School

[CadburyDream]

I really really don’t like the school my son has been given, we didn’t get into the main choices so had to settle for his one. I didn’t appeal as the main school he wanted was quite far from where we live. I’m now thinking this was a big mistake and my son isn’t happy about the school he has been given. Is it too late to change it or how would I go about it?

Is he on the waiting list for your preferred schools? Not sure about your area, but round here unless there is movement on the waiting list (which you are automatically added to by not getting your preferred schools) there is nothing you can do until school starts in September and then you can apply to other schools and hope they have a place for your son...

You have to have a really big reason to appeal so unfortunately just not liking a school won't get very far.
Are you on the waiting lists for all the schools you applied to? If not get on them. I think you might be able to add his name to waiting lists for schools you didn't originally apply to.
What don't you like about the school he has been offered?

I’ve just checked and he is number 208 😳 so he will never get a place there. The school he’s been given has a very bad reputation in the area.

@CadburyDream a "bad reputation" isn't fact though.
What makes it have this reputation? Some bad behaviour/bad exam results/horrible teachers/bad Ofsted could be from years ago. You need to talk to current parents (Facebook groups?).
You just need to be on every waiting list going - but unless you can home school or go private you may have to accept the place and send him there.
There is sometimes movement between schools after the first term so he might not be stuck there for years.

It’s well known in the area sadly for its reputation we live very close to it which is why we got this place. I am willing to consider EHE.

Why don't you at least try it before you jump to EHE? It's unlikely you would've won the appeal anyway unless you had a really good reason, so don't beat yourself up about that. The only thing you can do is stay on the waiting list. All schools have their reputations locally. The one far away you probably just don't see after school.

Could you go on the waiting lists for other schools besides your first choice? You can appeal but your appeal is only accepted if the detriment of your child not being accepted to the school is greater than the detriment of the school for going over PAN. Depending on your circumstances and even the school you are appealing for, you may have a decent chance of winning to a very low, almost zero chance. If you go down that route, there are appeal panel members/experts on this board who can help.

But if you're not appealing/don't win the appeal and you absolutely do not want your DS to go to that school, private and home education are your only options.

Well I’ve asked on the local Facebook page and the comments are worse than I thought. My son is quiet shy and anxious he is not the kind of kid that would stand up for himself and like I said none of this friends are going, many of the comments say their children have been bullied so bad there they have removed them from the school.

How many choices could you put on the form, and did you use all three choices? Did he therefore not get any of his choices and got given this school?

Have a look at the council admission documents to see which other schools have spaces or were undersubscribed in the main round. Then put in a late application or add your name to waiting list for these (if local) as they may have shorter lists. Don't give up hope just maybe widen your search and consider options you hadn't previously.

You say the school he wants is quite far - are there other closer ones, and are you on the waiting list for those?

It is not too late to appeal. You can appeal at any time. You would need to show that it is worse for your son not to attend this specific school than it is for the school to have to take another pupil. Why did he/you want that school?