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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Fuck

48 replies

Soubriquet · 01/03/2024 12:37

My dd hasn’t been allocated any of her chosen schools and instead been allocated to one about 30 mins drive away.

I have appealed because we are in temp accommodation and won’t be here for much longer. Problem is we don’t know when we are moving or where.

I did what they asked and applied for school transport anyway whilst waiting to be told we can’t get that either because it’s further than 6 miles….but it’s literally the school they allocated. Again I’ve appealed it because I am honestly stuck. Without the transport, my dd can’t get to school. Im hoping between now and April, other parents would have tried to appeal to other schools and therefore opening a spot for my dd (she’s on the waiting list) but I am truly and honestly stuck.

I’ve contacted them asking for advice regarding the whole moving situation so fingers crossed they can help. There’s not much else you can really do apart from reading my stressed rant. Ugh. Primary school application was so much easier

OP posts:
EduCated · 01/03/2024 13:26

Breathe. It’s in their interest to get her to a closer school, and there is time between now and then. I am unsure on their comment about not providing transport over 6 miles.

Was your closest/catchment school one of your options?

Make sure she is on the waiting list for as many closer schools as possible. You can also appeal for the schools you weren’t allocated. Transport isn’t usually a strong point, but over 6 miles may make it stronger. How long is the journey by public transport?

clary · 01/03/2024 13:29

Re te transport - I believe if you didn't apply to your closest or catchment school the LA does not pay for your transport if it allocates a far away school -
so did you? That might be crucial.

YY be on as many WLs as possible. When will you know more about the move? What is the allocated school like?

lanthanum · 01/03/2024 13:34

I think there's a sneaky get-out on the requirement to provide transport if you didn't put your nearest school on your list - even if that school is full and you wouldn't have got a place.

I'm guessing that if you get your move, you can then put in a late application from that address; if so, make sure you include the nearest school to the new address, so that if they allocate you somewhere distant they can't wriggle out of the transport issue.

Hopefully they will get back to you with definitive advice. And there might be movement on the waiting lists - there's often quite a bit in the next few weeks, because those who are going to go private may well have applied for a state place as well.

minimidge · 01/03/2024 13:37

What is the public transport situation?

KnickerlessParsons · 01/03/2024 13:43

Why can't your DD get to the allocated school? Is there a bus or train? Could she cycle? Is there anyone else going from your area who she could lift share with?
Do you know why she didn't get places at any of the other schools you applied for? How far away are they?

It's easy where we live (UK - Wilts) - there's only one school, everyone in catchment gets in, and some in catchment rural kids travel miles to get there every morning.

LIZS · 01/03/2024 13:56

Go on waiting lists for those which are more accessible . You can update address as and when you move. Logistics alone will not support an appeal.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 01/03/2024 13:58

I did put the nearest schools on my list and I’ve been told they are oversubscribed….so they put me in one a lot further away which is why I’m stressing

OP posts:
sleepyscientist · 01/03/2024 13:59

Have a look at public transport. Our school choices are all over 6 miles away DS will be getting a bus pass

Original poster
Soubriquet · 01/03/2024 14:06

A bus pass is an option though it’s not ideal but I suppose it will do.

She definitely cannot walk or cycle there. The roads are not at all safe and it’s a long way.

Oh well. Fingers crossed the appeal works, or a space opens up for her in the nearest schools that I applied to. In the mean time I will take your advice and apply to other schools too. Thanks

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LIZS · 01/03/2024 14:11

Nearest to current address? Was that the one they used for distance? Was she placed in the correct admissions category for each? Where is she on wl?

Soreteatowel · 01/03/2024 14:13

Why do you think she won't get transport because its more than 6 miles? It might be public transport, but they should fund it.

pastypirate · 01/03/2024 14:16

Oh op this must be very stressful on top of being in temp accommodation.

Are the schools you applied for a match for the feeder primary she is at?

In my area you have to accept the place by 8/03 so I assume the wait list places start coming up after that.

A friends child was offered a wait list place pretty quickly after the acceptance date.

Is there an advocacy service for school admissions in your area?

Topseyt123 · 01/03/2024 14:21

I thought they had an obligation to fund her home - school transport, especially as you did apply to your local school and they allocated her to a different one that is so far away?? Are you sure you have understood that correctly? It could be worth double checking.

Keep up the pressure for that, and keep her on the waiting lists for the more suitable schools. Appeal. Keep asking.

