School offers day 2023

[UsernameOfMine]

So.... secondary school offer day is almost upon us. How is everyone dealing with the wait?

My DD is thinking about it far more than I would have hoped, is counting down the days and asking everyday if they will come out early. She's angry at the council that they can't sort the whole process out in a week. Apparently it's "not that hard to sort it out"🤔 I have tried to explain the process and that it's not just her it's every other child in the district (and neighbouring district as we've applied for schools there too), but she's just being impatient to know.

I'm thinking about it...but I thought I'd be worse with her been dc2 and wanting her to go to the same school as dc1. (No sibling priority at that school) but she's got a good chance of it so trying not to stress.

So how about everyone else?

@marblemad I think you will find several admissions experts who will confirm that you can not individually negotiate you way into a 'better' school. The admissions process I'd highly regulated & scrutinised. Anyone not happy with allocated school can look at all other options that may have spaces left. Otherwise hundreds of parents across the nation would try it and refuse to accept RI schools or those they hear are no good.

It should be noted however that guidance does talk about Ofsted rating when a school is being selected for a LA child:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683556/Promoting_the_education_of_looked-after_children_and_previously_looked-after_children.pdf

schools judged by Ofsted to be ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ should be prioritised when seeking a place for looked-after children in need of a new school. Unless there are exceptional evidence-based reasons, looked-after children should never be placed in a school judged by Ofsted to be ‘inadequate’. When consideration is given to schools judged ‘Requiring Improvement’, VSHs and social workers should have evidence that the school is providing high quality support to its vulnerable pupils, and will enable a looked-after child to make maximum progress before placing them in that school;

It does indeed, but this is about compensating for the disadvantage that looked after children have and is supported by law. It does not create any right for other parents to have a good or outstanding school for their child.

Could be due to a lack of infant baptism in the trinitarian tradition, especially if the definition of Christian in the Admissions Policy was followed by that or 'membership of Churches Together'.

Or the head just likes you very much and was prepared to break the law to get you your place. I mean, jumping over everybody else in the category and flowers, meaning he's accessed the LA info, made somebody change the records and then gone on the M&S website whilst breaching GDPR to send you some flowers is fairly unusual.

Oh I agree.

I posted it s my children are ex-LA and the thread triggered something in my mind re school selection for LA children, I thought others might find it interesting / informative.

We had a phone call and letter yesterday offering us randomly our first choice instead. Looks like somewhere's been persuaded to take extra students on to sort out the local mess around here.

Out of area application results were imported this week, along with the cutoff for responses/ability to withdraw offers for no response after a reasonable time to chase them after the official two week period - so it's possible to offer the next batch of places.

@TeenDivided good to see what is actually says. LAC children as a group generally have a tough start in life for sure, Most I know (quite a lot) need significant support. They need the right school for them not just the most outstanding one in the area, that might not be the right fit. I've seen that error being made too & LAC children moved again to get better support.

Good luck to people on the waiting list for schools. I think today is 2nd round allocations

Hi,
what are second round allocations?

Hunter Some areas wait between initial offers to a fixed date where they start sending out offers to waiting lists. I guess it simplifies admin and gives time for people to be asked to be added to wait lists etc.

We got a welcome letter from our allocated school this week (along with 20 page Behaviour Policy to familiarise ourselves with 🙄). Also dates for a meeting in may, another one in July, transition day in July and a week if summer school in August.

Were trying to be upbeat and positive for DD, but Were still on the wait list for our preferred school.

We've recieved absolutely no correspondence from our new school. We decided to go on the waiting list for the school round the corner (should of put it as first choice, I'm regretting that now). I'm so surprised but we top of it. We are closest in distance but about 8 siblings forgot to apply and are on the list before us. I wonder what the chances are of getting a place before summer hols?

*we aren't top

We got a reading list of books they expect Y7 to have read from the originally accepted school. DD1 has read most of them already!

Had a letter from the revised choice of school that we've got into - well, more of a couple of dates and flyers from all the local uniform shops to get us into the swing of things. DD1 is now horrified at the price of blazers!

Curious to find out if anyone has received a waiting list place since offers day? We are nervously waiting as our DD didn’t get any of her choices. Keeping fingers crossed for good news!

Depends.

NOD parents have 2 weeks to accept. Then the LA has to contact them 2-3 times to get an answer from them. Then they have to contact them and say 'if you don't respond, the offer will be withdrawn'. And then wait for a response. Possibly try to have some annual leave themselves as they've been flat out since January. Then withdraw places. Then get the OK from the school/who to offer to next. Then repeat the whole convoluted process. And also process those who want to be on WLs for different schools or who haven't applied in time. Maybe have to deal with upset people when it's nothing to do with them anyhow. And help people who did forget to apply for their younger child, assuming it would be automatic despite being contacted regularly to tell them it wasn't. And provide help with those who don't understand how to accept. And convince people that accepting one they don't really want makes no difference at all to appeals elsewhere. And deal with people who know their kids are going private but have taken up an allocation as insurance. And hopefully have the out of area authorities send over their acceptances/declines/offers and WL requests in good time. And quite likely do a shedload more things all related to this and other admissions.

I don't envy the LA staff one bit. They work bloody hard.

Thank you for your reply! I absolutely agree they work so hard and take my hat off to them. I just don't know anyone in our situation (I know there will be plenty) but offers day was super hard for our DD as the only one. We did put our closest catchment schools, just super oversubscribed and we live on the edge of all. We haven't contacted admissions to ask as know how busy they are. Just hope we get any of the options

Hopefully, as the bulk of people have accepted their places by now, there should start to be some movement as further offers are made and accepted/places are declined over the next couple of weeks. I'd say this week is a good time to make an enquiry, whether with the LA or with particular schools.

If you haven't done it already, it's a good idea to look into making an appeal with each school this week as well - all schools have to have the details of how to do this on their website by Law and cutoff dates may be close. It won't affect progression up (or down if others apply who would get higher placement) the waiting lists if you appeal, but it's your right to appeal and set the process in motion, even if you end up being offered a place in the meantime (or afterwards if an appeal is unsuccessful).

The LA also has a responsibility to find you a place somewhere, but that's also irrelevant to waiting lists or appeals.

Good luck!

I think a second round of offers may start to be made from Monday 17th April.

We got a place at the school round the corner in the end. They contacted us yesterday. Good luck to all those still waiting.

@Tappetytap congratulations! That's amazing news. Hoping things in our area start moving soon 🤞

👏👏👏

@secondary23 I'm sure they will start moving soon as wish you all the best. I was number 8 on the list and the school is a 6 form entry. It turns out I need to know I can have another choice (the one 1.5 miles away that I put as first choice and got) to know that actually I just want the convenience of the one round the corner. It's been a Cathartic journey and I've got no doubts I want the closest one now. Also, DD has been moaning her head off about a 1.5 mile walk home when she likes the one round the corner so she's off my case now ha ha