Disastrous school allocation - Help needed with next steps

[KitHenry]

The worst has happened and we’ve not been allocated a place at any of our preferred schools. We’ve been offered a place at an awful school. I can’t sleep and I’m not sure what to do next.

@clary and @Elenus Is being in the same school as a twin not a reason that can be used when arguing why one school is more beneficial?

Do you mean there is not a safe route - as in it's two miles as the crow flies but that's via a motorway? And the actual safe walking route is really four miles? If so you may be able to get free transport.

Or do you mean that you are not happy with them walking to school on their own at age 11? I promise you, it is totally normal for year 7 DC to walk to and from school - or get the bus, tube, train, cycle - without an adult. Sorry to be flip but unless you live in Beirut it should be fine.

[quote XelaM]**@clary* and @Elenus* Is being in the same school as a twin not a reason that can be used when arguing why one school is more beneficial?[/quote]
I am not an appeals expert but I doubt it to be honest. Twins may be in different secondaries through choice/different needs after all. Close friends going to a particular school is not a reason that will win appeals, after all, unless there is some medical reasons (such as doctor-diagnosed need to remain with the same friendship group).

It's a bit surprising that they were allocated different non-choice schools but one might have been given the last available space in a slightly nearer school?

I thought many schools had sibling priority

You do need to keep this place pending any appeal or waiting list coming up. Double science still includes all three subjects.

You would think, though, that unless one twin was the final child admitted to the school in the year group, that both twins would have got in - suggests criteria may not have been applied correctly? Assuming same preferences, address etc.

I thought many schools had sibling priority yes for the subling of a child already attending it doesn't work for twins with no older siblings at the school.

@Elenus you either need to trust your children to walk through the area where you live or maybe carpool with some other parents/ask family for help/pay for a taxi. The fact you wouldnt like your child to walk through the area you live inis not grounds for an appeal.

@clary - thank you. No, not in Beirut :) there are multiple crossings on the way (one of the busy A road) plus areas trading estate areas - I would not go myself alone there, let alone to allow 11 year olds to go. I would be happy with a bus

Out school of choice was 1.8 miles from us (2.2. miles by road); DD was given a school which is 2.3 miles and DD was given an all boys school place 2 miles from us. None of their friends were given spaces in those schools - I can't even ask other parents to help with pick ups... Disaster all around :(

Elenus - it would be better to start your own thread, as each case is different and turns on its own facts.

That said, you need to check whether your LEA has a twins/multiple births policy. Many LEAs do, which means that if Twin 1 gets the last available space, Twin 2 will be admitted as an “excepted” pupil. If they've failed to apply their own policy, that’s an error which they ought to rectify by giving you the place but, first, it’s not their mistake if you didn’t flag that these are twins and, second, some LEAs make parents take such errors to appeal. You may have other grounds for appeal but, as someone has already said, not being able to walk to school doesn’t fly as an argument unless you’re in Beirut.

Agree with PanelChair that you should start your own thread. However, if one of your daughters has been given a boys school that strongly suggests a mistake has been made.

I’ve not accepted the place yet, I’m sure I will but can’t bring myself to do it. I’d rather homeschool, then relocate and get an in-year admission somewhere. My son is very upset - he knows he didn’t want that school as the options are so limited and he liked the languages offered at one of the other schools, and the extra-curricular activities at another. There was nothing he liked about this school.

He’s very upset he won’t have any there friends either. It’s hard for him to make friends as he is a young carer but his current group of friends are all very accepting and aware of his situation - would this be grounds for appeal? All I’ve got so far is lack of science options and I don’t think that’ll cut it.

@prh47bridge

Agree with PanelChair that you should start your own thread. However, if one of your daughters has been given a boys school that strongly suggests a mistake has been made.

I presume she meant ds! 😂 but that would explain why her dd wasn't offered that school too. Sounds like it is nearer than the other school so I guess it makes sense.

The languages and extra-curriculars are good things to bring up in appeal. Mention too that he is a young carer, although my understanding is that this is unlikely to be strong enough on its own unless you have evidence from medical professionals or similar that state a particular need to be with friends. It will help add to other aspects though.

You can appeal on any grounds you choose, but (to state the obvious) to win an appeal you need to identify things which carry weight, in line with the appeals code.

To appeal on curriculum grounds, you need not just to say that the curriculum is wider in the preferred school but also to show why your child needs that wider provision. Can you demonstrate in some way that they are interested in science or want to make a career in it? Are they in a science club, for example?

