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Secondary education

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Original poster

Disastrous school allocation - Help needed with next steps

78 replies

KitHenry · 01/03/2021 03:26

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
KitHenry · 03/03/2021 00:25

Thanks @Cattitudes I got offered the job - some good news!

Fingers crossed he moves up the list, they did say he could be pushed further down too.

OP posts:
icegarden · 03/03/2021 07:20

In my area no5 on wait list as some people go private so there's a log of shuffle

icegarden · 03/03/2021 07:20

No 5 would get in sorry.

Original poster
KitHenry · 03/03/2021 07:23

Yeah, I’m not sure how much movement there is on lists here as not a massive number go private and there are no Grammar Schools.

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prh47bridge · 03/03/2021 07:44

@KitHenry

Yeah, I’m not sure how much movement there is on lists here as not a massive number go private and there are no Grammar Schools.
There will still be movement due to people moving out of the area, winning appeals and so on.
Cattitudes · 03/03/2021 08:10

@KitHenry

Thanks *@Cattitudes* I got offered the job - some good news!

Fingers crossed he moves up the list, they did say he could be pushed further down too.

Congratulations on the job, if you ace the interview when sleep deprived you can do anything.

I agree 5 does sound positive (what is the PAN of that school?), some of them will also be on the waiting list for other schools too, and they might not all be escaping the school you have been offered, they might have gone on the waiting list when they first heard but have actually looked into the other school allocated and in two weeks when places have been accepted and new offers processed they might have decided to stick with the offered school.

Original poster
KitHenry · 03/03/2021 23:15

So he’s been moved down to 14 on that list now, he’s 48 on our first choice school and 7 on our third choice (you only get three choices here). All the schools (except the one we have been allocated but don’t want) are full in the area.

There is an excellent school that still has places (it’s in a very low population area) and we could ask to be considered for a place there buts it’s 25 miles away and so we would need to move 10 miles away to be on the bus route. Not sure how I’m feeling about that, very mixed thoughts.

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Bunnybigears · 03/03/2021 23:19

@KitHenry I would ask yourself honestlynif you can see DS being happy to get a bus 15 miles each day everyday for the next 5 years, not to mention if he wants to do before or after school clubs that is going to lead to a lot of early mornings and late evenings. The friends he makes at school will also be for the most part a long bus journey away so no just popping out for a kick about with his friends.

Cattitudes · 04/03/2021 07:23

25 miles is far, it also depends on your jobs, other siblings, family ties etc. Would you need to drop one of the other three schools to go there? Things do move on lists over the summer, it sounds as if you would definitely get back into the school with only 40 pupils so even if you change your mind over the summer and can't figure out a way to make the far away school work, it sounds as if you could get back into the offered school.

Mummadeze · 04/03/2021 08:11

I moved house for primary and secondary to be in good catchment areas. That might be the solution if it is possible. You will go to the top of a list if you move close enough.

Original poster
KitHenry · 04/03/2021 20:03

It is a difficult choice as moving would increase the journey to work, I don’t think it would necessarily impact my other children’s schools but potentially could.

I have a question about appeals, if you are appealing for multiple schools do you need to use the same argument for each school? What if arguments are contradictory?

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Charmatt · 04/03/2021 22:01

You should tailor your argument for the school you are appealing for.

An appeal is about the school you want your Child to go to, not reasons why you can't accept the one you've been offered.

Original poster
KitHenry · 04/03/2021 23:38

Yes, I understand that I’m not appealing against the school but for a school but I can appeal to more than one school and the reasons for each of the different schools are different. For example school A does an extra curricular activity my son is passionate about but school B does not do the activity. School B is where his friends are going but school A he will know nobody. If I appeal for those schools at the same time my arguments would seem contradictory.

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Bunnybigears · 04/03/2021 23:41

Its an individual appeal to each school so you make your case individually. School B you will have to find a better reason than thats where his friends are going.

Original poster
KitHenry · 04/03/2021 23:43

Oh ok, so more than one appeal? Yes, I understand about the friendship thing - in reality it’s significantly more complex but didn’t want to go into specifics

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icegarden · 05/03/2021 07:23

25 miles is way too far. For endless reasons.

icegarden · 05/03/2021 09:28

Worst case, he could go to allocated school and can still stay on wait lists. Move when a space comes up. A year in Y7 won't be too much of a disaster? Not ideal but I know people who did this

Nith · 05/03/2021 10:00

@KitHenry

Yes, I understand that I’m not appealing against the school but for a school but I can appeal to more than one school and the reasons for each of the different schools are different. For example school A does an extra curricular activity my son is passionate about but school B does not do the activity. School B is where his friends are going but school A he will know nobody. If I appeal for those schools at the same time my arguments would seem contradictory.
In each case your argument has to be about prejudice to your child being greater than the potential prejudice to the school. From what you've posted on here, your chances with school B are stronger because you can argue perhaps that he has a particular need of support from his friends in view of his young carer status.

Have you put his name down for other schools you like besides the three original ones? If not, you need to do so ASAP.

prh47bridge · 05/03/2021 11:38

@KitHenry

Oh ok, so more than one appeal? Yes, I understand about the friendship thing - in reality it’s significantly more complex but didn’t want to go into specifics
Yes, you will appeal separately for each school. The appeals will be heard by different appeal panels.
Original poster
KitHenry · 05/03/2021 18:45

In terms of appeal arguments does being very academically able make a difference? Or not?

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Original poster
KitHenry · 05/03/2021 18:54

I’ve not put his name down for the waiting list of any other schools yet as it’s awkward trying decide where would be feasible to relocate to. My eldest child goes to a specialist school and is picked up every morning by taxi from my mums house - we drop him off on the way to work as despite his age his not capable of getting himself off to school without adult supervision. This won’t change and so in order to continue to work I’ll still have to drop him off at my mums every morning regardless. So I wouldn’t mind moving any distance say west/south west as I’d still go past my mums on the way to work but I don’t want to go to the opposite side of the city as then I’d have to go massively out my way each morning. If that makes sense.

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Hersetta427 · 05/03/2021 19:58

@KitHenry

In terms of appeal arguments does being very academically able make a difference? Or not?
No and you should not make your case around this. Of course mention things like your son loves science and the offered school only does double but the preferred school bodes triple but don't make it sound like your son is too bright to go to the offered school.
prh47bridge · 05/03/2021 21:37

Agree with Hersetta427. The last thing you want is to come across as saying, "my child needs this school because he is clever". Some panellists will be of the view that a clever child should be able to succeed anywhere. Also, while the panel must be independent from the school for which you are appealing, it is possible one of them may have a link to the allocated school. If they think you are saying that your child is too clever for the allocated school that won't endear you to them. Talk about your son's interests and skills by all means, but stay well away from talking about how bright he is.

Original poster
KitHenry · 05/03/2021 22:19

Oh ok, I didn’t really mean it in terms of too bright for the school more that the one he has been offered has less academic options and lots of vocational options such a farming. Whereas the preferred schools have a better range of academic subjects

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Roszie · 05/03/2021 22:23

No advice but I hope he gets a good one. Broke my heart to read he thought they just didn't chose him.

God luck to you.