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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Chances of your y6 getting first choice next week.

120 replies

louise5754 · 25/02/2023 19:14

Just that really.

Have you applied in your catchment or further?

Anyone thinking they will have to appeal or do you know you will definitely get a space due to catchment / sibling?

OP posts:
AnonymousArabella · 27/02/2023 15:22

We put dd’s first choice down first but realistically it’s the only one she stands a chance of getting into anyway. Our true first choice (that we ended up putting second), always fills on feeder school places & as she’s not in one, it won’t happen. So we didn’t really mind giving her the illusion of choice.

starpatch · 27/02/2023 16:20

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I have very firmly managed this process telling DS I would not let him go to the school which would be our sort of 'catchment' school, I kind of warned him early on so he hasn't developed a strong preference to go there- I only let him view schools I was willing for him to go to! But then in our area there is a very stark difference between some of the schools in outcomes- if all the schools felt 'okayish' to me I wouldn't have done that. Am also an older mum and more bossy!

Boomboom22 · 27/02/2023 17:06

I vetoed the catchment school and didn't even put it on the list. We did view it and the facilities are good but the pedagogy is not!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/02/2023 17:15

starpatch · 27/02/2023 16:20

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I have very firmly managed this process telling DS I would not let him go to the school which would be our sort of 'catchment' school, I kind of warned him early on so he hasn't developed a strong preference to go there- I only let him view schools I was willing for him to go to! But then in our area there is a very stark difference between some of the schools in outcomes- if all the schools felt 'okayish' to me I wouldn't have done that. Am also an older mum and more bossy!

It's good that you've done that. I told dd it's a lottery - she picks her favourite three (we are lucky that we had 7 schools we visited and only actually hated 1), which we sort if influenced as we viewed. However we put them in an order (she thinks it's a straight lottery).

However it's not stopped her since developing a preference based on friends and what not.

Live4weekend · 27/02/2023 17:26

However it's not stopped her since developing a preference based on friends and what not.

There will only be 1 or 2 children from DDs school going to the same high school.

Thankfully she knows some other kids and is looking forward to being in school with them.

I think she's looking forward to not seeing quite a few of the girls in her class.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/02/2023 18:29

Yeah there's some definite perks to going with fewer / no kids from her class. It would be my preference (happened to me too when I went to secondary).

May09Bump · 27/02/2023 19:42

JustKeepBuilding · 26/02/2023 12:26

If LAs and schools act unlawfully parents can enforce their DC’s rights as I have mentioned in my posts. They don’t need to accept unlawful practices.

Parents may have to appeal in the first place to get the school named in section I, but the poster I was responding to already has the school named in section I therefore it is ‘just’ a matter of enforcing that and the school can be directed to admit and depending on specifics JR may be possible.

When appealing an EHCP mediation is a waste of time, LAs use it as a delaying tactic, but parents don’t need to actively partake in mediation, just get the certificate and submit straight to SENDIST.

My point is parent's of children with SEN are told they can get their named place - 100% of cases I know are having to significantly fight for their place even if named / have an ECHP and it's unexpected. I agree you don't accept unlawful practices. Parents need to be prepared for the possibility of a fight rather than just accepting their case worker's word for it. Enforcement takes time and energy, often in short supply if you have a SEN child.

JustKeepBuilding · 27/02/2023 19:47

May09Bump · 27/02/2023 19:42

My point is parent's of children with SEN are told they can get their named place - 100% of cases I know are having to significantly fight for their place even if named / have an ECHP and it's unexpected. I agree you don't accept unlawful practices. Parents need to be prepared for the possibility of a fight rather than just accepting their case worker's word for it. Enforcement takes time and energy, often in short supply if you have a SEN child.

Show quote history

I think you are confused as to what is being discussed.

You are discussing getting the LA to name a placement in section I in the first place. The LA doesn’t always agree to name the parental preference and if they don’t parents can appeal which does take time. This is a relatively common scenario.

The poster I was responding to wasn’t talking about that. They already have the placement named in section I. They don’t need to appeal to get the school to admit as it is already named in section I. If the school refuse they can be directed to admit and the parent can take enforcement action which is significantly quicker than SENDIST. This situation is much, much less common and it would be unheard of for 100% of cases you know to be in this situation.

May09Bump · 27/02/2023 19:56

JustKeepBuilding · 27/02/2023 19:47

I think you are confused as to what is being discussed.

You are discussing getting the LA to name a placement in section I in the first place. The LA doesn’t always agree to name the parental preference and if they don’t parents can appeal which does take time. This is a relatively common scenario.

