What happens when they don't offer school?

[smoosandsmed]

I have heard that around my local area a few parents talking about how last year a lot of children didn't get their 1st, 2nd or 3rd schools...

They were placed in schools further away or in really awful schools with bad ofsted etc.

What happens if this were to happen this year?

What are my choices?

My DS11 has taken two 11+ to get into two local private schools... but we aren't sure if he'll be offered a place yet! Local state schools are in case he doesn't.

If he doesn't get into private You accept a place at the least worst option, make sure that he is on the waiting lists for your preferred schools.

Places will become available as some offered them do not take them up. Just depends how close to the top of the waiting lists you are.

Last year a small number of children didn't get any school at all on offer day, as apparently it was a surprise to the council that there were more applicants than places. The one I actually knew said they found a place in a school she didn't want after about 2 weeks, then she got offered her 4th choice and her 2nd choice came up just before term started. I can only assume some people went private freeing up some spaces.

I have heard that around my local area a few parents talking about how last year a lot of children didn't get their 1st, 2nd or 3rd schools...
They were placed in schools further away or in really awful schools with bad ofsted etc.

You accept the place, and make sure you are on waiting lists for the schools you prefer. The LA must find a school for your child, though occasionally as Jules says this doesn't happen on offer day. Waiting lists tend to move quite a lot between initial offer and start date - you yourselves are an example, if you get the private option I assume you will be dropping out of the state system, which will set waiting lists moving.

This is why they suggest you put your closest/catchment school which you have a very good chance if getting.

I know one family who only put 1 school hoping they would get it because it was their only choice. Well they weren't close enough for it, and their local catchment school was full with those who did apply so they were given the closest school with spaces left. (Which yes isn't a good school which is why it had places left)

I know there will be the odd chance that you don't get offered any of your local schools you put on your choices....in which case they will offer at your closest school with places. But the thing is to accept the place and go on waiting lists for schools you would like. There is movement in spaces when people move out of area or go private. (School mum above was offered a place at their choice just before Xmas year7)

There can be quite a bit of movement after the initial offers of places. For instance, your child will be offered a place somewhere, but if they get into one of the private schools, you will turn down the place, and it can then be offered to someone on the waiting list. The same will no doubt apply to quite a lot of others. The initial allocations have to assume none of them are going to the private schools.

Your local authority will almost certainly* offer you a school place somewhere. Regardless of what you think of the school, you should accept this offer if you will need a state school place in September. If it's not at a school that is acceptable to you, you need to make sure that you are on the waiting list for the all schools you would prefer. This might include places you did not originally apply for (if that's possible). And then keep your fingers crossed. There is a lot of movement on waiting lists between March and right into September.

If you decline your state school place, then your local authority does not have to offer you another one and so you could end up with nothing at all. So only do this if you are definitely taking up a private school offer or you genuinely intend to home educate.

*If there are no places available anywhere in your local authority on offer day (which is rare but does occasionally happen), then your local authority will tell you what they plan to do to fulfil their obligation to offer you a place. Again make sure you're on all waiting lists.

There is a difference between mot being offered a school of preference and not getting offered any school place. Preference is never guaranteed (unless under EHCP) but you can go on waiting list and/or appeal. However best course is to list at least one school where you are as certain as possible of getting a place. Traditionally oversubscribed choices where you do not fit the top priority admissions criteria or just listing one school are always risky strategies,

Every year people put down three schools that they don't qualify for - often just too far away etc
They are too far down the list. So yes they get offered the nearest of what is left with spaces.

As PP have said, do take things with a pinch of salt. It does happen, but if you are realistic with at least 1 of your choices, it is much less likely to. People buy in to all sorts of myths of how they can force the council to give them a place. Generally your nearest/catchment school (or another one you have a high chance of a place at) should go down somewhere on your form.

I've heard of people getting their first choice on the first day of term.

An ECHP doesn't guarantee preference of school. I wish people would stop saying this - our application was so much harder as had to prove certain aspects of our child's application and a 6 month fight with the LA, after being unplaced. Came close to court action as the LA failed to show up to their own mediation. Sorry to derail thread but factually incorrect. The school was suitable for my child's needs and now in top bands in most subjects. We are not the only one who faced this.

As to the original question OP - it depends on the school your in now. If private and unplaced due to not passing 11plus process - I've heard of your current school helping to find a place (obviously not your preferred) but still in private sector. This may not be always possible - but I have knowledge of a few cases.
If in state then your normally offered a place at the next nearest school with places and you can go on the waitlist for your preference if not the school offered. If your preference school is very popular - I wouldn't count on movement and you would have to be living very close. The only children I've heard of being unplaced are three with ECHP's.

Two of the schools are my catchment and nearest to me. The other one is about a ten minute drive... I guess we shall see!! I had to put in a late application which is annoying because we moved.

In my area, the families that were in that position were those who had listed 3 very oversubscribed schools. It is generally recommended that your final preference should either be your catchment school or a school close by that is usually undersubscribed but would be acceptable. Please remember that the "requires improvement" OFSTED rating used to be called *Satisfactory".
If you are not offered any of your 3 preference schools, you will be offered a place at the school with places that is closest to your home.
Some LEAs publish lists of schools that still have spaces left on allocation day. If there is a school a bit further away that has spaces left, you may be able to contact the LEA to find out if it would be possible to have a space at that school instead.
Otherwise you need to accept the school offered and go on the waiting lists for your preferred schools. If you have an independent school place, you can decline the offered state school place.

Late applications are dealt with differently and it may increase the chances of not receiving an offer from your preferred schools.
This depends on how oversubscribed schools near your home are.

If state there are usually 6 choices. Fill them all in. Every choice.
leaving a blank space increases the chance of getting offered an undersubscribed (really awful) school.
Statistically speaking you will get your catchment/local school.

Private schools are a mixed bag, some are basically paid grammars and some are paid comprehensive. The paid grammar type will rather have an empty space than a child that doesn’t meet their standard.
Paid comprehensive tend to do well for their learners too. TBH these probably give the best gain.
It is known that some selective independent schools allow prep student to move on to secondary without passing the entrance exam.
Have known parents ,whose children might not preform so well in tests, move their children in the first/second term of year 6 to the prep school of said school. This is usually after discussions with the admissions of the desired independent school.

With state school, if you are not happy with your assigned school you can appeal.
Waiting lists drop off in October, so this is the best month to try again/ put your child back on the wait list.

it usually works out

good luck xx

3 is normal outside London.

Manchester ask for three preferences but you can add more

We are in an outer London Borough & one of dd's friends only put one school on the form (out of 6 choices) - got a school on offer day, went to a different school for transition day & started at a 3rd school in the end so lots of movement.
Only 28 joined dd's form in Sept (8 form entry) so waitlist people joined a couple of weeks into term.
Have you checked LA site? Some better than others on reporting on 1st round/2nd round offers etc.