School Transport costs and Social Exclusion

Gingham_Ribbon

Fly_Baby wrote: »

I guess, the answer to that is they get screwed.

Which was exactly my point.

silvercar

Seems the wrong way round to me. I wouldn't let a child sit an entrance exam and then be offered a place and then realise that I couldn't afford to pay the transport costs to get her there. Fine to look at a school and see what is available and then make a decision on whether to apply, but you don't wait until a place is offered to find out that you cannot, by one way or another, let her go to that schol due to transport issues.

For this reason I presume OP has decided that somehow they will find alternative transport or pay the money for the school coach.

fluffymuffy

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

It's possible that the OP's daughter has been put in the lowest set while they work out where she should be. Even with information from a previous school that can happen.

We've got to the bottom of that one now. The headteacher rang to talk about how we felt it was going and we had the chance to query the class placement. It seems DD has been placed directly into the classes vacated by the girl who was asked to leave (presumably for poor behaviour rather than achievement?). Her placement will be reviewed in a few weeks time.

We've got some good news on the transport costs - both grandmas are fighting over the bill and so for the time being we're splitting it three ways. MIL was unable to take up the grammar school place she won in 1937 as her family couldn't afford the uniform. I sense she's been waiting for a moment like this.

I'm still perusing the case though as I believe no one should be excluded from the grammar school because their parents can't afford it.

fluffymuffy

Fly_Baby wrote: »

Personally, I am going to face this dilemma in 4 years, when my son will have to go to the secondary school. By that time we've either begun to earn enough to afford £4K per term for a grammar school for him, or make sure we are in the catchment area for a good state school (and good catchment area comes with good house prices - so it's down to money again). Or I can do nothing and he goes to whatever school he's nearest to, gets whatever education he's taught - and blame the government.

Grammar schools are free. You just have to get offered a place on the basis of the entrance exam. They don't have catchment areas. You can apply to any.

Errata

We've got some good news on the transport costs - both grandmas are fighting over the bill and so for the time being we're splitting it three ways. MIL was unable to take up the grammar school place she won in 1937 as her family couldn't afford the uniform. I sense she's been waiting for a moment like this

Fluffy - that's the best news I've read all day. Imagine how different your MIL's life might have been if she'd been able to take the place.

fluffymuffy

PayDay wrote: »

Paying the fares to a good school has to be better for the child than spending things like £300+ on a heater for a conservatory.

I'm flattered you're interested enough to want read all my posts. I can really recommend air-to-air heat pumps as they produce heat from the cold air outside such that 1.2kw of input produces 3.8kw of heat. We think it a sensible investment as it heats the whole house for pennies. There's also a grant available from the energy saving trust for up to 25% of the cost. It should pay for itself in less than a year.

fluffymuffy

Errata wrote: »

Fluffy - that's the best news I've read all day. Imagine how different your MIL's life might have been if she'd been able to take the place.

Yes. She's the genetic source of DD's brains. (And all those fish sandwiches). MIL worked as a dinner lady all her working life. She could have been anything.

clairehi

Could the OP suggest that the school set up a lift share scheme?

As she may not be the only kid travelling from a distance who does not want to spend out on public transport.

milliebear00001

fluffymuffy wrote: »

Grammar schools are free. You just have to get offered a place on the basis of the entrance exam. They don't have catchment areas. You can apply to any.

State (and therefore, free) grammar schools are not available in all areas. In fact, they exist in hardly any areas of the UK nowadays. Most grammars are now private schools.

fluffymuffy

clairehi wrote: »

Could the OP suggest that the school set up a lift share scheme?

As she may not be the only kid travelling from a distance who does not want to spend out on public transport.

We only have one car and we need it to get our other children to school.