The poster I was responding to wasn’t talking about that. They already have the placement named in section I. They don’t need to appeal to get the school to admit as it is already named in section I. If the school refuse they can be directed to admit and the parent can take enforcement action which is significantly quicker than SENDIST. This situation is much, much less common and it would be unheard of for 100% of cases you know to be in this situation.

Show quote history

Nope - the placement was named in our case, school rejected. Fight began. My point is that you are advised that it will be straightforward and more often then not it's an unexpected, exhausting fight.

Anotherusernamethisweek · 27/02/2023 19:59

I'm getting really nervous. We've just moved 2 streets away from our first choice school and I've updated our address with the LA, no idea if it will make a difference. It's a selective school and DD has passed the entrance exam so fingers crossed.

2nd choice is also a fantastic school (selective) but in a neighbouring town. It would be a bit of a faff getting her there and the buss pass is expensive for public transport but I'd be happy for her to go there. My eldest did her A levels there and I was happy with the school 2 years ago.

3rd choice is an absolute disaster and I would rather home educate her. But it's the only other school in the district with a grammar stream and we were heavily encouraged to use all 3 choices, a lot of kids from her current school will be going there, including 2 of her very close friends.

JustKeepBuilding · 27/02/2023 20:00

May09Bump · 27/02/2023 19:56

Nope - the placement was named in our case, school rejected. Fight began. My point is that you are advised that it will be straightforward and more often then not it's an unexpected, exhausting fight.

Show quote history

I didn’t suggest it was straightforward. I posted the law and how the pp could challenge it. If you have a school/group of schools that are regularly doing this you/other parents should speak to IPSEA or SOSSEN because it isn’t common for this to happen in anywhere near 100% of cases. And the school can be directed to admit and parents can pursue judicial review.

KindergartenKop · 27/02/2023 22:03

Does anyone know what time we can log on to find out if DC got their schools in London? Apparently they email in the evening but can we look online earlier?

My DC has about a 1/4 chance of getting the school they want 😬

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/02/2023 22:07

I thought the portal updated after midnight?

KindergartenKop · 27/02/2023 22:14

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz that's exciting news!

Morph22010 · 27/02/2023 22:19

JustKeepBuilding · 25/02/2023 22:05

If DC has an EHCP you should already have the finalised amended EHCP naming the secondary placement as the LA legally have to finalise secondary phase transfer reviews by 15th February. If the school is named in the EHCP the school must admit.

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well our la never manage to finalise all transition ehcps by the 15th feb, it takes them until July sometimes longer

JustKeepBuilding · 27/02/2023 22:29

Morph22010 · 27/02/2023 22:19

well our la never manage to finalise all transition ehcps by the 15th feb, it takes them until July sometimes longer

Show quote history

The statutory deadline is the 15th February for secondary phase transfer EHCPs. If LAs act unlawfully parents can pursue JR proceedings, they don’t need to accept them not finalising until July. It’s irrelevant really as the pp I was replying to actually has a finalised EHCP.

JustAnotherManicNameChange · 27/02/2023 22:40

First choice 0 chance
Second choice, quite likely. It's rare kids from her school don't get a place.

Third choice quite likely as well, but i'm worried it might be the wrong choice.

Beachhutnut · 27/02/2023 23:09

First choice , slight chance, second choice should be ok, third choice dead cert.

ShakespearesSisters · 27/02/2023 23:09

Do we need to log on? I thought we would get an email?

Beachhutnut · 27/02/2023 23:40

I hope not. I just tried and my local portal is broken 🤔

mnahmnah · 27/02/2023 23:58

@Beachhutnut

Offer day is Wednesday, so it won’t be on there yet anyway

Meredusoleil · 28/02/2023 01:28

ShakespearesSisters · 27/02/2023 23:09

Do we need to log on? I thought we would get an email?

Yes we get an email, but the outcome is often available on the portal earlier.

Sazzlesw2 · 28/02/2023 06:45

For London you can log on from 5pm to find out. It is going to be a long day

We should be guaranteed our first choice as DS got a place on a selective stream confirmed by the school but I'm still terrified that I've filled the form in incorrectly or something wipl go wrong!

itsjustnotok · 28/02/2023 06:48

99% certain. In our catchment area and sibling is there. Good luck everyone 😀

Original poster
louise5754 · 28/02/2023 07:08

With primary I think it was online at 12am on offer day. I'm in Yorkshire. I can't remember whether I received an email or not.

OP posts: