Schools refusing end of year 10 entry

[RayOfRainbow]

Has anyone experienced this?

Firstly, it’s obviously not an ideal situation but it is where we unexpectedly are due to external factors that can’t change.

DS is finishing year 10 and needs to find a school. I presumed we’d just apply but it’s been weeks of no answers/ outright no/ systems blocks

He has a history and reports of good behaviour. Mocks are ok, grade 5 and 6s. No social issues, everything ever says basically he’s a nice kid. We’re teachers and I’m not so worried about the academics as we planned to intensively support the swap over end of June/ July august but now I’m more worried about not have a syllabus over the summer to work to.

Schools all have some spaces. I applied to the nearest 9 across 4 LAs. Two schools on the phone said they simply don’t admit at this stage (academies). One LA hasn’t answers any emails or applications for their schools despite chasing. One LA keeps delaying with extra forms or questions which hold it up another 15 days, they haven’t processed the appointment still. Not stuff I’ve missed, but extra-eg this form for the ballast school, a letter saying no behaviour etc…. Two schools (with spaces) said outright they have none (published PAN is about 20 more than in the year group).

I’ quite stressed so please don’t just say ‘we’ll moved are difficult at this stage- I know. The whole situation was unexpected and stressful. It’s where we are.

I managed to get an LA response from the attendance team saying a school must admit a child if they have spaces- but after saying all schools I phoned saying they don’t admit they have not replied further. It’s been weeks. I get no one wants an end of year 10 child, but ds is academically solid and a pleasant child. They just won’t even consider it and it seems very reactive

Surely there are some kids that have to move sometimes in the system?!

I am glad for you, and I hope it works out very well for you all.

The Governors have a lot of influence in difficulties and it is always worth applying to them.

At one time I wondered if you got crossed swords with schools who don't want to take in pupils previously in private schools after the government imposed VAT on the fees.

That is for another thread, I think?

I’d be very very surprised. There is one very small private school in our whole LA and very few in neighbouring ones. It’s an area of huge extremes with family wealth, and I’ve not heard about the fee impact here that you hear about in other areas that have much lower cost and more common private school options. Our few are mega expensive regardless.
Also, were parents to move most the schools I applied to just wouldn’t be considered by a family who’d gone to the expense of private schooling. Private school to knife crime would be a bit extreme! I’ve taught locally for many many years and it’s just not a move you see happening. When it does everyone is pretty happy to have a child from a highly selective private school to raise grades.

Glad its sorted.

Though it’s sorted- just an update. One academy and one LA never responded at all. I find that quite shocking it was ignored completely. I can only imagine the position of a less informed parent only applying to their local LA/ academy