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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Waiting lists for secondary schools.

55 replies

furbz · 13/03/2009 18:53

Hi all, I recently found out my son hadnt got a place in our first or second choice of secondary school. we were devastated. well i rang up the admissions team today and he is 9th on the waiting list. i was wondering if anyone knows if 9th is a good place to be or not and if they think he will have a chance of getting in failing me not winning my appeal. i would be really grateful for any replies.

OP posts:

2plus2 · 07/05/2009 16:47

Furbz, thanks for the info. Not looking forward to it. What sort of questions did they ask you, all are answers are in the appeal letter that they would have already read. Ds was 58th on the list now 36th. He just wants to go to the same school as his brother.
Fingers crossed you get the result you want.

elsiepiddock · 08/05/2009 08:50

We had our appeal yesterday and it was rather gruelling.

It lasted an hour and 45 minutes of that was my presentation! It was all a bit good cop/bad cop and I am sooo glad it's over.

lilolilmanchester · 09/05/2009 18:17

got the letter today, result as expected . Good luck to everyone else.

mollyroger · 09/05/2009 18:24

We have ours on Monday and I am resigned to us not getting in. We have been told exactly the same as lilolil, the school is full and that is that.

We are going on social and emotional grounds as ds has dyslexia (but not statemented) and the results for our chosen school are 'exceptional' for those with SEN, as opposed to the school we have been offered.

Good luck to everyone. I am dreading it as an experience.

lilolilmanchester · 09/05/2009 18:33

Good luck Molly! Do you have anything backing up the fact that your DS has dyslexia, if he's not statemented? The school we didn't get into is also very good with SEN and SEN children automatically get offered places. Sounds like you have good grounds for an appeal.

mollyroger · 09/05/2009 18:36

we have full report from Dyslexia place saying how because of his exceptional IQ and his Specific learning dfficulties, he needed to be in a school where he would be stretched but his problems understood.
And head of current school has written letter of support, but it doesn't really say much.

Still, you never know?

lilolilmanchester · 09/05/2009 19:15

don't want to get your hopes up but I think that would have swung it at the school we wanted. Hope all goes well for you xx

Original poster

furbz · 09/05/2009 21:59

oh lilolil, im sorry to hear that! im dreading getting the letter. i have told my son not to get his hopes up, but that we have tried our best.It just seems so unfair. Plus i have now kicked myself for thinking of 2 things i should have mentioned!!!! Argh!!! one being the school my son has been placed at, half of it is being knocked down and rebuilt. So what are they going to do with the children in those halls!! its a school of approx 2500 pupils!!!! and the other thing is my sons friend who lives a street behind us got in and i just found out to late that it was his 2nd choice!!! yet it was our 1st. hows that???????????????
Molly i think you have good grounds and i wish you luck.

OP posts:

lilolilmanchester · 09/05/2009 22:10

furbz, FWIW, not sure the things you forgot would swing it. Sounds harsh, I know, but have been through 2 appeals and I really don't think the things you forgot to mention would have made a difference. You have to pull something fairly spectacular & unique out of the bag to make them change their minds if the school is already full.

Once our DCs start at their new schools in September, we should have a "how are they all doing" thread...

Original poster

furbz · 10/05/2009 09:45

No, i didnt think that would swing it either,but just a little extra! Yes thats a good idea of the new thread! Lets hope they enjoy their new schools!

OP posts:

mollyroger · 10/05/2009 09:55

I don't know how much to add in the appeal, give we have had to submit our written statement.
Do we just read out our statement again and wait for questions or can I ramble on more emotively? (I tried to be more factual and practical in the statement rather than: ''my poor sensitive wee boy cries himself to sleep every night at the thought of being separated from his friends after working for years to get his confidence up at school...'' which is true but...)

ChampagneDahling · 10/05/2009 11:30

I sit on one of these appeals panels. It is heart wrenching for us hearing some of the stories, although we get a few cocky "I just want my kid in the best school available regardless of anyone else" try ons.

If the school is very good and very over-subscribed then this round of appeals for year 7 can be massive - last year I heard 90 appeals for one school - it is hard to be a judge when you are dealing with so many people over so many days - we get around it by giving people scores out of say 10.

Basically if the school you were given is on your list of preferences you don't have a chance.

If your child has a problem, like SEN requirements, bullying, transport to school etc etc we need to have lots of back up evidence - and we need a copy for each of us 3 and the clerk. So Molly - take the dyslexia info in (preferably photocopied) and make sure it is given to panel on day. Having said that some areas won't accept any paperwork on the day although we do.

