Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

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

Flip

Original poster

In year school admission

18 replies

Shay01 · 20/08/2020 10:49

Please can someone help.
We have moved to Redbridge and my son will start Year 9 in September.
He is on waiting lists for all the schools we applied for and has not been allocated a school place. When i spoke to council they said he will be allocated once a space is avaliable. I said schools reopen in 2 weeks and its his GCSC year and options need to be sorted out - what if we do not hear anything until September. They said he will have to stay home until a space becomes available. As you can imagine i am very worried - please can someone advise what i can do.

OP posts:

Ginfordinner · 20/08/2020 11:54

Not all school start GCSEs in year 9.
I have no advice, but good luck.

prh47bridge · 20/08/2020 12:51

I responded on your thread in Primary but, to repeat that response...

As schools are out at the moment they may be having trouble getting responses from schools so that they can sort out a place. However, if one isn't forthcoming very quickly after schools return you need to push Redbridge hard and threaten to refer the matter to the LGO if they don't come up with a place.

You could also appeal for all your preferred schools. That should force Redbridge into action. They will want to have an offer in place before any appeal hearings.

JoJoSM2 · 20/08/2020 13:23

Don’t stress. It’s the middle of the summer holidays. When schools get back in September, they’ll see if they have spaces. I think the bums on seats count for funding purposes is in early October(?) so the schools themselves will want to make sure they’re full by then.

Even if they’re really tight for places across the borough (quite likely), they must offer you something and as PP, you can take things further.

Original poster

Shay01 · 20/08/2020 13:27

@ prh47bridge Thank you so much for the information i appreciate it! I am having a nightmare. Every time i call them the information they provide is inconsistent. I was just looking into appeals and think i will have to resort to that. Its awful to think that he may be school less in September, the move itself is hard enough for him - thank you!

OP posts:

LilyBolero · 20/08/2020 13:29

Your Local Authority is obliged to offer your son a place, whether or not it is the summer holidays, it is their responsibility to find a place. You may not like where the place is though. My advice (I do admissions!) is to apply to the school you want him to go to, and a back up, get the answer no (or hopefully yes!) and then appeal. If he has no school place at all, that is a strong case at appeal. The panel can over-ride the LA and the school and insist that they go over numbers, if his need for a place outweighs the school's need not to go above numbers.

Original poster

Shay01 · 20/08/2020 13:31

Thanks, i just cant help feeling anxious with it being September and everyone going to school and him not. I just hope it all works out

OP posts:

EvilEdna1 · 20/08/2020 13:32

In the school I work at there is no one in the office to deal with things like in year transfers until September 1st.

Original poster

Shay01 · 20/08/2020 13:33

Hi LilyBolero. thanks for the info - i have already applied and he is on the waiting lists for all the ones i applied for but the borough has not allocated any other school to him either. Can i appeal now on the ones he is on the waiting lists? I am just totally clueless as to when i can appeal

OP posts:

Original poster

Shay01 · 20/08/2020 13:39

@LilyBolero Hi LilyBolero. thanks for the info - i have already applied and he is on the waiting lists for all the ones i applied for but the borough has not allocated any other school to him either. Can i appeal now on the ones he is on the waiting lists? I am just totally clueless as to when i can appeal

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 20/08/2020 13:58

Yes, you can appeal now for all the schools to which you have applied. They should have sent you a letter setting out how you go about appealing when they informed you that they weren't able to give you a place at any of your preferred schools. If not, contact the admissions office.

Original poster

Shay01 · 20/08/2020 14:07

@prh47bridge - they did not even respond to me after i applied. I had to call them and they told me the positions he was in the waiting lists for each of the schools and just said i have to wait until they contact me. I have not been sent any paperwork regarding appealing etc or anything. That is why i feel so anxious as its just a lack of information and i am worried my son will just get forgotten about. I even asked for someone in admissions to call me so i can ask all the information i needed so that it will be correct rather then just speaking to a customer service rep but they will not let me. I have just been trying to read up on their website but even that is not very helpful with that i need to know - thats why i asked on here. You guys have been far more helpful then the borough despite calling them so many times

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 20/08/2020 14:39

In that case you need to chase them. If you continue to hit a brick wall tell them you will contact the LGO.

eddiemairswife · 20/08/2020 14:51

Your LA must allocate you a school place. It is their responsibility to do so, and also to inform you about the appeal process.

Clive222 · 20/08/2020 14:56

In practice, it is not unusual for children to still have no place at the start of September, but it is likely to be quickly resolved once term is underway

LilyBolero · 20/08/2020 23:39

[quote Shay01]@LilyBolero Hi LilyBolero. thanks for the info - i have already applied and he is on the waiting lists for all the ones i applied for but the borough has not allocated any other school to him either. Can i appeal now on the ones he is on the waiting lists? I am just totally clueless as to when i can appeal[/quote]
For certain you can appeal, and they must hear the appeal within a set time (I'm not sure what that time is, as it is different at the moment because of Covid restrictions, and it may be different in different LAs). I have just done a whole batch of appeals, so they are happening throughout the holidays. I would appeal the one you most want him to go to, and maybe your 2nd choice also? You might get the same panel for each appeal, or you might get a different panel, depending on timetables, and whether schools can provide a representative.

elkiedee · 21/08/2020 20:12

Do schools in Redbridge start GSCE options in year 9? I'm a few miles away in Haringey and I think this year my son will choose his GCSE options at some point but will continue with a wider range of subjects as in year 7 and 8.

Have you looked at websites of schools in the relevant areas?

Original poster

Shay01 · 26/08/2020 15:18

Thank you all for all your help. I have used a lot of the advise on here - very much appreciated!!!! Fingers crossed x

OP posts:

Original poster

Shay01 · 26/08/2020 15:22

@allelkiedee - at my son's previous school he chose his options for Year 9 in year 8. From what i hear the London ones choose them a bit later so thats good for us.

OP posts:

Flip