start the appeal process regardless as you can pull out of it even if it gets to panel stage if you get something else come up.

First choice wasn't AT. I'd heard horrendous things about it.
First choice was moor park. My brother went there and still attends the sixth form and he had a brilliant high school experience. DS was desperate to go.

I'm aware CC got inadequate in their last Ofsted, but I don't put much faith in Ofsted reports. I worked in a nursery, so I know it only really shows one day. It doesn't show a true picture of the school, that's why we looked around.
DS was quite happy to have it as a choice, but really got his hopes up for MP.

I think I'll see how he feels about it later, and see if we can go for another look around.
I will start the appeal process though as I gather it can take a while, and I'd rather pull out if DS1 is happy, than have him wait around, miserable, for something else to come up.

No, CC got 'good' at its last Ofsted but MP got Requires Improvement? reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/119780

I know you're right though about Ofsted being a snapshot :/

You can probably have another look round, but if you're really unhappy then start having a think about all the other schools you'd fancy?

Ah, I checked Ofsted before applying, so the latest one wasn't on.

On paper Moor Park does look better. My view of Corpus Christi may be outdated but it is that the school is good for middle to low attainers but doesn't attract enough high attainers to give them sufficient competition. My nephew went to CC and was happy there and is now doing well at University.
Not sure what you have against AT as has a good reputation locally but you will struggle to get in now unless you live across the road and are top of the waiting list. I would prefer CC to Fulwood academy though. Have you looked at the Longridge schools?

I have friends whose children have gone to AT and really were not happy, bullying mainly, but also parents not being informed of things, sending children home early with no notice, and one friend even said she experienced racism. I obviously can't say either way if it's true, but I'm inclined to believe my friend as I don't think she'd make it up.

My worry with DS is that he won't be challenged enough in high school. He's G&T, and a natural learner (completely different to the other two!)
I also worry about bullying as I was bullied horrendously. So I want him somewhere he's happy.

As I said, I will try and have another look round and see where we stand then
He's a bit calmer now as some of his friends are going there, so he won't be on his own.

My siblings go to CC and both really enjoy it (as did I but it was over a decade ago!). They seem to deal with issues promptly and they are both doing well there. Could you go and have a look round to get a feel for it? I think the atmosphere is really nice there!

happymrsc we did look previously, but will definitely try and go again
Glad to hear your siblings are doing well there.

I'm not sure that CC could challenge a G&T child enough. I would look a bit further afield. Have you thought about Broughton High or OLHS. I believe that clever kids need to be somewhere where it's cool to be clever otherwise they are at risk of bullying or dumbing down to fit in.

Other than the racism I have heard those comments about AT but they could be said about a lot of schools. Their academic results are very good ( not far off the Lancaster and Clitheroe grammar schools) and on that basis alone I would consider going on the waiting list. Most of my 2DS's friends from primary are there now. You would need to satisfy the religious requirements though to get high enough on the list.

We aren't religious, children haven't been baptized into a faith.

Definitely going to appeal if they can't challenge him. I don't want what happened to me to happen to him (also G&T, bullied throughout high school)
I definitely did not meet my full potential, and I want better for DS1.

@HerRoyalCarbyLess You might be interested to know that if you look at the recent stats for local schools and filter for just the higher prior attainers CC comes slightly higher than MP although both are slightly below the average. If you are looking for a non religious school then I would try to get on the waiting list for Broughton High as you have nothing to loose.