First timer - help!

[WhatIsHeThinking]

Our DS wasn’t offered any of his four preference schools.

I’ve spent the weekend researching (trying not to panic) and would be so grateful for any tips.

We are in the South West and they are state schools. Two of the schools are very oversubscribed. The last allocated place for one of the schools was 127 metres nearer than us.

He has been allocated to a school that is further away than the two oversubscribed preferences. It’s a failing school and even with 80 children allocated there, the school isn’t fully subscribed. We are nearly half a mile outside the allocated school’s catchment area. We don’t know that area and none of DS’s friends are going there.

I’ve checked DS is on the waiting list for the two popular schools. One is a 180 PAN and he was 29th as of Friday last week. The other school won’t confirm waiting list position until after 15th March.

We’re gutted for DS as the majority of his year are going to one of the popular schools. I cannot fathom it out but on speaking to the admissions team today they’ve confirmed it. It feels like DS is being used as fodder for a really crappy school.

I am trying to focus on an appeal. We have some factors relating to social needs.

I’m upset that DS can’t join in with his friends discussing their new schools and worried he’ll miss transition day.

Basically, I just need some calming guidance as to what on earth to do next please!

First... do you know why he didn't get a place at your preferred schools? If its on distance, does the measured distance appear correct? Were these your nearest schools?

Appeals... focus on why these schools are more suitable. Not how bad the allocated school is.

Firstly, you need to accept the offer he was given, otherwise the LA have no duty to find him a school place.

Secondly, if there are any other school options you would now consider, put him on the waiting list for those as well. You applied for four schools- can he go on the waiting list for all four? Are there any other schools you'd now consider?

Thirdly, do consider appealing- there is lots of good advice on here, and you may get lucky with a school that doesn't put up a strong case as well.

Transition days aren't the be all and end all, and I wouldn't worry about that at this stage. It does sound like the school he's been allocated is very poor, and it may be time to think about plan B (or C?) if he doesn't get into another school via waiting list or appeal.

Not got any advice for you but wanted to give you some moral support as we are in a similar position. Our child wasn’t offered any of the preferred choices but offered a local school with a very poor reputation - we specifically didn’t choose it.

After speaking to LA our child missed due to distance for all, so now we have to hang tight for some movement on the waiting list.

We had no idea we’d be in this position so we have had a frantic panic stressful last few days, and like you I feel sad that my child can’t join in with school chat with friends.

Sending you good luck, hopefully your ds will get a place at a school you prefer.

Oh, and we originally chose five so have since added one more school to waiting lists to increase chances of a better offer.

He didn’t get in on distance for all 4. The first two, the preferred ones, are the two closest to us and we are surprised not to have got in to either of them. The distance measurements look correct but I will double check.

We seem to be in a dead zone catchment wise.

He’s automatically on the list for all four now, and we’ve added him to the waiting list for two others.

I’m so worried that accepting the place at the allocated school will affect our appeal. It’s truly a terrible school. The Ofsted report is damning and the exam results are abysmal. We are considering home school as a last resort.

Accepting the place will NOT affect your appeal. Don't worry about that aspect of it.

Thank you. This seems to exactly the same position as us. It’s heartbreaking more than anything that he’s missing out on that part. Sending you support in return!

What's the school op? A school which has been graded RI will be on an upward trajectory. Some schools in the SW haven't been inspected for years so they might have e a 'Good' rating that could very well be out of date.

What is the schools actual grading and when was it last inspected compared to the other schools?

I’d rather not give the name but this is their inspection record. I don’t think there is any upward trajectory unfortunately.

The other two schools were last rated Outstanding in 2018 and Good in 2019. The one rated Good is where most people put as first preference and is the one we are shy of by 127 metres!

Eek, it's been RI for quite a while then, any change of leadership recently which could give you hope?

None that I’m aware of. It’s really a dreadful school and I’m adamant DS won’t go. He would be better home schooling until an alternative is available.

Accept the offered school
If you decide to home ed later then you have lost nothing.
Appeal panels apparently don't like it when people claim no school because they rejected offered place.

127m sounds like you'll only need a few parents to decline and you'll get in. Makes me angry that schools are still RI after several years as that's failing a lot of children

Please don't reject the offer, unless you are 100% happy with either home schooling or private. If you do and wait lists don't come up with anything and the appeal fails, you would find yourselves without a school In September.

Accepting will have no impact on your appeal. Panelists (i chair panels) appreciate you have no choice; and turning it down can sometimes come across as saying - well you have to allow the appeal or he is schoolless.

The appeal would need to show the detriment to him of not going to the school is greater than the detriment to the school of taking another pupil. It needs to be for a school not against one.

Thank you all. That is really helpful. We will accept the offered school but only so as to not irritate the panellists! Our appeal will be reasons why the preferred school is the best one for DS, rather than negatives against the school he won’t be going to.

Second second have got in touch to say DS is 22nd on their list. I expected him to be higher given we were 127 metres short, but at least it’s higher than the first school, even though the first school had fewer applicants.

The sick feeling hasn’t gone. Working on our appeals for both schools and trying to keep positive for DS.

Do you think there could have been a mistake at all? I’m just trying to visualise how there could be so many people within the 127m band.

@YourWorld 127m in all directions from the edge of whatever distance the last child was admitted from... this could be an area of several square kilometres. Its not just 127m in a straight line.