Advice re my children's education

owsaboutthatthen

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Hello

If you are really worried about kids education, would it not be better to move to a cheaper house and use some of the proceeds of the sale towards private education, just a thought.

Hi there, thanks for the advice given, however I rent, don't work at present due to various reasons, and not on much income! Sold mine and my partner's house when me and their father split and the proceeds settled the debts.

Nenen

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Hello

If you are really worried about kids education, would it not be better to move to a cheaper house and use some of the proceeds of the sale towards private education, just a thought.

Slightly OT as the OP has already said this is not an option for her but IMHO this is unrealistic. Decent private education costs around £6,000 per year for each child for primary school, more at secondary level (with expensive uniform, sports equipment and trips extra). With two children under 6 the OP would expect to pay over £110,000 per child to educate them privately from 4-18. Even if she had a house to sell I doubt whether selling a house and buying somewhere cheaper would release enough equity unless she already lived in a mansion!

Nenen

owsaboutthatthen wrote: »

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!

Sorry to hear about your disappointment but, as other posters have said, perhaps this will put your mind at rest as the decision is out of your hands. Sounds like maybe you had a lucky escape if you have been given such inconsistent and mixed messages!

You sound a really supportive mum so you may already know this (apologies if I'm teaching gm to suck eggs ) but one thing that has consistently shown to improve children's achievment is parents' involvement with their school. It sends a clear message to children that their parents value education and want to support them in their endevours. As you mentioned you are not currently working, maybe you could commit yourself to the school your son is happy at by volunteering to help out. This could either be during school time (if your LO is at playgroup etc) or via the PTA fundraising activities etc. You could even put yourself forward to be a parent governor at the next election... that might be one way of helping the school improve to be even better than your 1st choice! If you have any business skills you might even be able to get co-opted onto the governing body. Good luck.

owsaboutthatthen

Just to add on this, received a call from the education/admissions department at my LA today, who state that there has been some lack of information passed to my 1st choice school by the council, and they admit fault! My son was, indeed, further up the list, however i'm still advised to fill in a fresh application (due to their destroying my last application) and they will back date it to when I last applied, keeping his place further up the list. There are no places at present anyway, but what happened yesterday angered me and wanted it investigated further, which it has, and i'm pleased to say someone has admitted fault and I can move on.

poet123

Just a thought but if you have any friends amongst the mothers of the year group your son needs a place in,ask them to keep their ears open at the schoolgate for any news that a child is moving and let you know pronto.

If you get to know before others you may get the place if you contact the school first. I would also make it a policy to ring the school monthly to ask about places,this may seem extreme but it shows tenacity,committment and a real desire to join the school community,and goes a long way. All this of course only if you still want to go ahead and move your son.

owsaboutthatthen

Thanks Poet, I was ringing the school monthly and kept being told the same information. When it got to about Oct/Nov time I didn't ring and thought I would start in January again, simply because it dawned on me I needed to sort out my daughter's education now i'm settled where i'm living. I do know one of the parents of a child in my son's year at the school, but he seems to keep himself to himself and not sure if he would listen out for anything going on. I will ask him tho.