Are you in an area with decent public transport, or is it barely existent?

coureur · 01/03/2024 14:24

As you applied to your nearest school they should absolutely be funding school transport regardless of the distance.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 01/03/2024 14:25

I requested school transport as soon as I could and I’ve been told already it’s a no because it’s more than 6 miles. Which I’ve appealed so I should hear from them soon I hope.

It’s been a nightmare with us being in temp. There are primary schools where we are but we kept both dc in their old primary school despite it being a 20 min drive away purely because it was kinder for them. The schools I applied for are the feeder schools to the primary as well as being the nearest to us. The one they allocated is in a whole different town (still same county) which is known for being rough around the edges.

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PatriciaHolm · 01/03/2024 14:40

Assuming you are in England, If the school allocated is the nearest available school that you would have been offered a place at if you put it on your list, and is more than 3 miles away, you are entitled to transport (though this could be a bus pass). There is no max 6 miles exception to this.

It sounds like maybe someone who doesn't know the rules has got confused; there is a rule about providing free transport between 2-6 miles if you get maximum working tax credit/get free school meals, if it is one of your 3 nearest suitable schools, but that's not relevant here.

Also - if the school your DD is in is a feeder actually named in the admissions criteria for the secondary you applied for, do double check they have assessed her in the right category.

AmaryllisChorus · 01/03/2024 14:40

Appeal.

Also, contact the schools individually to let them know you definitely want to stay on their waiting lists and will accept an offer. Ask each school individually how they would like you to keep in touch about this. When similar happened to my DC, I was surprised that one school office advised me to call every single morning, because if a place became free, they gave it to the most recent enquiry, rather than chasing the list. DC ended up where we wanted them to be, but I passed this advice on to a friend and her child got a place by doing what they asked.

There will be movement between now and September. People move house, home school, go private. An excellent school which we put down as a long shot as it was so oversubscribed, and much further away but easier on public transport, also got in touch with us a week after term started to offer a place. But I hope you don't have to wait that long.

EduCated · 01/03/2024 14:49

I was surprised that one school office advised me to call every single morning, because if a place became free, they gave it to the most recent enquiry, rather than chasing the list.

This would be unlawful (at least in England, for a state school). Waiting lists must be maintained in order of the admissions criteria and cannot be first come, first served (or indeed, last come, first serve).

minimidge · 01/03/2024 14:49

What is the issue with the school? 6 miles isn't an unusual distance, and it sounds like there is a bus? Are you happy with the school itself? Do you know where and when you will be moving into long term accommodation? I think being stuck in temporary accommodation is really horrible, when you are trying to sort out things like this.

PinkFrogss · 01/03/2024 14:49

Appeal - not saying you have to post it here but the reasons you’re in temporary accommodation could be relevant to the appeal - E.g if you’re escaping abuse and a nearby school has excellent pastoral care.

PatriciaHolm · 01/03/2024 14:55

EduCated · 01/03/2024 14:49

I was surprised that one school office advised me to call every single morning, because if a place became free, they gave it to the most recent enquiry, rather than chasing the list.

This would be unlawful (at least in England, for a state school). Waiting lists must be maintained in order of the admissions criteria and cannot be first come, first served (or indeed, last come, first serve).

For normal round applications, absolutely, a waiting list has by law to be kept until the end of the autumn term, and any allocations between then and now have to come off the waiting list which has to be held according to the admissions criteria. So ringing all the time between now and then would be of no advantage.

After that, it can change. If a waiting list is held, then it has to be ordered by admissions criteria. However, there is no legal requirement to hold a list after the end of the autumn term, and many schools chose not to do so. In those cases, if a place comes up, it is given to the first person who requests it.

But that's an issue for post Christmas for Year 7!

Original poster
Soubriquet · 01/03/2024 14:57

No we don’t know where or even when we are moving. All we know is that we are moving. The school is not 6 miles away. It’s further than 6 miles. No I’m not entirely happy with the school anyway as it’s in Boston and Boston is not an ideal place to go to if you can help it.

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BoohooWoohoo · 01/03/2024 14:58

Get on the waiting list for all acceptable schools closer than the allocated school (it doesn’t have to be a school on the form). Hopefully you will get your dd a place before September.

EduCated · 01/03/2024 15:00

Just to check - what address was used for your application? Is it the temporary address you are in, or a previous address.

If it was a previous address, how far is the allocated school from that address?

Original poster
Soubriquet · 01/03/2024 15:02

Temporary address was used for application. It would have been closer to use previous address.

The school I applied for is 5 miles from home. The school she was allocated is 10 miles

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