Similarly, with his being a young carer you need to demonstrate why the preferred school will support that in a way the other school won’t. Wanting to stay with primary school friends isn’t the basis for a winning appeal - the panel will assume that all new pupils are capable of making friends - but you can argue on social grounds if you can show that your child has needs which can only be met by attending this school. Do you have a social worker or other health care professional who would write a letter to say that in their professional opinion he needs to attend this school?

We were in your position 5 years ago and it actually broke my daughters heart. We accepted the school that was offered and then when searching for other schools in the area with places available. We were lucky enough to find a school that we hadn't even considered before (catholic all girls school) that had a space available and transferred her place to there.
Meanwhile we went on the waiting list for the school we really wanted and also went to appeal. Unfortunately our appeal was rejected but in the end dd actually preferred the school we hadn't even considered before.

@KitHenry - feel so gutted for you & your son, hopefully appeal or waiting list works out for you x
I had to crying twins yesterday and one very grim-looking husband ; now we are drafting numerous appeals ...

@KitHenry

I’ve not accepted the place yet, I’m sure I will but can’t bring myself to do it. I’d rather homeschool, then relocate and get an in-year admission somewhere. My son is very upset - he knows he didn’t want that school as the options are so limited and he liked the languages offered at one of the other schools, and the extra-curricular activities at another. There was nothing he liked about this school.

He’s very upset he won’t have any there friends either. It’s hard for him to make friends as he is a young carer but his current group of friends are all very accepting and aware of his situation - would this be grounds for appeal? All I’ve got so far is lack of science options and I don’t think that’ll cut it.

Ate there young carers groups that can advise? He needs a good support group and be close to home surely?

We also got none of our 6 preferences. When i saw the result my jaw dropped. We were allocated a school where i don't want my daughter to go at all. I emailed my LA who swiftly gave me our waiting list positions. We are high on list for 5th choice and the other choices look unlikely. I am happy with the 5th choice though and would love if we get it. I also put in a late application request for a school i didn't originally pick but i seem to be in catchment for. I was on the fence about said school which is why i didn't originally apply for it but i would prefer it over what we got! Fingers crossed!!

Waiting lists move alot and look for any other options to also get on their waiting lists

Also none of my daughters friends got the school we were allocated. I too don't want to accept it but apparently refusing it will mean the LA will no longer help in finding a place. Accept and stay on all waiting lists. Hopefully in a few weeks time there will be some movement. Its stressful but stay positive

If he is a young carer, does the larger school have any pastoral support specific to young carers (that they might be able to organise, as having a large student pool)?

I’ve not managed to get hold of the Schools Admissions people yet - they did try to phone me back this afternoon but I was at work. Contacted one of the schools which runs its appeal process separately and was told we are 5th on the waiting list.

He has a lot of involvement with Young Carers, he’s done a lot of work with them around his anxiety and is now also an ambassador.

The same thing happened to us and we got some great advice here. There is a poster who helped us draft a letter to our proffered school. He may have been mentioned here but if not I can log onto my laptop in the morning for his username.

We accepted, and also put our child on the waiting list for two schools and we were offered places at both 4 and 8 weeks later. Dont lose hope, there is every chance you'll get in.

I’ve barely slept since with the stress of it all. Also my son hadn’t realised it’s done purely on distance or similar and thought the schools hadn’t picked him as a person. He’s a bit happier now I’ve explained to him - although he still doesn’t want that school!

He was much more excited by the curriculum at the others schools for example one of them offered Latin and Mandarin. He’s also religious and loves religious studies, one of the schools was a faith school - not our faith but he said he would prefer to be in a faith school.

Hope the interview went well. It is hard seeing the disappointment of your child and a major thing in their life that you don't have the power to solve. It sounds as if you already have some good points to bring up in an appeal and you may get a place on waiting lists before that. I have found that most children, despite their initial upset, get over the disappointment quite quickly while as parents we are left with the emotions. As well as the experts here ask around a few school parents with older siblings. If the school is that dire then other parents will have been through the process before and may be willing to share their experiences.

5th on a waiting list is quite hopeful actually. Remember that the advice you have had here included to make sure you are on the waiting list of as many schools as possible- the 4 people ahead of you on that list will have had the same advice and will be on numerous lists, and may well get an offer from one of those other schools, which moves you up a place, or may have been offered a less unacceptable school in the initial allocation and may feel they would rather have the certainty of accepting that rather than the uncertainty of staying a waiting list for months, and that moves you up a place again. It is perfectly possible to get from 5th to 1st on a list like that if you are lucky.