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Secondary education

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

National Offer Day - 1st March. Anybody else anxious?

286 replies

ToxicGirl · 23/02/2022 15:22

I feel like a woman on the edge. Am unbelievably anxious about 1st March. Made my peace a long time ago with the fact DD won't get a place at our nearest secondary (within easy walking distance) because it's so oversubscribed. All her friends and most other children from her school will go there. We live a tiny bit further away and just won't get in, particularly as I understand it's a big birth year.

Would be happy with either our 2nd or 3rd choice schools. They're further away and not as popular but we'd have got a place at them in previous years as we're in catchment and just within the distance they usually offer.

However our LA has warned of unprecedented pressure on school places this year and said that the schools are likely to be significantly oversubscribed. I'm worried that we now won't get a place at the schools that would previously have been 'bankers'. Our other preferences are too far away. We won't get a place at them. Just put them down because there was nowhere else.

There are a couple of hugely undersubscribed and really poorly performing schools in neighbouring towns within the borough. From everything I've read and from looking at Y6 leavers destination info from previous years, I'm absolutely convinced we'll be allocated one of them. They're the schools people get allocated when they only put one choice down and don't get it.

I'm so anxious about it. Can't think about anything else and am driving DH mad. Am managing to hide it from DD but know she'll fall apart on Tuesday. She's prepared to go to school without her friends but not to a completely unknown school in another area.

It's going to be a long few days...

OP posts:
Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:24

I've just spoken to admissions. We are 0.864 miles away and catchment closed at 0.847 miles. She just said it was an unprecedented year. Also the admissions policy puts other criteria first over catchment so people on care plans/staff children/siblings.

ToxicGirl · 01/03/2022 14:29

@Anna197264

I've just spoken to admissions. We are 0.864 miles away and catchment closed at 0.847 miles. She just said it was an unprecedented year. Also the admissions policy puts other criteria first over catchment so people on care plans/staff children/siblings.
I've also heard of some very unexpected outcomes in Trafford.

Do you mind sharing which school the catchment closed at 0.847 for? Was it AoM or Wellington? Just wondering how far off we were!

OP posts:
Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:34

@ToxicGirl our catchment is Wellington but we got AC. tbh I'm happy with AC but I'll see what my DD says. I think we were just surprised x
Hope you got what you wanted. Sorry I've not read the full thread x

Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:37

@ToxicGirl where did you get if you don't mind me asking?

greyinganddecaying · 01/03/2022 14:38

I've heard of people close to Wellington not getting AC but SH instead. I think AC must have a tiny radius this year as many people who would have got in other years have missed out.

Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:38

Yep lots of SH this year too. One of my friends has been allocated an urmston school so I consider us to be lucky with AC. Just need to decide if it's worth appealing or not

Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:40

I really can't wait to get my DD home she was so overwhelmed this morning bless her.

greyinganddecaying · 01/03/2022 14:41

Yes I was concerned that we may end up in Urmston/Stretford as I knew it was going to be a big year.

What's annoying me now is that we thought SH looked ok and DS was happy to go, but other people have been really sniffy about it which is putting him off.

ToxicGirl · 01/03/2022 14:43

@Anna197264 you're not the only person I've heard of that didn't get Wellington this year, despite being very close. Sounds like the AoM catchment was similar.

I've got lots of friends with kids that are really happy with AC. Hope it works out ok for you.

OP posts:
Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:45

@greyinganddecaying I've heard very good things about SH. My sil goes in there as part of her job and rates it very highly especially with the pastoral care. The reality is that schools like SH have a not great reputation based on the time I was at school (20 years ago!) just like AC is still known as GL but catchment changes and the demographics have changed so much that reputation doesn't do the schools any justice anymore.

Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:46

@ToxicGirl thanks I'm sure it will. I've only heard good things about AC so that actually doesn't concern me I think it was more of a surprise than anything.

ToxicGirl · 01/03/2022 14:47

Yes, lots have got SH round here too and I've also got friend with kids there that are really happy with it.

Think people sniffy about it because of its old rep but it has changed a lot by all accounts.

OP posts:
ToxicGirl · 01/03/2022 14:48

Sorry for all the typos above. We got SH too & are happy with it.

OP posts:
greyinganddecaying · 01/03/2022 14:48

Thanks @Anna197264 - that's good to know. I thought it was as good as any and have heard good things (I'm especially pleased about the pastoral care side of things), I just don't want other peoples outdated views to take the shine off for him.

greyinganddecaying · 01/03/2022 14:50

Thanks @ToxicGirl - that's good to know.

Anna197264 · 01/03/2022 14:51

What's good for one child isn't right for another. If it feels right for your child then go for it. It's time for them to get excited about the next step not listen to what other peoples outdated views are xx

Spottydotdotty · 01/03/2022 15:34

Also Trafford. First choice in Urmston thank goodness. It's all grammar or Catholic here so no surprises that I've heard about

Sweetbabydust1989 · 01/03/2022 16:32

28 mins for us London lot I no it will crash😂

Sweetbabydust1989 · 01/03/2022 16:34

@tigerbear I only did 3 only ones my boy liked 😂x

tigerbear · 01/03/2022 17:01

Nothing showing up yet in the portal for London!

DrHildegardeLanstrom · 01/03/2022 17:12

Hooray! First place!

DrHildegardeLanstrom · 01/03/2022 17:12

Or rather first choice...

1910username · 01/03/2022 17:15

@tigerbear, just got us from Kingston. Hopefully London will follow soon.

Sweetbabydust1989 · 01/03/2022 17:20

Didn't get one of his options he has been dumped in a poorly graded school I am heart broken and don't no what to do I am going to either appeal or homeschool and reapply.

Echobelly · 01/03/2022 17:21

Luckily a class mum reminded us we could look on the portal now - DS will go to same school as sibling. It was pretty much a given, but always that slight worry something's gone wrong so nice to have that done with.

It's been great for his sibling in various ways who is doing brilliantly, but will be good for DS in others - he has ADHD and struggles quite a lot although bright. It will be good for him as it's small and he won't get 'lost' there. I assume we'll be able to meet SENCO during handover to talk about things. I think secondary will be critical for him and I worry poor handling could lead to real problems, but if he's understood and supported he'll be fine.

DS is at an after school thing, but will tell him when I pick up at 6.

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