Offered place at higher pref school and previously offered and accepted place withdrawn?

[glassespet]

Dc was offered 2nd pref secondary school, and accepted that place with a waiting list place at 1st pref school.
Dc has some SEN and has already started the transition process with accepted place. Now have got an email offering place at 1st pref school saying previously offered place has now been withdrawn. I still have to either accept or decline this offer. If I decline it, will I still have the place at 2nd pref school, or will that now have been offered to someone else?

Oh crap, I’m so sorry they aren’t being more helpful. I think it’s a completely unreasonable way to run the system, obviously some people will change their minds about waiting lists once transition planning starts and they ought to give you time to say yes or no, or maybe send an email once a week to those on waiting lists stating the process and asking if they want to stay on the list.

They are wrong about 2.13 not applying. There is nothing in the Admissions Code that suggests 2.13 doesn't apply when places are offered from the waiting list. What do they think happens if you reject the place at your first choice? The correct answer, of course, is that you keep the place you've already accepted.

This should be a straightforward win at appeal. See if the school concerned is willing to continue with the transition in the meantime.

Again, they are inventing things that simply aren’t in the appeals code. There’s no exclusion in para 2.13 for places offered via the waiting list. As we’ve said before, announcing that they’re going to do something wrong and contrary to the appeals code doesn’t make it right.

Admissions code, obvs.

Thank you very much. I am making an appeal, in the meantime the admissions manager has advised me to accept the newly offered places to avoid being left with no place at all, and she has put them onto the waiting list for 2nd choice school - which is in single digits.
She is contacting 2nd place school to ask if they can accept dc back and primary head who knows secondary head is phoning to ask the same. I am contacting head of Y7 who is making the transition arrangements to explain what's happened and the effect on dc.
I think (hope) all bases are covered but I'm still just so angry and upset to be put in this position in the first place

@glassespet hi I was just wondering how you got on with this? Did the LA give you your allocated school back?

No - they say they think it's legal, I've had to accept newly offered place so as not to be left with nothing and they've change pref so previous 2nd choice is now 1st choice and we are on waiting list. I've appealed, had primary head onto secondary head, emailed local councillor, been in contact with head of Y7 who was arranging the transition stuff. I'm so unbelievably stressed and just keeping everything crossed.

Oh, OP, this absolutely sucks.

Oh no @glassespet so sorry to hear this that's not fair! Things change and it's a shame the LA can't help with that. What is happening now with your child's transition? I hope you get somewhere with the appeal or wait list

Transition has been paused until the next round of offers at the end of the month. Desperately hoping he's offered a place then

Ok so at least he doesn't have to do two which would be so confusing for the poor thing. When is your next round? Is it a long wait?

22nd May I think. I haven't told him yet, just holding it all in and hoping I never have to

Oh bless you. Hold tight and keep positive: I really hope it works out for you. Please keep us update

Thanks

Update! I got an email this afternoon re-offering the place, so it's all sorted. I am so relieved but also angry because I should not have had to go through this and I guess they will continue to operate this stupid system which may affect other families similarly in future.
But mainly I'm relieved. I haven't had a night since this began where I didn't wake up worrying at some point. Thanks for all
The advice and support

That's good news. Glad you've got what you wanted without having to go through an appeal.

That’s fantastic @glassespet I’m so pleased for you! Sorry you had to go through this, but glad it is over now and your son get back into the swing of his transition.

Yes - new date for his next transition activity is 5th June.
I did lodge an appeal - do I need to withdraw it? Or will they just know since he has the place now?

I’ve just read the full thread and been stressed on your behalf. So sorry you had to cope with feeling like that for weeks and I’m very pleased it’s been resolved to your satisfaction!

Oh brilliant OP!

You shouldn't need to do anything.

Great - thanks!

@glassespet congratulations! That is amazing news! 🥳

🎉🍾🎊🥳🥂😊

Fantastic news!!