Try and remember that we all have children ourselves and want to help as many as we can. We are used to people sobbing and shouting, don't always like it but we are used to it. Personally I'm not particularly keen on the ones that bring photos of their DC and line them up on the table "so we don't forget what this is all about" - yes - we know it is about children, that is why we are there, and yes we do care and know how much you care.

And please don't forget that children are resilient and usually settle down really well in a new school, make nice new friends and just get on with it. The bright little bubbles always find their way to the top .

mollyroger · 10/05/2009 11:36

oh thanks for all that Champagne...

We have already sent them all our reports and paperwork etc (despite their best attempts to lose it )

I am terrified of crying.

I can't believe people take photos in, though

lilolilmanchester · 10/05/2009 21:12

champagne, thanks for being so open. FWIW, I couldn't do your job as panel member, can't imagine anything more stressful at this time of year!

elsiepiddock · 10/05/2009 22:37

I got my letter yesterday.

We WON our appeal!!

It's a huge relief and I wish the very best of luck to all those waiting to hear/waiting to appeal.

lilolilmanchester · 10/05/2009 22:55

Elsie, so very, very pleased for you. What a relief!!!Any idea why you won?? (Don't answer if you don't want to, but you might just be able to help others going through similar). We didn't win, knew we wouldn't - on basis that preferred school was full and there were no special needs/other reasons they should take DD, even though she has proven accomplishments in their specialist area. It's just crap this year, in our area the credit crunch is moving children towards state rather than private education so those of us who want state places are subject to different boundaries than previously.

elsiepiddock · 10/05/2009 23:04

Thanks Lilolil.

I don't know why we won, have only had a letter so far but apparently they send out a detailed statement soon.

I did not have, imo, any particular strong grounds, such as special needs or transport issues. But I will say I did a LOT of homework, pretty much all I have done since March! I went in armed with lots of statistics about pupil numbers, teacher ratios etc and then I focused on the strengths of the school and what it offers that others in the area don't. I also talked about our concerns for ds, going to a school without any of his friends, which would have been the case.

Who knows why we got lucky? But I was very well prepared and gave a long presentation.

Perhaps I just bored them into submission?

lilolilmanchester · 10/05/2009 23:09

sounds like my case/prep was no different to yours, honestly. Just different school/area/panel perhaps. Doesn't stop me being VERY pleased you got your school. Am fortunate in a way that DD has a very strong character, so probably will be ok but makes me a bit sick that lots of less able children (her teacher/headteacher's views, not mine!) passed for grammar and she didn't so is going to a bottom of the pile high school. Guess you'll all be bored of hearing from me over the next few years!

mollyroger · 11/05/2009 08:55

well doen elsie!

ChampagneDahling · 11/05/2009 12:06

Congratulations elsie!

lilo - don't forget that if your DD can't get on at the school you will have a much stronger case for moving her in the future. Depending on the area (I think) you can only appeal once for any one school year, but you can always go back and appeal to have her moved to another school for next year. It is much easier for the panel to be swayed by the argument "well we tried and did our best but this that and the other were failing our child and we have proved that she needs to be in a different school environment".

I wish you and her the best of luck and at least she has you on her side if there are problems. A lot of children don't have such supportive parents as the ones here on MN.

I get very irritated with the well-off parents that can play the system if they don't want to/can't pay school fees and so move or rent to be closer to the desirable schools - it is totally unfair on the rest of us normal people.

elsiepiddock · 11/05/2009 12:20

Thanks chaps!

Had a very nice time in the playground this am, with lots of hugs and good wishes.

For the last two months everyone has had their most 'concerned for me' faces on - so it made a nice change!

I was the only Y6 parent at the school who didn't get any of my 3 choices, btw..

mollyroger · 11/05/2009 16:25

oh wow. I am so glad that is over. I have never been so terrified in my life, even though the appeal panal were lovely.
I don't want to speculate on how we did, but I do feel DH and I did a blinding job so whatever the outcome, we did what we could.

Good luck to anyone still facing their this week or next.

elsiepiddock · 11/05/2009 19:35

Good luck Mollyroger! I really hope you get good news.

Saxlass · 11/05/2009 20:40

We've got our appeal on 18th May for DS at local Grammar School. Don't think I could do much more prep, I'm armed with questions for the Admissions Authority and think I've got some valid arguments. However, nothing to "pull out of the bag" so just trying to focus on selling DS to the Panel. I'm now getting really nervous and starting to worry - it's such a big thing.
Congrats to everyone whose had good news - realy pleased for you all - Any tips would be appreciated!!!!

2plus2 · 18/05/2009 16:19

Saxlass, How did it go? We had our appeal this morning took 1 1/2 hours. It was nice to finally have the chance to put our points across and to answer the questions asked by the local authority. They had another 20 appeals to go for our school so won't find out till mid june. Nothing else to do now but wait.

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