Advice re my children's education

whitewing

I was under the impression that siblings of existing students being at a school may be a factor in getting a place? So if you daughter were to get in to 1st place school........?

Savvy_Sue

What Nenen said.

Savvy_Sue

One thing to bear in mind is that your child is now in Year 1. This means that you are not waiting for a Reception place at the other school, but a Year 1 place, UNLESS they teach mixed age ranges, and even then they may limit the number of children in each year group.

I think that would affect the way you apply, and whether it's appropriate to 'apply' formally for a place at this stage. However, the school / local authority would be the best people to advise you on the mechanics.

FWIW I wouldn't move a happy child who was enjoying school.

poet123

whitewing wrote: »

I was under the impression that siblings of existing students being at a school may be a factor in getting a place? So if you daughter were to get in to 1st place school........?

Not the case now with all schools. The Primary school at which I am a Governor does not have this as the most important criteria,from memory it is about number 4. All schools have to publish the criteria though,so it needs to be checked.

whitewing

A happy child is likely to be happy at another school too.

I moved DS at the end of Y4 to a different school, and he has come on in leaps and bounds. He is much more confident in himself thro being at a school that encourages polite and 'rounded' behavious. But he wasn't unhappy at his old school.

poet123

owsaboutthatthen wrote: »

Thanks Poet, I have just noticed tonight the deadline has passed (November 08 I believe it was for September 09 admissions) however I wasn't led to believe that I needed to follow the admissions process again if all I was told to do was to contact the school periodically for a place because he was "top of the list". At this moment in time, distance would play an important factor, however I know faith is top of their criteria. I'm not too sure where I now stand because of all this.

I would not be confident that your sons application will be carried forward,as the next crop are for Reception 2009,not year 1(which is the year he will be in ?)so imo he will not feature in the process.

I would guess you are now on the waiting list for the year group you originally applied for,(not a general waiting list ifyswim)which realistically means you have a much reduced chance of getting a place. This is what happens in my school.

bunty109

poet123 wrote: »

I would not be confident that your sons application will be carried forward,as the next crop are for Reception 2009,not year 1(which is the year he will be in ?)so imo he will not feature in the process.

I would guess you are now on the waiting list for the year group you originally applied for,(not a general waiting list ifyswim)which realistically means you have a much reduced chance of getting a place. This is what happens in my school.

Poet is right. You apply for a reception place and places in other years are (usually) dealt with by the school so you just need to stay on the list and keep calling them.

What I would say though is that in my experience there is a fair amount of movement of children through schools so there will always be a chance your son could get a place so long as you are near the top of the waiting list. If you are that keen for him to go to this school but he is happy where he is then there is no harm in keep waiting (perhaps contacting your first choice school periodically to show your interest?).

owsaboutthatthen

I can't believe what has happened. I made some further enquiries today and have been told, after a long winded conversation with my 1st choice school, that my son is at the bottom of the list because of my late application and that I live so many miles away?! There is no way in this world I would have dreamt up a conversation with someone who said to me "he is at the top of the list" as I remember being very surprised that I had been told this information. Also there is no way in this world I would have allowed them to believe that I wasn't going to be moving from the address given, as I knew he wouldn't have stood a chance going to that school based on where I lived. (Which later was contradicted by the fact that they have a child who goes to school much much further from me) maybe she shouldn't have told me that fact, but she just wanted to say that they have nobody dropping out of the school because it is that good! If it is that good, why haven't they kept my application form from last time with all my details/evidence as to why I wanted to move to that particular school? I have a receipt for the application. My memory being better than theirs because I recall it being a red receipt/application and she said it wasn't. On production, was red! I have however been told that my application has been destroyed and I would have to start the process again. I have discovered that between the school/LA, my son never stood a chance did he and was given false hope? I am going to complain and think I will leave my child where he is. I'm so frustrated!

Triggles

Well, it is frustrating for you, I'm sure, but at least that takes the decision out of your hands and it's one less thing for you to stress over, surely?

poet123

The problem is that being in the process of moving is different to having moved. As we all know house sales fall through etc,and so the address taken has to be the one at the time of application,closing date for applications,to do otherwise would be unfair and open up a real can of worms. So,if you applied from your old address,that would have been the one used.

I would put it behind me now though and concnetrate on supporting ypour son,and his current school,and considerit a dilemma solved. As I have said please dont go down the route of getting a place for a sibling then appealing,as it very often backfires. Although by all means check out the admission criteria for sibling applications and how much weight it carries. If it is such a good school though,and a faith school,my guess is it will be oversubscribed by parishioners, and others higher up the criteria than you.